RETIRED Sgt. Maj. Herman Manglona Atalig witnessed the renaming on Friday of a Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School building in his honor.
Atalig is the Board of Education member representing Rota, and is the most senior member of the policymaking and governing body of the Public School System.
Education and Rota officials joined Atalig, his family members, stakeholders and other Rota community members in the renaming ceremony for the RHI JROTC annex building.
According to Rota Local Law 22-10 signed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on July 25, 2022, the renaming of the building recognizes Atalig for his “untiring and outstanding contributions to the Public School System and to the people of the Commonwealth.”
It was Sen. Teresita A. Santos who introduced Senate Local Bill 22-13, which became R.L.L. 22-10.
Atalig began serving the nation at the age of 20 when he was drafted and served as infantry point man in the Vietnam War. He also saw action during Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama.
In his nearly 30 years of active duty, he also served as a Republic of Korea Marine Ranger, a Recondo School instructor, a senior drill sergeant instructor, a Rutgers University ROTC instructor, a sergeant major inspector general, an operation sergeant major for forces command, and senior Army enlisted advisor for the Reserve component on Guam.
Upon his return to Rota, he became the senior Army instructor of the island’s high school where he served for 16 years.
Education and Rota officials gather to celebrate the renaming of the Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr. Sr. High School JROTC annex building in honor of retired Sgt. Maj. Herman M. Atalig, a Board of Education member, on Friday afternoon. Also in photo are Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, acting Board of Education Chairman Antonio L. Borja of Tinian, Saipan BOE Member Andrew L. Orsini, Teacher Representative Phyllis Ain, Non-Public School Representative Dr. Ronald Snyder, Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School Principal D. Tanya King, Public School System Senior Directors Jackie Quitugua, Dr. Rizalina Liwag and Dr. Yvonne R. Pangelinan, other PSS officials, Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig, Rep. Donald Manglona, and Rota municipal officials.
Rota education stakeholders and community members are ready to unveil the building’s new name.
The new SGM Herman Manglona Atalig JROTC Building.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred B. Ada, acting Board of Education Chairman Antonio L. Borja of Tinian, Saipan BOE Member Andrew L. Orsini, Teacher Representative Phyllis Ain, Non-Public School Representative Dr. Ronald Snyder, Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior Senior High School Principal D. Tanya King, BOE staff Valerie Malwelbug, Nikita Robert and Robert Coldeen with retired Sgt. Maj. Herman M. Atalig, the current BOE member of Rota.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Herman M. Atalig and family.
Retired Sgt. Major Herman M. Atalig with the Rota JROTC cadets.
