SENATE President Manuel B. Villar Jr. will be conferred Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, as he comes to keynote the 30th Commencement Exercises of the university today, April 3.

The approval of the conferment of the honorary degree upon him is contained in Board of Regents Resolution No. 947, s. 2008,  stating the provision in P.D. 1279 (MMSU Charter) giving the university the authority to \"award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of learning, public service, statesmanship or eminence...\"

The Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the university chaired by Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Nenalyn P. Defensor, is empowered through R.A. 8292 \"to award honorary degrees upon persons in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the fields of education, public service, arts, science and technology, or in any field of specialization within the academic competence of the university or college... \"

Senator Villar, as a member of the House of Representatives and later of the Senate, has consistently shown genuine concern for the masses by working for the passage of social legislations aimed at improving the weaker sectors of Philippine society, such as granting benefits to different disadvantaged groups, providing quality affordable medicines, and promoting entrepreneurship as well as environmental awareness.

Through his skillful leadership and management as Speaker of the Lower House, he paved the way for the people’s exercise of their democratic rights, through their representatives, of putting under careful scrutiny the moral right of an erring national leader to continue to govern.  This is aside from crafting numerous bills to meet social, educational, economic, and political needs of the citizenry thereby upholding their collective dignity as human beings.

As president of the Senate, he authorized or led the conduct of public hearings and investigations on matters critical to the economic and political stability of the country thereby helping preserve and improve the integrity and reputation of the nation as a bastion of democracy.

He has also contributed immensely to the solution of the lack of decent low-cost housing for the masses.

As a very successful entrepreneur and businessman who rose from the life of deprivation to abundance, he represents the Filipino youth and adult citizenry an ideal image of pride in the dignity of honest manual labor, focused industry, and unwavering pursuit of a personal goal.

As a public servant and a political leader with unquestioned integrity, untainted reputation, and unwavering dedication, he has enhanced the picture of public governance in the Philippines, restored the image of the Filipino politician to respectable statesmanship, and strengthened the faith of the Filipino people in the effectiveness of a democracy in upholding and enhancing human dignity and freedom.
SENATE President Manuel B. Villar Jr. will be conferred Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, as he comes to keynote the 30th Commencement Exercises of the university today, April 3.