Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III was awarded an honorary doctorate in law by Tokyo-based Sophia University on Friday, for his significant achievements in the promotion of good governance and peace in the Philippines, which have contributed to the remarkable economic development of the country in recent years.
According to Sophia, the president's achievements in the political and social fields are highly regarded throughout the world, and bear the hallmarks of the Sophia approach to education based on the ideals of Christianity.
Aquino won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1998. He served as a congressman for the 2nd District of Tarlac until 2007. In May 2007, he ran for the Senate and won, placing sixth in national elections. He held the post until he won the presidential election and became the 15th president of the Philippines in June 2010.
Since 1957, Sophia University, well-known in Japan for its focus on foreign-language studies, has been awarding honorary doctorates to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to their respective fields, in accordance with Sophia's educational ideals, as reflected in the university motto: "Men and Women for Others, with Others."
Two other Filipinos have received honorary doctorates from Sophia: Carlos P. Romulo as president of the University of the Philippines in 1963 and Horacio Ruiz de la Costa as assistant of the minister and advisor of the Society of Jesus in 1973.