Looking back with deep reverence and profound gratitude to the pioneers who laid its foundation, the University of Bohol commemorated its 55th Charter Day on December 11, 2025, at the University Main Campus.
In a simple yet meaningful ceremony, administrators, faculty, staff, and students gathered at the campus quadrangle for a flag-raising and wreath-laying rite, followed by a brief commemorative program. To avoid further disruptions brought about by recent weather-related class cancellations, the University suspended classes only for the duration of the ceremony.
In his Charter Day message, UB President Dr. Victoriano B. Tirol III honored the steadfast dedication of the institution’s early leaders, who selflessly shared their time, talents, and vision to realize the Boholano people’s aspiration for accessible and quality education. As the fifth president of the University, Dr. Tirol recalled the prophetic words of the late Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia, who once declared that the establishment of the University of Bohol marked a remarkable milestone in the region’s history.
Dr. Tirol also emphasized that celebrating the University’s annual Charter Day is, above all, an act of thanksgiving to God. He reminded the UB community that the occasion serves as a constant call not to rest on past achievements but to strive for even greater heights—breathing life and vigor into the mission and vision of this beloved institution.
On a lighter note befitting the holiday season, Dr. Tirol encouraged the UB community to remain hopeful and positive despite challenges. “Amid diverse opinions and beliefs, let us strive to build bridges, not walls,” he emphasized, reminding everyone that happiness remains within reach when unity and goodwill prevail.
The Charter Day program also revisited the University’s rich history. In 1946, as the nation was rebuilding from the devastation of World War II, a group of visionary and civic-minded Boholano leaders founded Rafael Palma College, named after the distinguished scholar, Dr. Rafael Palma. On December 11, 1970, Atty. Victoriano D. Tirol, Sr. was installed as the first University President—a historic moment that marked the institution’s official transformation into the University of Bohol. The renaming stood as a testament to the Boholanos’ enduring regard for education as a priceless heritage that no adversity could diminish.
(Leo Armando B. Boncales)
