By Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
As Central Philippine University celebrates its 120th anniversary, we honor Dr. Teodoro C. Robles — a distinguished engineer, global scholar, and dedicated leader whose faith-driven vision and innovative spirit elevated CPU’s academic excellence while remaining steadfast in its Christian foundation.
As CPU marks its 120th year, the story of Dr. Teodoro C. Robles stands out as that of a Centralian who came full circle: a working student who became an engineer, a global scholar, and ultimately a president who raised the University’s standards while remaining rooted in Christian values.
Early Life and Education
Born to a pastor’s family, Dr. Teodoro Canillas Robles was raised with deep Christian faith and values that would later shape his lifelong service to education. A man of both intellect and humility, he graduated valedictorian of both Leon Elementary School and his high school class.
He finished his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Central Philippine University (CPU) in 1964 as a working student assigned to the Physics and Electronics Laboratory. His perseverance and the “tremendous sacrifice” of his parents enabled him and his siblings to complete their education — a trait he would later instill in CPU’s culture of faith, hard work, and excellence. After graduating, he immediately joined the faculty of the CPU College of Engineering.
He later pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning both his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from Montana State University.
Distinguished Centralian and Academic Excellence Abroad
In recognition of his exemplary career in engineering education, Dr. Robles was honored with the Distinguished Centralian Award in Engineering Education by the CPU Alumni Association, Inc. on September 6, 1997.
The citation reads:
“Ever loyal to CPU, Dr. Robles has generously supported the University for the past twenty years… For his brilliant career and outstanding achievements in the field of engineering education, Teodoro Canillas Robles deserves the honor as a Distinguished Centralian.”
(CPUAAI, 1997)
Prior to returning to CPU, Dr. Robles held a distinguished teaching and research career in the United States. He served as Professor of Electrical Engineering at institutions such as Montana State University, Tennessee Technological University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).
At MSOE, he served as Director of the Applied Industrial Research Institute and Associate Director of the Applied Technology Center, engaging in digital system design, power electronics, microcomputer systems, and control systems. His numerous publications were issued by Pergamon Press and McGraw-Hill Book Company, and his research received funding from Altera Corporation, Motorola, Texas Instruments, National Semiconductors, Intel, and the U.S. Office of Coal Research.
For his excellence in teaching and research, he received the MSOE Distinguished Professor Award (2003) and was recognized as one of CPU’s Distinguished Alumni (1997).
Presidency at Central Philippine University (2008–2023)
Dr. Robles was unanimously elected President of Central Philippine University by the CPU Board of Trustees in 2008 and served for 15 years, until October 31, 2023. His presidency is regarded as one of steady leadership, technological modernization, and deep faith in God’s providence.
In 2018, the CPU Board of Trustees and the CPU Corporation extended his term for another five years, affirming their confidence in his visionary leadership.
Under his administration, CPU experienced remarkable growth in academic quality, international linkages, and institutional accreditation.
Achievements and Institutional Milestones
- Sustained CHED Autonomous Status
Throughout the 15-year presidency of Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, Central Philippine University (CPU) consistently maintained its Autonomous Status granted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) — a recognition reserved for higher education institutions that exhibit exceptional performance in instruction, research, extension, and institutional management.
This sustained Autonomous Status symbolized CPU’s steadfast commitment to quality Christian education and good governance.
- ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015 Certifications
Under Dr. Robles’s leadership, CPU achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification for its Quality Management System, affirming the university’s compliance with global standards for institutional operations, administrative systems, and educational services.
Later, during his tenure, CPU successfully transitioned to ISO 9001:2015, the updated version of the same quality management framework. This upgrade highlighted CPU’s adaptability to international benchmarks and its continuous drive for improvement in management systems, student services, and academic support.
These ISO certifications demonstrated that CPU’s processes were well-documented, transparent, and aligned with its mission of excellence through Christian education.
- Academic Accreditations and CHED Recognition
Under his administration, CPU recorded outstanding accreditation results across colleges and disciplines:
- Level IV accreditation – BS Biology and Bachelor of Liberal Arts (2017–2022)
- Level III accreditation – BS Chemistry and MA in Nursing (2016–2021)
- Level IV accreditation – BS Accountancy, BS Business Administration, and MBA (2017–2022)
- Level II accreditation – BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, BS Tourism, and MPA (2016–2019)
Moreover, CPU was ranked No. 1 in Western Visayas for the most number of CHED-recognized Centers of Excellence (COE) and Centers of Development (COD), and No. 18 nationwide, based on CHEDRO VI Memorandum No. 001, Series of 2016.
