Young man who attended college graduation in wheelchair despite illness passes away

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Joemar Mangkok, the young man shown in a viral post receiving his college diploma in Sultan Kudarat on Sunday while on a wheelchair, passed away on Wednesday morning.

Mangkok's niece Haguiar M. Abag, who posted the photos of the graduation on Facebook, confirmed the news.

“It is with heavy heart to inform you (this writer) that Joemar’s already gone this morning,” Abag said while sobbing.

It was Mangkok himself who wanted to personally receive his college diploma, Abag said, since he considered it an achievement to have finished school despite having rheumatic heart disease.

With the go signal from his doctors, Mangkok had a breathing apparatus and was on a wheelchair on Sunday during the graduation ceremony at the Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology in Tacurong City.

Joemar Mangkok attended his college graduation while on a wheelchair at Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology on Sunday, March 24, 2019. He passed away on Wed., March 27, 2019. Photo courtesy of Haguiar M. Abag

"Actually, even his sisters working abroad were trying to stop him from attending graduation ceremony, but they failed to convince him," Abag said.

Mangkok, however, regarded his college diploma as his gift to his siblings who supported his schooling, she added.

“We are thanking the school police interns that helped us during the graduation ceremony and in rushing him to hospital after receiving diploma,” Abag said.

The Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology has extended its condolences to the family of Mangkok. —KG, GMA News