You can call him 'Dr. Manny'

CEBU, Philippines – Southwestern University yesterday conferred an honorary doctorate degree in humanities on boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for bringing honor to the country through sports.

The conferment was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel yesterday afternoon.

SWU president Eldigario Gonzales said they are thankful that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allowed them to confer the honorary degree on Pacquiao after it earlier did not allow the university to give out an honorary degree in human kinetics.

Gonzales said they were saddened that CHED did not approve of their original plan, since they believe an honorary degree in human kinetics would have been more appropriate, kinetics being the science of sports, physical activities and recreation.

But Gonzales said they are still thankful that CHED eventually allowed them to confer the humanities degree on Pacquiao.

Andrew Aznar, chairman of the board of directors of SWU, said, “Manny is an inspiration to all Filipinos, thus, he deserves the degree.”

Dean Rouel Longinos of the SWU Graduate School welcomed Pacquiao to their roster of alumni.

For his part, Pacquiao said he is deeply honored to be conferred the honorary degree.

“Kinabahan ako (I’m nervous),” said Pacquiao as he took the microphone, facing a huge crowd that included his beaming wife Jinkee and SWU president Gonzales.

“I will do my best to be worthy to be called an alumnus of my alma mater,” said Pacquiao, who earned his doctorate for his “noble, unwavering humanitarian acts.”

SWU is the only school in the country that has a special center for sports development, the Institute for Physical Education and Sports, which confers honorary degrees on athletes that show excellence in their field.

The conferment of the honorary degree was a unanimous decision of the SWU board of directors and the university’s student council.

Pacquiao, who came from a very poor family in General Santos City, has become the wealthiest Filipino athlete ever, earning millions of dollars each time he climbs into the ring.

But he has never turned his back on the sick, the poor, and the countless victims of natural calamities and war.

“It’s my way of giving back to the people,” Pacquiao would often say. “I know how it is to be poor because I was once poor. So I know how they feel, and I know how I can help.”

Pacquiao is catching up on his studies at Notre Dame College in General Santos where he is taking up a business management course. He said learning doesn’t stop – on and off campus.

“You cannot measure how smart a person is by how many books he reads. You can measure how smart a person is through his good nature, his love of country, his love for his family and most importantly, his faith in God,” said Pacquiao, the “People’s Champion.” – Johanna Natavio/The Freeman