Mayor during doctoral conferment: I will not fail the people

By Marc Cosep
Staff Member

CITY HALL, Cebu City (January 5, 2023) —I will not fail you.

This was Mayor Mike Rama’s promise after Northwestern Christian University (NCU) conferred on him a “Doctor in Philosophy major in Transformative Leadership degree” in a ceremony in the afternoon today. 

The conferment took place at the Executive building’s Community Hall and was attended by department heads and city councilors.

In his speech, the mayor said that he did not expect such conferral to happen because all that he wanted in his life was to serve the Cebuanos.

“I did not expect this, let alone be awarded as a doctor in philosophy major in transformative leadership, because I just want to serve our community,” he said.

The mayor said he will work hard towards transforming Cebu into a Singapore-like city during his term.

He thanked the department heads for their efforts toward achieving his vision for the city.

I did not expect this, let alone be awarded as a doctor in philosophy major in transformative leadership, because I just want to serve our community.

Mayor Mike Rama

“You all have been working hard, thank you,” Mayor Rama said.

Dr. Danilo Bornales, NCU-Asia Pacific president, said that it is a rare opportunity for the university to award an honorary degree.

“He has to be recommended and his accomplishments have to be very strong before he can be awarded an honorary degree,” he said.

“Because of his accomplishments and a strong desire to transform Cebu, he was granted the degree,” Bornales added.

Former customs collector David “Boy” Odilao Jr. was the one who recommended the mayor and submitted his credentials to NCU.

NCU-Asia Pacific is “theologically accredited” by the International Association for Christian Educational Accountability (IACEA), a worldwide organization for Christian Theological universities.

Its Philippine campus is located in Bulacan while its main campus is in Florida in the United States.  #