SGI President Daisaku Ikeda has received total of 254 honorary doctorates
and academic titles from academic institutions and organizations around
the world to the present. From the Philippines, 15 universities and colleges
have bestowed honorary doctorate upon him. In this page, each honorary
doctorate that President Ikeda has received from the Philippines is introduced.
Vol.3: University of the City of Manila (February 11,
1998)
A statue of Dr. Jose Rizal stands
in the campus
University of the City of Manila conferred its Honorary Doctorate of Humanities
upon President Ikeda. The conferment ceremony was held in University of
the City of Manila, the Philippines, on February 11, 1998.
About University of the City of Manila
The University of the City of Manila was founded in 1967 and is well known as the first university in Asia which has initiated the remission of tuition fees.
The University of the City of Manila is called the “University dedicated
to people”, for it opened its gates of learning to the underprivileged
students so that they can give full play to their potentials.
A Summary of President Ikeda’s Acceptance Speech
Dr. Jose Rizal called on his friends to invest their energy in promoting
the education of the people. University of the City of Manila upholds this
spirit of Dr. Rizal’s. Today, February 11, is the gladdest day for me in
a year, because it is the birthday of Mr. Josei Toda who is my mentor.
Mr. Toda’s long-cherished wish was to spread the light of peace over the
Asian people in this unsettled time. Mr. Toda was also an educator who
loved young people so dearly. Every morning he would teach me all branches
of knowledge; and this lecture of “Toda University” lasted for ten years.
I gladly offer this honor to Mr. Toda.
Mr. Toda’s humanitarianism is thoroughly based on the dignity of life. He led a people’s movement for peace with the conviction that life is an absolute and supreme entity. The exploration into life and the change of human beings themselves are the very basis of everything. Exploration of knowledge has brought affluence and convenience to humanity, but at the same time it has also incurred great danger. In order to utilize knowledge and information for the sake of happiness and peace of humanity, it is vital to bring forth wisdom and compassion that all people possess in their very lives. To tap life, which is the biggest frontier in the 21st century, is the great mission of humanistic education.
