Philippine President Arroyo Receives Doctorate From USF
November 26, 2004
En route to the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Chile last week, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the University of San Francisco. There, USF President Stephen Privett presented Arroyo with an honorary doctorate in conjunction with the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program.
“USF honors President Arroyo as an outstanding Catholic public servant who has embodied throughout her life the Jesuit ideal of a faith that does justice. With the establishment of the Maria Elena Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, USF has institutionalized the Filipino voice in its curriculum,” said Father Privett.
The Maria Elena G. Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program (MEYPSP) is the first of its kind in the United States. The curriculum was established in 2000 with an endowment by the Philippine ambassador and philanthropist Alfonso Yuchengco.
“I am very honored to have been given this opportunity to provide a link for Filipino American students to learn about their culture and heritage and to ultimately be proud of who they are as a people,” Yuchengco said.
In collaboration with the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco and other on-campus departments, Kasamahan, the Filipino American student association, led the pre-event preparation for Arroyo’s visit.
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Chorus sang a repertoire for the prelude of the convocation. A parade of nations by the university’s international students and a Kasamahan candlelight preceded a march into St. Ignatius Church by the platform party escorting Arroyo.
Claudine Marasigan, junior
“I’m so proud to go to USF; I actually will have this memory for the rest of my life. It’s about time that we recognize the Filipino achievements both at USF and around the world.”
Sarah Abella, junior
“I’m going to try become a Philippine studies minor; seeing PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) and my fellow Fil-Am colleagues at USF has motivated me to be part of the MEYPSP.”
Frances Valido, senior
“I thought it was good, and a lot of people came out. It was great to see USF and the Fil-Am students, staff and administrators as well as the Filipino community [come] out. It was awesome to be part of history.”
Albert Carrera, alumni, 2002 Kasamahan president and third-year law student at Golden Gate University School of Law
“As an alum, it was refreshing to see a lot of young faces in the audience. I believe that more and more young people want to be better informed about other parts of the world. It is an important time for young people to get involved, especially when we are seeing how interconnected our world is.”
Christian Bohm, director of music, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
“On behalf of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Chorus, we are honored to have taken part in this celebration at USF. All 130 student members of the choir sang their best in honor of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.”
Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez III, director of the Maria Elena G. Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program and assistant professor of politics
“We are proud to give President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo an honorary degree from USF. PGMA deserves to be recognized for her achievements in the Philippine government … as a key player in the international arena.”
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