By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

The incoming CPU President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy (right) with (from left) CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Domingo Irving Rio, CPU Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Florence Bogacia and CPU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Esther Rose Romarate.

On October 2, 2023, the Board of Trustees and Corporation of Central Philippine University (CPU) announced the election and confirmation of Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy as the 18th President of the University. He will serve a term from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2028. Rev. Dagohoy’s appointment marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first pastor to assume the role of CPU President since the time of American Baptist missionaries. He succeeds Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, becoming the fifth Filipino President of CPU.

Prior to his appointment as CPU President, Rev. Dr. Dagohoy served as the Area 5 Representative of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, where he established trusted advisor relationships with numerous churches, academic institutions, healthcare facilities, and human care organizations in Southeast Texas. He also held the position of Senior Pastor at the First Philippine Baptist Church and served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology and Ministry at Houston Christian University (formerly known as Houston Baptist University) in Houston, Texas, USA. Earlier in his career, he served as the University Chaplain of Central Philippine University.

Rev. Dr. Dagohoy is an ordained minister of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from The Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth, a Master of Divinity from the Asian Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Theology from CPU’s College of Theology. He graduated with honors from the CPU Development High School Class of 1978 and held prominent positions, such as Corps Commander of the Citizens Army Training Corps of Cadets. During his college days, he was elected Governor of the CPU College of Theology and later as Senator of the CPU Republic.

The incoming President of CPU is married to a fellow Centralian, Dr. Cecile Gonzales Dagohoy, who currently serves as a Senior Business System Analyst at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Their daughter, Faith Alexine Dagohoy-Bentulan, is a Cardiovascular Nurse at Houston Christian University. Rev. Dr. Dagohoy was born at Iloilo Mission Hospital and hails from San Jose, Antique.

In response to the question, “What are your top five (5) long-term programs for the University?”, Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy submitted the following answer to the CPU Board of Trustees:

“These are my top five long-term programs, in alignment with the University’s Vision and Mission:

Spiritual Vitality

First in the list of CPU’s Five Core Values is FAITH. FAITH is given primacy as a core value because the birth of the institution is strongly tied to the American Baptist mission that expanded the reach of the Gospel in the Philippines.

From its humble beginnings in 1905, CPU has grown and is now looked up to as the best in Western Visayas and one of the top 20 schools in the whole country.

The story of God’s work at CPU throughout the years must not be forgotten. While 118 years have passed since its founding, the story must be told repeatedly. It can be done today by living out the Christian ideals of the University – starting with the Board of Trustees and officers of the Administration, followed by the faculty and staff, students, families, and guardians. These ideals must permeate every facet of the campus community – encompassing all educational programs and instruction, as well as various campus events and activities.

Academic Excellence

Central Philippine University has provided quality Christian instruction for years with various academic programs ranging from basic education all the way up to the post-graduate levels. Most of its eighteen schools and colleges are accredited by ACSCU, PAASCU, and ATESEA.  The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has granted CPU a full autonomous status and it is also the same government entity that awarded the University as National Centers of Excellence and Development. CPU has been ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) as one of the best and top Asian and global universities since 2021.

These accolades and many more speak of CPU’s stature as an outstanding institution in the global academic arena. This reputation is the by-product of years of hard work. However, we will not rest on our laurels as we move forward. We will continue to pursue excellence in the delivery of educational instruction, align all programs to national accreditation standards, attract outstanding students by offering substantial scholarships and financial assistance, expand our educational, cultural, and professional exchange programs, hire top faculty, upgrade our facilities, and tirelessly find ways to be at par with other institutions of higher learning in the Philippines, Asia, and around the world.

Faculty and Staff Development

The faculty and staff are CPU’s major assets. The University cannot operate without them.

For the faculty to be on the leading-edge of their profession, they must keep on learning and, when able, engage in research that can have a positive impact on the culture. To this end, we will increase the budget available for their professional development. We will encourage them to pursue further studies and help contribute to their education through a tuition assistance or reimbursement program. We will find ways for them to spend more time writing and doing research. We will fund their sabbaticals and trips to national and international conferences.

Part of the funding for research will be through securing grants. We will also tap into the generosity of donors for endowed chairs that carry reduced teaching loads and heightened research goals.

Working at CPU should not be a dead-end for one’s career. We will provide a ladder for both faculty and staff to be successful in their respective endeavors. The benefits to the University include increased loyalty, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and a faculty and staff pool with the skills needed to take on new challenges and move into leadership positions.

Student Success

While Central Philippine University’s major assets are its faculty and staff, the students are the most important stakeholders.

We want to provide students with the best possible environment for them to learn, grow, and prepare for the future in a campus that is infused with a combination of scholarship, friendship, and Christian fellowship.

We will strive to keep CPU as a primary residential campus where students live and study on the same ground – having access to student services; various campus organizations that provide avenues for leadership and responsible citizenship; discipleship; artistic expression in the areas of music, theater, visual craft, and literature; community outreach work; and camaraderie with their peers.

We will upgrade the University’s technology capabilities so that students can connect wirelessly from any location on campus to send email, download lectures, do research, and update electronic pages.

We will continue to find ways to keep students moving forward together, one of which is by enhancing the function of the Guidance Services Center as the Academic Success Center on campus.

Athletic activities are also important to the student life experience. We aim to excel in this area both to give campus community the chance to rally around the efforts of outstanding student athletes and, equally important, to promote the University.

Finally, we will strengthen the Work Student Study Program to help students who have the aptitude and motivation for college work but lack the financial resources. This program has garnered acclaim because thousands of work students who graduated from the University became successful in their respective careers.

Alumni Engagement

My wife Cecile and I are proud alumni of Central Philippine University, and so are several members of our respective families. We spent our formative years at CPU and are the recipients of the University’s commitment to Exemplary Christian Education for Life (EXCEL). We are where we are today because CPU trained us well, instilled in us the tenets of the Central Spirit, and gave us the opportunity to excel in our chosen endeavors.

Our success stories are not unique because there are similar stories like ours of alumni situated in many parts of the world who share the joy and satisfaction of making an impact on the lives of others.

I want to know and highlight those stories. I want our alumni to feel that even though they have been away from the University for a long time, they are not forgotten. I will connect with them through the Offices for Communication and Institutional Advancement and send University updates using the Centralian Link, brochures, annual reports, and social media. I will visit alumni chapters large or small, local and international, and represent the University at the CPUAAI and CPUFOAAI reunions. I will invite alumni to visit their Alma Mater whenever they are available and bring family and friends with them as well.

Lastly, I will encourage alumni to continue to stand for the precepts of CPU, live to fulfill its Vision and Mission, and support the work of the University in any way they can.”