These recognitions affirmed CPU’s growing stature as one of the country’s top Christian universities.
- Strengthened International Linkages and Research Development
Dr. Robles spearheaded international partnerships with prestigious universities including Jilin Normal University and Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology (China), Nihon University and Toyama University (Japan), Hankyong National University (South Korea), and Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (Vietnam).
These collaborations fostered student and faculty exchanges, cross-cultural learning, and regional cooperation in education.
CPU also received numerous grants from the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UBCHEA) for projects in service-learning, sustainability, and leadership training. These grants supported CPU’s mission of integrating faith, character, and excellence into research and community engagement.
- Agricultural Research and Stewardship: CPU CARES and the Philippine Native Chicken Project
One of the most enduring legacies of Dr. Robles’s presidency is the advancement of CPU College of Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences (CARES), which became a Center of Excellence (COE) and a pioneer in native chicken research and production.
Dean Dr. Jaime Cabarles presented CPU’s advanced equipment and facilities for the Philippine Native Chicken Research and Production Program, saying,
“The productive agricultural research has been a result of dedicated study and involves not only scientific objectives, but realistically, production and market competency, which must be supported by new technologies.”
The College’s Research Center is equipped for microbial pathogen testing, hematological studies, in vivo animal tests, and molecular-assisted selection, making CPU the national leader in native chicken research.
Cabarles noted,
“CPU CARES is now capable of commercial production of native chicken. And as a Research Center for Product Development, it has a potential of producing products for sale.”
Supported by grants from the Department of Agriculture (DA), DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), DOST-PCAARRD, and CHED, CPU’s research transitioned from basic to commercial phases between 2002 and the present, reflecting both scientific innovation and faith-based stewardship.
In 2022, CPU awarded ₱75,000 worth of native chickens and feeds to the most productive participants of the CPU–Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) Chicken Dispersal Project. The project, launched in 2020, aimed to augment pastors’ livelihood and empower local congregations with sustainable income sources.
CPBC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso affirmed the university’s partnership, while expressing gratitude to Dr. Robles and Dr. Cabarles for their support.
The project embodied CPU’s mission to serve society through Christian stewardship, scientific advancement, and community partnership.
- Stewardship and Fiscal Discipline
At the Testimonial Dinner on October 26, 2023, CPU Board Chairman Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera commended Dr. Robles for leading “at a crucial juncture when the university needed a visionary and steady hand.”
In his own remarks, Dr. Robles shared,
“When we began, we were at about 85% collection rate. Today, CPU has reached beyond 98%. With that, we have renovated many of our buildings, and we did not borrow a single peso. Everything was from our savings.”
This statement captured his prudent fiscal management and long-term vision, which allowed CPU to expand its facilities, maintain employee welfare, and ensure financial resilience even amid the pandemic.
Leadership Philosophy and Vision
Throughout his 15-year presidency, Dr. Robles emphasized consultation, collaboration, and constant learning. In a 2023 interview, he said:
“I consult. I call on our unit heads and technicians… I focus on the need—calling a meeting, listening to ideas, suggestions, or proposals.”
On leadership and learning, he reflected:
“The success of the university depends on all of us. For you, there is a need to keep learning. Like me, as an electrical engineer, I had to learn how to maintain buildings. Technology changes over time. You have to learn as you go.”
Personal Life
Dr. Robles is married to Mrs. Angeles Antonio Robles, a CPU Nursing graduate from San Dionisio, Iloilo. They have one son, Dr. Theodore Robles, a Ph.D. graduate of Ohio State University and Assistant Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, married to Dr. Jennifer Preston. They are blessed with two children, Madelyn Kaye and Evan.
Legacy
When his tenure ended on October 31, 2023, his successor, Dr. Ernest Howard Buenaventura Dagohoy, took office on November 1, and the transition was marked by a parade, testimonial dinners, and official turnover ceremonies.
Dr. Teodoro C. Robles’s leadership at CPU is remembered for academic excellence, international partnerships, sound financial stewardship, and deep Christian faith. As Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera, Chairman of the CPU Board of Trustees, noted during the 2023 testimonial events:
“Dr. Robles assumed leadership at a crucial juncture when CPU needed a visionary leader.”
Faithful to the Centralian spirit of “Excellence through Christian Education,” Dr. Robles’s presidency exemplified integrity, scholarship, and innovation — an enduring legacy who led his beloved alma mater into a new era of global recognition and institutional maturity.