PNoy conferred honorary Doctor of Humanities degree

The Tarlac State University (TSU) on Thursday conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) on President Benigno Aquino III in a special ceremony in Malacañang.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chair Dr. Patricia Licuanan and TSU head Dr. Myrna Mallari assisted Aquino, who was also sworn in to the TSU Alumni Association, in wearing the academic gown, hood, cap and medal.

According to Mallari, Aquino was awarded the honorary degree for his political achievements as former representative of the second district of Tarlac, senator, and later as 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines. Mallari also cited Aquino’s dedication to national development and reform programs.

In his acceptance speech, Aquino thanked his fellow Tarlaqueños for the “warm gesture” which he takes as recognition of everything the administration has achieved in the past years.

He emphasised the importance of education in empowering citizens and giving them tools to change the status quo.

Aquino also highlighted the importance of asking “why” to the development of the nation, stating, “The day one stops asking why is the day one stops growing.”

He then proceeded to mention individuals who never stopped asking why in the face of the nation’s problems, mentioning Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whose questions about the competitiveness of Filipinos in the IT industry, he claimed, led to the creation of the “Make IT Philippines” program during his stint as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Aquino is the 11th awardee of an Honoris Causa degree from TSU. Previous awardees include Emilio Aguinaldo, the country's first president, and former Tarlac governor Danding Cojuangco, Aquino's uncle. —KBK, GMA News