Cebu - Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, better known to the rest of the world as boxing sensation Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the Southwestern University.
In a press conference yesterday Eldegario Gonzales, President of Southwestern University, said that SWU has a special center for sports development which means the school can grant such a degree to exemplary sportsmen like Pacquiao.
Gonzales said Pacquiao achievements in boxing is worth an academic dissertation, which is why the university council and the chairman of Board Directors of SWU have invited Pacquiao to be recipient of the Doctor of Human Kinetics, Honoris Causa.
The invitation had the approval of the Commission on Higher Education.
During the press conference, Pacquiao’s friend and confidante, boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, who represented Pacquiao during the press conference, said the boxer is very thankful for the honorary degree.
Gonzales said the conferment, which has been set for Feb. 18, will be a solemn affair with the presidents of different universities in the country and also some well-known personalities in the academe will be invited to grace the event.
Previous personalities who have also received honorary doctorate degrees will also be invited, Gonzales added. — Harry Vincent H. Cañeda (THE FREEMAN)