Mandaue Pride: The Becoming of CDU’s Local Legacy

Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) has long been a source of pride for Mandaue City. For years, its stellar performance in national licensure examinations has been recognized during city council sessions. 

This 2025, however, marked a historic milestone: for the first time, CDU’s excellence was honored on the grand stage of the Mandaue City Charter Day Awards, held on August 30, 2025 during the city’s 56th Charter Day celebration.

A Charter Day Milestone

The award cited CDU’s outstanding performance in the most recent board examinations, where the University excelled nationally as:

• Number 1 Top Performing School in the Medical Technologists Licensure Examination

• Number 1 Top Performing School in the Speech-Language Pathologists Licensure Examination

• Number 1 Top Performing School in the Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination

• Number 6 Top Performing School in the Radiologic Technologists Licensure Examination

IN PHOTOS: Close-up shot of the Plaque of Recognition (Left)

and HRMO Head Mrs. Antoinette Badilles representing CDU (Right)

Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano conferred the Plaque of Recognition on stage, joined by other city officials. The gesture highlighted CDU as a proud representation of Mandaue’s commitment to excellence in education and the health sciences.

Beyond the Board Exams

While this year’s recognition highlighted the University’s dominance in licensure examinations, CDU’s success extends further. According to Dr. Enrico B. Gruet, Vice President for Academic Affairs, CDU sustains its academic excellence by subjecting its programs to rigorous accreditation by external organizations such as PAASCU and PACUCOA — ensuring that the University not only meets but consistently exceeds national standards.

Equally important, CDU instills its shared values of Wellness, Integrity, Service, and Excellence across all courses and in the different academic programs. “After graduation from CDU, we are confident that they have already internalized these shared values even in their work place,” Dr. Gruet emphasized. He added that partner hospitals and institutions consistently commend CDU graduates for their strong work ethic, compassion, and capacity for leadership.

What sets CDU apart, he noted, is its balanced academic culture. “[...] we provide a  perfect work-life balance. Meaning, they are here to study, so they can concentrate on their academics but at the same time, they are given opportunities to develop themselves to be a total human being,” Dr. Gruet said.

IN PHOTO: Dentistry students performing an operation

Students as Bearers of Pride

For CDU students, the Charter Day recognition is more than an institutional honor — it is both a motivation and a responsibility. Fourth-year Nursing student Jann Fatima Darrie B. Lago shared that while the award fills them with pride, it also challenges them to live up to the standards set by those who came before. “It pushes us to do our absolute best —and use what we've learned for the better, not just for ourselves, but also for our families, our friends, our school, and the communities we will all soon serve,” she said.

Lago emphasized that the recognition serves as a reminder that every effort in the classroom and in training contributes to something bigger. The honor given to CDU reflects not just institutional achievement but the collective journey of its students.

To younger CDU students, her message was one of perseverance and purpose. She urged them to believe in themselves even when faced with setbacks, to rise after failures, and to value the friendships and opportunities that shape their education. “[...] Remember to cherish every moment and opportunity for learning you can get, remember to have fun and make friends and build a community who will help you build yourself into the person you want to be,” she encouraged, “And most of all, stay true to who you are, and prove to the world that you can and will do great things.”

IN PHOTO: Radiologic Technology students analyzing an X-ray result

The Becoming of a Legacy

CDU’s recognition at the Charter Day Awards represents the continuation of a story already deeply tied to Mandaue. From acknowledgements in council sessions to now being celebrated at the city’s official civic stage, CDU’s role as a local legacy has become more visible than ever.

This milestone is not only a reflection of licensure performance but also of the University’s enduring impact — shaping generations of health professionals, advancing academic excellence, and strengthening its partnership with the city it calls home.

For Cebu Doctors’ University, the award is more than an accolade. It is a symbol of belonging — proof that its achievements are inseparable from the progress of Mandaue City, and that its legacy as Mandaue’s pride will continue to thrive for generations to come.

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CDU MPRO