CPU Commemorates the 120th Founding Anniversary
Central Philippine University (CPU) marked its 120th Foundation Day with a solemn Memorial Service on October 1, 2025, at the Henry Luce III Library Conference Room. The theme, “CPU@120: Rooted in Faith, Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable and Inclusive World,” reflected the university’s enduring mission to blend faith, scholarship, and social responsibility. Before the service, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Philippine-American Cemetery on Commission Civil Street in Jaro, Iloilo City, honored the American missionaries whose sacrifice helped establish CPU.
The day’s events brought together CPU administrators, students, faculty, staff, and alumni, underscoring the university community’s sense of shared history and future purpose. The combination of national and university ceremonies highlighted CPU’s bicultural roots and its ongoing commitment to global service grounded in Christian values.
Wreath-Laying and Historical Reflection
The Memorial Service opened with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the United States National Anthem, signaling the long-standing partnership that helped shape CPU’s trajectory. University President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy presided over the wreath-laying ceremony at the Philippine-American Cemetery, paying tribute to founders, missionaries, and leaders who dedicated their lives to the university’s mission. The act of laying flowers at the resting place of pioneers served as a tangible reminder that every classroom, graduate, and achievement at CPU is a living testament to their legacy.
Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa, Acting Vice President for Research, Development and Extension, then led the Reading of CPU History, recounting the institution’s rich heritage and milestones from its 1905 beginnings to its current status as a revered center of higher education. A musical offering from the Ladies Academic Council Ensemble—a group comprising deans, department heads, principals, and vice presidents—followed, adding a reflective mood to the commemorative program.
A Service Rooted in Faith
The service emphasized the integration of faith with scholarship. Engr. Dany C. Molina, CPU Vice President for Administration, welcomed attendees and expressed gratitude for the community’s presence. He reminded the gathering that the university’s legacy rests on the sacrifices of those who built CPU and challenged everyone to remember Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The program included an opening hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” led by Rev. Franz Hestia Lovejoy Quimpo-Leysa, Associate Pastor for Youth, and an invocation by Rev. Karel Grace D. Victoria, Associate Pastor for Christian Education.
Following the laying of the wreath and readings, the memorial service featured responsive readings and Biblical admonitions. Collyn Maxie Rose T. Moscoso, CPU Republic Vice President, read Psalm 90:1-12, while Pastor Justine Palmes-Mije, Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry, delivered Hebrews 12:1-2. These passages framed the service around themes of perseverance, divine guidance, and endurance in the face of challenges.
Legacy, Gratitude, and Future Focus
The program continued with the Hymn of Commitment, “We Thank Thee, Lord, Thy Paths of Service Lead,” performed by Rev. Franz Hestia Lovejoy Quimpo-Leysa. A Memorial Prayer and Silent Reflection were led by Rev. Dr. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor of the University Church. In the remarks that followed, Rev. Dr. Dagohoy expressed gratitude for God’s protection, especially in the wake of the recent earthquake, and celebrated CPU’s 120th anniversary as a milestone in Christian higher education. He recalled CPU’s humble beginnings as an American Baptist mission in 1905 and spoke of its growth into a university whose alumni influence communities worldwide.
Dagohoy honored the lineage of faith and service that sustains CPU’s mission while urging the community to preserve and pass on this legacy—not for personal recognition, but for God’s glory. The message emphasized knowledge, faith, and innovation as the triad sustaining a sustainable and inclusive future for all students and stakeholders.
Closing Candlelight and Benediction
The Memorial Service concluded with the Lighting of Candles, each flame symbolizing a facet of CPU’s enduring story, from foundational faith to ongoing scholarly contribution. Rev. Dr. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian offered the Benediction, sending attendees forward with a renewed sense of purpose and communal responsibility.
CPU’s 120th Founding Anniversary thus stood as more than a commemoration; it was a reaffirmation of roots in faith, a commitment to innovation, and a pledge to cultivate an inclusive, sustainable world through education and service.
