Dr. Colting (4th from left) and
Mr. Del-Amen (3rd from left) traveled to Japan
for the conferral ceremony at Soka University (C) Seikyo Shimbun
On July 10, 2008, Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet
Province, the Philippines, conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities,
honoris causa, upon Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University founder and SGI president.,
in recognition of his unflagging efforts to develop pathways to peace on
a global scale.
BSU President Rogelio D. Colting and BSU Alumni Association President Jesson
Y. Del-Amen traveled from the Philippines to confer the award in a ceremony
that took place at the Soka University Central Tower in Hachioji, Tokyo.
Dr. Colting entrusted the degree certificate for Mr. Ikeda to Soka University
President Hideo Yamamoto.
In a citation, Dr. Colting lauded Mr. Ikeda's keen insights into the problems
confronting humankind today and his ability to envision solutions to them.
He also noted Mr. Ikeda's idea regarding the mission of the university
in the 21st century to foster an ethic of global citizenship among youth,
transcending national and regional interests.
In a message, Mr. Ikeda expressed his resolve to continue his efforts for
the sake of peace and people's empowerment through education in concert
with BSU President Colting and the university faculty.
BSU was founded in 1916 and has a focus in the fields of agriculture, education
and medicine. The university's educational goals emphasize service to society
and it has collaborated with environmental experts and researchers to boost
farming in the local community. BSU has also been a forerunner in environmental
protection and natural resource development.
[Adapted from an article in the July 11, 2008 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,
Soka Gakkai, Japan]
