LNU confers honorary doctorate degree on Mayor Belen
DAGUPAN City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez received an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration, honoris causa, from the Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) on last week.
The honorary degree was conferred on her “in recognition of her sterling performance as a public servant, businesswoman and philanthropist,” stated a resolution approved by the university’s Board of Trustees and read by Dr. Marco S. Duque, corporate secretary.
The resolution was signed by Dr. Francisco T. Duque III, LNU president; and attested by Dr. Marco S. Duque as corporate secretary.
The conferment was done during the university’s 26th Founders’ Day honoring the late Dr. Francisco Q. Duque, Jr. and his wife the late Dr. Florencia T. Duque, founders of LNU.
Ms. Fernandez receive an honorary doctorate degree in humanities in 2013 when she was still the vice mayor of Dagupan, by her alma mater, University of Luzon where she finished college in 1977.
A citation read by Dr. Catalino Rivera, LNU executive vice president, described Ms. Fernandez as “leading businesswoman in the region and as a reformist having introduced many innovations in Dagupan through her noteworthy programs and projects benefiting her people.”
LNU Chancellor Gonzalo T. Duque cited Ms. Fernandez as “LNU’s ardent partner in giving education to the youth,” citing the big number of scholars enrolled at LNU sponsored by the Dagupan City government.
In her response, the mayor said: “My heart is filled with gratitude for Lyceum Northwestern University for conferring on me this honorary doctorate degree which is an incredibly meaningful gesture.”
She said, ” This honor is larger than me. For me, it is this revered institution’s vote of confidence on a life of service consecrated to improving the lot of our fellowmen. I have not really given it much thought that my life of service has rendered me worthy of such a recognition.”
The city mayor told students and members of the academic community that looking back in retrospect, she considers herself “an ordinary person by anyone’s standards.”
She recalled that when she completed her college, she immediately tended their family business which was then a small grocery where people of the city had learned to love and patronize.
“Like the rest of my siblings, I helped and learned all aspects of the business, like repacking sugar in smaller packs for budget-conscious Dagupenos.”
Ms. Fernandez said she learned so much about the value and dignity of hard work and work ethic from her parents. (Leonardo Micua)
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