Actor-model Daniel Matsunaga proudly took to his Instagram account on September 9 to announce that he will be receiving his Doctorate Degree in Humanity Major in Social Work (Honoris Causa) from the Brethren Evangelical School of Theology (BEST).
Matsunaga posted a video of the ceremony on his Instagram account showing the school officials of BEST conferring the honorary degree to him.
“I am very honored to be the recipient of such an amazing award. I just want to thank God for everything He has done in my life, also to the executives for believing and trusting me with such a big award.
“To my family who has always been there for me, no matter what the situation, or how big my problems were, they never left me alone. Just got my Doctorate Degree in Humanity Major in Social Work (Honoris Causa).
“To God be all the Glory always,” Matsunaga captioned the Instagram post.
However, days after Matsunaga received his Ph.D. in Humanities, the Commission on Higher Education released a statement saying that the actor-model’s honorary degree as their records show that BEST is an unrecognized higher education institution (HEI).
CHED said that the school which is based in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, does not have a permit to operate and the credentials to grant honorary doctoral degrees.
“CHED strongly warns the public that schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning that have not been issued government authority to operate cannot grant honorary degrees to individuals,” CHED’s statement reads.
CHED stated that BEST violated CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 19, series of 2014 which states that only academic institutions which “existed for 25 years and possess a well-acknowledged academic reputation” can grant honorary degrees.
They ended their statement by saying that honorary doctorate degrees given by BEST, including the one Matsunaga received, will not be recognized by CHED, and that the school will be sanctioned immediately.
Both BEST and Matsunaga have yet to release statement regarding the issue.
