Manny Pacquiao gets doctorate degree

CEBU CITY – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was officially conferred on Wednesday an honorary doctorate degree in humanities by the Cebu-based Southwestern University (SWU) because of his contribution for the country through sports.    

In the conferment rights at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel attended by school officials, students, and some Pacquiao fans, Pacquiao expressed his gratitude to SWU for taking notice of his achievement and for conferring him the doctorate degree.

Pacquiao, a native of General Santos City in Mindanao but has roots in Cebu, said SWU has placed him on the likes of boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George FOreman, who received doctorate degrees from prestigious universities in the United States because of their contribution to the field of sports.

SWU was originally planning to confer the honorary degree in human kinetics to Pacquiao but the Comission on Higher Education did not approve of the original plan. SWU President Eldigario Gonzales said they were saddened because an honorary degree in human kinetics reportedly should have been more appropriate, considering that kinetics is the science of sports, physical activities and recreation.

SWU President Eldigario Gonzales said they are thankful that the Commission on Higher Education allowed them to confer the honorary degree to Pacquiao after CHED earlier disagreed that the university give out an honorary degree in human kinetics. #