San Beda’s official color is red; its varsity sports teams and student organizations have the word “red” incorporated in their respective names.

Though Mang Roger’s wicker basket doesn’t have the slightest hint of red, that’s how we Bedans see it. This iconic basket, belonging to a balut vendor, was once situated strategically in front of the gates of the lion’s den in Mendiola, welcoming students and employees daily.

Rogelio Lagman or Mang Roger started selling balut in San Beda back in 1976. From then on he has stood as a friend, lifesaver, father/grandfather figure, adviser, matchmaker and jokester to countless Bedans.

I was fortunate enough to experience school with Mang Roger on campus selling his trademark balut, penoy and chicharon. After dismissal, and before running around the quadrangle or loitering around the school grounds, students often bought balut from Mang Roger while leaving their bags in his care. It’s amazing how he somehow remembers to whom each bag belongs to.

When parents came to fetch their children, Mang Roger was the first person they asked on the whereabouts of their kids. At the sight of an agitated parent, Mang Roger took on the role of pacifist, always saying that it was only natural for kids to be playful. Somehow, parents, guardians and school bus attendants felt a sense of security with him around watching over their kids.

In the years that Mang Roger was in the campus, he usually stood beside the phone booth. There were times when students were not fetched on time, crying from waiting too long for

their parents. Mang Roger would let these kids borrow phone cards to call their parents. Benjo Bantugon, a former Bedan track and field athlete, recalled that the vendor once offered to pay for his commute when his bag was stolen.

It wasn’t only his acts of kindness that showed what kind of man Mang Roger was. He was also known for his life lessons, inspirational stories and advice. I vividly remember one conversation I had with him during my senior year in high school. As he was handing over my usual purchases, seeing how frustrated I was, he told me “Ikain mo na lang ng balut at chicharon ’yan, hindi naman gagaan ’yang problema mo kung poproblemahin mo, smile lang

lagi.”

Those words showed his positive outlook in life. He always had a smile on his face.

Seated ringside

He was also an ardent supporter of the Red Lions. No NCAA opening would be complete without him. Proudly wearing a San Beda shirt, he was usually seated at ringside, thanks to his many Bedan friends; he would wave to his countless suki who were at the bleachers.

Back in the years when the Red Lions weren’t winning championships, his mere presence in the games lifted up spirits in the Bedan gallery.

Thus it came as a shock to the Bedan community when pictures of an unrecognizably thin Mang Roger with a Bedan nurse was posted in the Facebook group “Tunay Kang Bedista Kung…”

A barrage of questions sought to find out details on his condition and where he was hospitalized.

As it turned out, many Bedans were more than willing to reach out and help him. And as Lions, Bedans protect and take care of our own to the best of our abilities. Help came from all Bedans, here and abroad.

News of his passing spread like wildfire on social media. It was a sad day for the Bedan community.

Amid the mourning, efforts were initiated to help the family of Mang Roger organize his wake and burial. Mang Roger’s remains were taken to the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat for

one day, to give other Bedans the opportunity to say goodbye.

Mang Roger will always be remembered as the friend you saw before entering San Beda’s Mendiola campus, who always had that cheerful and mysterious smile, along with his patented thumbs-up gesture.

Seeing his legendary basket during his wake, I could not help but get teary-eyed. I thought about how many stories, how much advice and laughter had been shared alongside it.

Recalling a YouTube interview with him, he said that the reason he loved the school and Bedans so much was because they gave him his livelihood.

I hope that the Bedans who knew him will remember Mang Roger as a man who charged a small fee for his wares, and gave an invaluable and lifelong friendship for free.

He has become a great example of someone who is considered to have so little, but could give so much. He may not be a monk, an administrator, a professor, an employee or a student, but he is undeniably a Bedan.

As the new NCAA season has begun, it’s very hard to accept that he won’t be there at ringside, cheering on his beloved Red Lions. But we, the people he has touched, will forever be grateful.

PHOTOS BY OZZY LAVIÑA