Honorary Doctorate in Humanities Conferred Upon President Aquino

The Tarlac State University (TSU) conferred a Doctor of Humanities degree (honoris causa) upon President Benigno S. Aquino III in a simple ceremony held on Thursday at Malacañang Palace’s Reception Hall.

The TSU award was in recognition of the President’s “great contribution to the fields of politics, good governance, international relations, leadership and management, which redound to the benefit of the Filipino people.”

He was also honored for his distinguished political career and service to the people as member of the House of Representatives (Second District of Tarlac province) from 1998 to 2007; member of the Philippine Senate from 2007 to 2010; and 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Chief Executive was cited for placing the Filipino people as the “boss” and foremost stakeholder in development plans and reform programs, for dedicating his life to leading the nation towards transformation, and for being a model of selfless service.

President Aquino was likewise honored for his “brand of good governance that has brought socio-economic development to all sectors of Philippine society, especially to those in the margins; for protecting and defending Filipino interests in the international arena, and for representing the country in foreign assemblies and conventions.”

His “executive agenda of promoting and upgrading the cause of education, in all its levels, particularly in higher and advanced education among state universities and colleges” and his bringing prestige to Tarlac for producing the chief executive of the Philippine government were also noted.

The President received his diploma from Commission on Higher Education Chairperson, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, who was assisted by TSU President, Dr. Myrna Mallari.

After the awarding of the diploma, the President was inducted to the TSU Alumni Association by the association’s president, Dr. Reynaldo Catacutan.

“I am indeed grateful to Tarlac State University for conferring on me this honorary degree in humanities, which is an incredibly meaningful gesture. After all, I am a son of Tarlac, and it warms my heart knowing that none other than my fellow Tarlaqueños recognize what the entire nation has achieved these past four years and eleven months,” President Aquino said in his speech.

As he emphasized the value of education, the President recalled what his father, the late senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., said.

“I can never forget what my father told me: education, once possessed, is yours for life. Knowledge will always enable us to build better lives for ourselves and our families; more importantly, it allows us to render service to our fellowmen,” he said.

President Aquino said he will continue serving the Filipino people until his term ends.

“Until the very last day of my term, I will continue working with my countrymen—who are my strength—towards building a greater Philippine nation… I will continue to show that, indeed, the Filipino is worth fighting for,” he concluded.

President Aquino is the second in his family to receive the doctoral degree in humanities after his uncle, former ambassador and former Tarlac governor Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr., was awarded the same degree in 2011.

Previous recipients of the honorary degree in humanities were Kim Seong Yong, president of the Citizens Corps Active in Disaster in South Korea; Tommy Ching Lung Kei, president, chairman and chief executive officer of De Luxe Bags, Philippines; Rev. Jungbong Kim, a Korean evangelical preacher and philanthropist; Chul Yung Chan, president of Yeungjin College; Amado Go, former board member of the Tarlac Provincial Council representing the Second District; and Albert Ma Hon Ning, chairman and managing director of Hongkong L.P. Gas Ltd.

Other past awardees were Alex Lee Ye Lick, chairman and chief executive officer of Hongkong Lifelong Education Organization Ltd., for Doctor of Laws; and Genaro Mendoza, former Tarlac City mayor, for Doctor of Public Administration.

The country’s first president, Emilio Aguinaldo, was the school’s first recipient of an honorary degree in 1998. The posthumous doctorate in public administration was conferred to Aguinaldo for establishing the Cientifico y Literaria Universidad de Filipinas (CLUF), which is recognized as the first Filipino and Asian State University. The CLUF is the precursor of the Tarlac State University. (PNA) RMA/PND/EDS