Traditional University Awards

Honorary Degree

Honorary degrees are conferred upon persons who have made notable and invaluable advancements in their field, and have been recognized for them. Ideally, they have dedicated themselves to a noble cause for the benefit of others, and are renowned for their work in advancing social justice and development, as well as compassionate action and humanitarian service. They must be persons of integrity and probity, exemplars of Ateneo ideals, whom the University is honored to include in its roster of alumni.

 

2023

Cardinal Luis Antonio G Tagle

Doctor of Philosophy

 

2022
Maria Angelita Ressa, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology
Maria Leonor Robredo, Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

2021
Antonio Carpio, Doctor of Laws

2019
Yohei Sasakawa, Doctor of Humanities

2018
Ambassador Albert F. del Rosario, Doctor of Humanities

2015
Dr. Maria Lourdes A. Carandang, Doctor of Science
Dr. Gabriel C. Singson, Doctor of Public Administration

2014
Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, Doctor of Humanities

2012
Washington Z. Sycip, Doctor of Humanities

2010
Oscar M. Lopez, Doctor of Humanities
Manuel V Pangilinan, Doctor of Humanities

2009
Howard Q. Dee, Doctor of Humanities
Nicole Revel, Doctor of Humanities

2007
Diosdado P. Banatao, Doctor of Science

2006
Beverly McLachlin, P.C., Doctor of Laws
Socorro C. Ramos, Doctor of Humanities

2005
Edilberto C. de Jesus, Doctor of Humanities

2004
John L. Gokongwei, Jr., Doctor of Humanities

2003
Mary Racelis, Doctor of Humanities

2002
Miguel A. Bernad, S.J., Doctor of Humanities
Fe del Mundo, M.D., Doctor of Science

2001
Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Doctor of Humanities
Bernardo Ma. Perez, OSB, Doctor of Humanities

2000
Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy, A. C., Doctor of Humanities
Patricia B. Licuanan, Doctor of Humanities
Delfin Colome, Doctor of Humanities

1999
Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, S.J., D.D., Doctor of Humanities

1998
William Cardinal Keeler, Doctor of Humanities
Pedro Santiago de Achutegui, S.J., Doctor of Humanities
Catalino G. Arevalo, S.J., Doctor of Humanities

1997
Fidel V. Ramos, Doctor of Humanities
Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou Hwan, Doctor of Humanities

1996
Alejandro R. Roces, Doctor of Humane Letters
Anwar Ibraham, Doctor of Humane Letters
Anscar J. Chupungco, O.S.B., Doctor of Humane Letters
Helmut Kohl, Doctor of Humanities

1995
Christian S. Monsod, Doctor of Laws

1994
Gelia T. Castillo, Doctor of Science

1993
Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D., Doctor of Humane Letters
Francis X. Clark, S.J., Doctor of Humane Letters

1992
Dioscoro L. Umali, Doctor of Science 

1991
Onofre R. Pagsanghan, Doctor of Humane Letters

1990
Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Doctor of Humane Letters
Joachim Cardinal Meisner, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1989
Alfredo R. A. Bengzon, Doctor of Science

1988
Antonio Y. Fortich, D. D., Doctor of Humane Letters 

1987
Vicente R. Jayme, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1986
Corazon C. Aquino, Doctor of Humane Letters
Claudio Teehankee, Doctor of Humane Letters

1985
Bienvenido A. Tan, Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters 

1983
Agostino Cardinal Cassaroli, Doctor of Humane Letters
Joseph Cardinal Hoffner, Doctor of Humane Letters
Lorenzo M Tañada, Doctor of Humane Letters

1982
Vicente T. Paterno, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1980
Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, D.D., Doctor of Humane Letters

1979
Cecilia Muñoz Palma, Doctor of Humane Letters  

1977
Francis Madigan, S.J., Doctor of Science 

1976
Francis-Hubert Lambrecht, CICM, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1975
Sixto K. Roxas, Doctor of Humane Letters  

1974
Van Cliburn, Doctor of Humane Letters
Cesar Enrique A. Virata, Doctor of Humane Letters

1972
Jaime N. Ferrer, Ph.D. (Public Administration) 

1971
Jose B. L. Reyes, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1970
Mercedes Concepcion, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1969
Joaquin P. Roces, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1968
Waldo S. Perfecto, Ph.D. (Education) 

1967
William F. Masterson, S.J., Doctor of Humane Letters 
Jesus E. Perpinan, Doctor of Laws 
Jose Yulo, Doctor of Laws

1966
Jesus Diaz, O.P., Doctor of Humane Letters 
Frank H. Golay, Doctor of Laws
Oscar Ledesma, Doctor of Laws

1965
Stephen H. Fuller, Doctor of Humane Letters
Horacio V. dela Costa, S.J., Doctor of Humane Letters
Raul S. Manglapus, Doctor of Laws

1964
Cesar Bengzon, Doctor of Laws 

1963
Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montejo, Doctor of Humane Letters 

1962
Hans M. Menzi, Ph.D. (Business Administration)
Golda Meir, Ph.D. (Political Science)

1961
Jose P. Bantug, Doctor of Humane Letters
H. Otley Beyer, Ph.D. (Anthropology)
Jaime C. de Veyra, Doctor of Humane Letters 
Hyacinth Gabriel, F.S.C., Doctor of Humane Letters 
Allan Nevins, Ph.D. (Business Administration) 

1960
Paulino J. Garcia, Doctor of Science 
Rufino J. Cardinal Santos, Doctor of Humane Letters 

Criteria for Nomination and Selection

  1. He/she should have made notable and invaluable contributions in his/her field (professional, scientific, business, academic, civic, environmental, etc) and recognized for them.
  2. Those distinguished for concern and work for social justice and development, compassionate action, and humanitarian service, that is, those who give of themselves in a good cause and for the benefit of others may be considered.
  3. Distinguished philanthropists who have used their money wisely in support of a good cause or institution which has benefited the country or sectors of society may also be considered. Benefactors of Ateneo de Manila University are deserving of consideration for the award, especially if their gifts foster development of areas of special concern and interest to the university.
  4. He/she should also be distinguished for integrity and probity.  He/she should be someone the Ateneo de Manila feels honored to make an alumnus since he/she lives out the ideals for which the university stands.
Pertinent Points of CHED Memorandum Order No. 19 Series of 2014
  1. Private Higher Education Institutions (HEI) with autonomous/deregulated status shall be allowed to award honorary doctorate degree without securing approval from CHED.
  2. The honorary doctorate degree cannot be awarded to incumbent administrators, members of the faculty, and staff of the awarding HEI. Nor can it be awarded to incumbent officials and/or employees of CHED.
  3. The honorary doctorate degree shall be awarded in recognition of an individual’s meritorious contribution/s to the advancement of a field in a particular discipline, through exemplary accomplishment/s in instruction, research and practice, and his/her personal humanitarian accomplishment/s and/or contribution to the institution and society.

Exclusion List

  1. Members of the Ateneo de Manila Board of Trustees are excluded from receiving an honorary degree during their term on the Board.
  2. University faculty and administrators are excluded from receiving an honorary degree during their term of service to the university.
  3. Although ordinarily, Jesuits, being members of the “family,” should not be considered for honorary degrees, Jesuits outside the Ateneo de Manila who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of endeavor should not necessarily be excluded from consideration.
Honorary Degree Criteria & Nomination Form

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