DURING THE SAN Beda University (SBU) Institutional Convocation held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on July 30, the University celebrated a life of faith, service, education, and peace by conferring the degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa upon Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, O.M.I., D.D.
The honorary doctorate, which was last given by the University to the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jose Advincula in 2023, recognizes individuals whose lifelong work has made an enduring impact on society. For Cardinal Quevedo, it affirms decades of unwavering commitment to pastoral leadership, interreligious dialogue, education, and nation building—values that resonate deeply with SBU’s Benedictine tradition of prayer and work.
A life dedicated to faith and peace
For more than six decades, Cardinal Quevedo has dedicated his life to serving the church through education, pastoral leadership, and peacebuilding. Born on March 11, 1939, in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, he pursued his vocation with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and was ordained a priest in 1964, beginning a ministry that would leave a lasting mark on the Catholic Church in the Philippines and across Asia.
His journey led him from the classrooms of Notre Dame University (NDU) in Cotabato City, where he became its first Filipino president to the episcopacy as the first bishop of the Diocese of Kidapawan and later the first Filipino Archbishop of Cotabato. Throughout his ministry, Cardinal Quevedo became a steadfast advocate for interreligious dialogue and peace in Mindanao, championing reconciliation among Christians, Muslims, and Indigenous people amid decades of conflict.
His exemplary leadership earned him some of the church’s core commitment, serving as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 1999 to 2003 and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) from 2005 to 2011. In 2014, late Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals, the body of all cardinals and the primary advisory council of the Catholic Church, recognizing a lifetime devoted to faith, service, and the pursuit of peace.
A lifetime of service recognized
The conferral of the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, upon Cardinal Quevedo recognizes his contribution to the Catholic Church and Philippine society. In his acceptance address, Cardinal Quevedo called on the Class of 2026 to embody the Benedictine spirit of Ora et labora, encouraging them “to pray and to work hard for tranquility of order in our homes, in our communities, in our country.”
In an exclusive interview with The Bedan, Cardinal Quevedo shared that while he has received five honorary doctorate degrees throughout his lifetime, San Beda’s recognition marked “the climax” of his achievements as it affirmed his work in building bridges among different faiths.
The award has highlighted the advocacies that the Cardinal had envisioned, explaining that this is “to create harmonious relationships among Christians, Muslims, and Indigenous people.” Underscoring the foundations of peacebuilding, he shared that genuine dialogue begins with mutual understanding and respect.
When asked for his message to the Bedan community, he offered a simple yet enduring challenge: “Become persons of dialogue rather than persons of conflict,” reminding Bedans that lasting peace is built not through division, but through understanding, respect, and genuine encounter.
While the honorary doctorate recognized Cardinal Quevedo’s remarkable journey, his greatest legacy was found in the message he shared with the Bedan community. In a world marked by differences, he called on every Bedan to choose dialogue over division, and service over self. It was a fitting reminder that the highest honors are ultimately reflected in the lives they continue to inspire.