CPU 120th Founding Anniversary Memorial Service
Central Philippine University marked its 120th Foundation Day with a Memorial Service on October 1, 2025, at the Henry Luce III Library Conference Room. The event carried the theme CPU@120: Rooted in Faith, Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable and Inclusive World. A wreath-laying ceremony at the Philippine-American Cemetery in Jaro, Iloilo City preceded the service, paying tribute to the American missionaries who helped establish CPU and to the generations of leaders who kept its mission alive.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony
Before the Memorial Service, University President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy led the ceremonial wreath laying at the Philippine-American Cemetery on Commission Civil Street in Jaro, Iloilo City. The ritual honored founders, missionaries, and faithful leaders who laid the groundwork for CPU’s enduring legacy of faith and learning.
Program Highlights
The service opened with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the United States National Anthem. CPU Vice President for Administration Engr. Dany C. Molina welcomed the community and guests, reflecting on the call to pause in gratitude while remaining steadfast in purpose. He invited attendees to consider Psalm 46:10 as a guiding line: Be still and know that I am God.
An opening hymn, performed by Rev. Franz Hestia Lovejoy Quimpo-Leysa, followed by an invocation delivered by Rev. Karel Grace D. Victoria. The Reading of CPU History, led by Dr. Aries Roda D. Romallosa, traced CPU’s milestones from its 1905 beginnings under American Baptist missionaries to its present status as a university with a global footprint. A musical offering by the Ladies Academic Council Ensemble added a reflective tone to the proceedings.
A Testimony of Thanksgiving was shared by Flora Guillergan Cudiamat, who spoke of CPU’s role in shaping her life and faith from childhood. She recalled how dorm life, church communities, and friendships at CPU supported her growth and helped chart her path to nursing and a career in the United States, attributing much of her success to the university’s influence and community.
Messages of Gratitude and Legacy
Engr. Molina led a responsive reading, followed by Biblical admonitions drawn from Psalm 90:1-12 and Hebrews 12:1-2, read by Collyn Maxie Rose T. Moscoso and delivered by Pastor Justine Palmes-Mije, respectively. The readings and prayers underscored a shared commitment to wisdom, perseverance, and faith as the university continues its mission in a changing world.
A Vision for the Future: Faith, Knowledge, and Innovation
CPU President Rev. Dr. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian and others reminded the audience that the 120th anniversary is not only a celebration of God’s faithfulness but a call to sustain and expand CPU’s impact through knowledge, service, and innovation. Dagohoy spoke of CPU’s humble beginnings in 1905 and its evolution into a respected institution with alumni shaping communities worldwide. He urged the campus and broader CPU family to preserve the legacy of faith and service, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come.
Lighting Candles and Benediction
The memorial program concluded with the Lighting of Candles, each flame symbolizing a facet of CPU’s ongoing mission, followed by the Benediction led by Rev. Dr. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian. The gathering affirmed a shared resolve to honor the past while advancing toward a future rooted in faith, learning, and service.
