Ms. Arenas gets honorary degree from Lyceum-Northwestern University

By April 17, 2006Headlines, News

IN recognition of her long hard work in charity and being a patroness of the arts and culture, philanthropist Rosemary ‘Baby’ Arenas efforts were formally acknowledged by the Lyceum-Northwestern University.

Last Tuesday afternoon, the LNU’s Board of Trustees awarded Ms. Arenas a doctorate degree in humanities, honoris causa.

“I am humbled because there are officials from here who are more deserving,” confessed Ms. Arenas before receiving her honorary degree during the 35th Commencement Exercises of the LNU at the Dagupan City Astrodome.

It was her first honorary degree, and is expected to be followed by another university in Manila that also recognized her great contributions in uplifting people’s lives.

The honorary degree was conferred on her by Dr. Gonzalo T. Duque, LNU president and members of the university’s Board of Trustees “for her various charitable works and her deep-seated efforts in promoting culture and the works of the arts in Metro Manila.”

“We want to reverse that trend because the province of Pangasinan, especially the city of Dagupan, would need her (Ms. Arenas’) contributions more than those in Metro Manila,” Dr. Duque said, in explaining the reason for his university in awarding a doctorate degree on Ms. Arenas.

He said that since the honoree traces her roots to Pangasinan, “I do believe that charity begins at home”.

Although not born in Pangasinan, Ms. Arenas spent the younger part of her life in the province, as the roots of the large Jimenez family which she belongs, is in the province.

“Parang I’m going back to my childhood. My happy days were all spent here in Pangasinan,” said Ms. Arenas who has reestablished her residence, along with her daughter Rachel, in barangay Nancapian, Malasiqui where they have a 15-hectare mango plantation.

She is related to the family of former Dagupan City Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr. while the Duques and the Jimenezes used to be neighbors in Quezon City.

“I am hopeful that with her (Ms. Arenas’) commitment to serve our provincemates in her own personal capacity, she would be able to contribute her talent, her time, her efforts to the upliftment of our people through scholarship programs, charitable works, arts and culture because she is known for that,” Dr. Duque added.

Ms. Arenas has vowed to continue making a difference in the lives of Pangasinenses since re-establishing their residence in Malasiqui a few years ago.

With the help of Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, she and her daughter Rachel already began extending financial help to indigent families in the third district of Pangasinan for health and education.–LM

There is fulfillment in charity work – Arenas

THERE is immense fulfillment out of helping others.

This was the message imparted by Ms. Rosemarie ‘Baby’ Arenas in her address to graduates of Lyceum-Northwestern University last Tuesday where she was conferred a Doctorate Degree in Humanities, Honoris Causa.

Known for her various charitable work through her Father Pio Lend a Hand Foundation which she founded 20 years ago, Ms. Arenas said it is not the title, fame and fortune one leaves behind that matters but how well one had used his or her advantage in helping the disadvantaged.

She told graduates: “Charity is to surrender time, to share one’s talents, and to serve one’s treasures in the service of the less fortunate.”

Charity, she said, is an act of prayer, because on one hand, charity makes people feel the presence of God, adding that charity is an affirmation that God has blessed one with more than enough.

Continuing, she said charity is a means to a higher goal and through it, one seeks to attain peace. “To achieve peace, one must battle against the forces which cause disunity, discontent, and all forms of divisiveness.

Now in Malasiqui where her family owns a mango plantation whose products are being exported, Ms. Arenas bares her immediate plan to import the latest technology in producing dried mangoes and its by-products to help develop the export market

“We produce the best mangoes in the country but the lack of technology and infrastructure hinders our ability to be a leading exporter,” she said.

She is optimistic the mango export industry will generate more jobs and business opportunities and further boost the local economy. — LM

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