FACT-CHECK: Former VP Robredo did not set world record for most number of honorary degrees

CLAIM: Former vice president Leni Robredo has the most number of honorary doctorates in the world.

RATING: FALSE

A Twitter user falsely claimed on Wednesday, June 28, that former vice president Leni Robredo received a certification from Guinness World Records for being awarded the most number of honorary degrees.

The  tweet featured an altered photo of Robredo holding the supposed framed certificate from Guinness, which states “Most Honoris Causa received (sic), exceeding the record of 311.” The document was said to have been issued on the same day the tweet was posted.

The tweet was captioned “Ay world record si mama.” (Mother has the world record.)

The tweet has been viewed more than 5,000 times.

The late Catholic priest Rev. Theodore “Ted” Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA, holds the official record for the most honorary doctorates received by an individual.

Since the first conferment of his honorary doctorate in 1954, Fr. Hesburgh has received 150 honorary degrees from different colleges and universities.

Robredo has received five honorary degrees, not 311.

In the Philippines, other political figures have received more honorary doctorates than Robredo. Here are some of them:

• Former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino – seven honorary degrees
  • Doctor of Laws 
    • Fordham University (2011)
    • Centro Escolar University (2012)
    • University of the Philippines – Diliman (2012)
    • Sophia University (2013)
  • Doctor of Economics
    • Kasetsart University (2011)
  • Doctor of Humanities
    • Tarlac State University (2015)
  • Doctor of Humane Letters
    • Loyola Marymount University (2016)
• Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno – 11 honorary degrees
  • Doctor of Humanities
    • Philippine Wesleyan University (1994)
    • Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (2009)
  • Doctor of Laws
    • Angeles University (2005)
    • Bulacan State University (2005)
    • Hannam University (2005)
    • University of the East (2007)
    • University of Cebu (2008)
    • Central Philippine University (2008)
    • Philippine Women’s University (2008)
    • Siliman University (2012)
  • Doctor of Public Administration
    • Polytechnic University of the Philippines (2007)

The manipulated photo posted by the Twitter user came from a post on Robredo’s Facebook page on June 26, 2019.

In the original photo, she was holding a framed star map showing what the sky looked like on her wedding day with her late husband, Jesse Robredo. – Xander Lauren Cipriano

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