Liceo installs Pelaez-Golez scion as university president

The Liceo de Cagayan University formally installed Dr. Alain Marc Pelaez Golez as its fifth president during the Formal Installation and Investiture Ceremonies held on Feb. 28 at the Rodelsa Hall, coinciding with the 65th Foundation Day of the University.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, City Mayor Oscar Moreno, CHED Regional Director Dr. Raul Alvarez, Jr., heads of government agencies, presidents from various universities and colleges of Cagayan de Oro, and officials of the Liceo de Cagayan University were in attendance at the University’s milestone event.

A Holy Mass celebrated by Father Froilan Briones of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Father heralded the formal academic exercise. The Investiture Ceremony began with the academic  procession, led by the university officials: Executive Administrator of the Paseo del Rio Campus Dr. Denise Orong, Chief Finance Officer Mr. Edwin delos Santos, University Comptroller Atty. Leo Paolo Perez, VP for Research, Publication and Extension Dr. Nenita I. Prado, VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Ma. Florecilla C. Cinches, VP for Human Resource Management and Development Dr. Edgar V. Romero, Hon. City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno, Liceo Outgoing President Dr. Mariano M. Lerin, and CHED Region X Director Dr. Raul C. Alvarez, Jr..

Highlighting the ceremony was the Oath of Office administered by CHED Region X Director Alvarez on the incoming President. The conferment of the symbol on President Golez was presided over by Director Alvarez, Mayor Moreno, and Dr. Rafaelita Pelaez, the Madame Chair of the Board of Directors of Liceo University.

In his Inaugural Address, President Golez looked back to Liceo’s humble beginnings. He paid homage to the founders, his grandparents, Atty. Rodolfo Neri Pelaez and Elsa Pelaez Pelaez, promising to continue to build on and uphold their legacy, hoping to do nothing less during his watch. His message underlines the concept and philosophy of stewardship and its role in his service as University President. “Stewardship, by definition, is to manage the enterprise with the mindset of a mere caretaker. Never as owner,” Dr. Golez explained. “Successful stewardship is to turn over the family business to the next generation in a better state than when first received.”

The success of Liceo de Cagayan University and its exemplary performance, he acknowledged, was due to the stewardship of his predecessors, especially that of his parents, Dr. Jose Maria R. Golez and Dr. Rafaelita P. Pelaez, the first and second University Presidents respectively, in solidarity with the deans and officials of the university. He spoke of Liceo’s steadfast practice of its core values, and he also mentioned the university’s focus on the appreciation of arts, culture, and the humanities – the Rodelsa being the home of culture and the performing arts in Northern Mindanao. According to him, “At Liceo University, we capture this essence in our vision with the phrase: Total Human Formation.” Dr. Golez ended his Inaugural Address in gratitude for the opportunity to serve the university. “I look forward to harnessing the potentials, the possibilities, and the opportunities with you, and create a university that is finely tuned to adapt to the trends, to the changing landscape of the times.” (pr)