By Marisol Bo-oc, Helen Castano | 09:23 PM December 01, 2020
The religious order running the Holy Name University (formerly the Divine Word College of Tagbilaran) appointed Rev. Fr. Ruel “Dudz” Lero as the school’s new president.
The Society of the Divine Word, popularly called Verbites or the Divine Word Missionaries, installed Fr. Lero as the school’s new leader in an investiture ceremony held on Tuesday, December 1, coincidentally Fr. Lero’s birthday.
Fr. Lero, the 4th president of the university, succeeds Rev. Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD.
He is president for academic triennium 2020-2021 to 2022-2023.
The event followed health and safety protocol for the
participants since the venue capacity was limited to 50% or at least 500 persons.
It was broadcasted live via the school’s Facebook account to cater to a wider audience who were unable to grace the occasion due to restrictions.
Bishop Abet Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran graced the event. Officials who came were Gov. Arthur Yap with provincial board member Aldner Damalerio and former board member Abeleon Damalerio.
About Fr. Dudz
Lero, 44, popularly known as “Dudz”, was born in Dumaguete.
He finished his communication degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), after which he studied philosophy at Christ the King Mission Seminary (Quezon City) before completing his theological training (magna cum laude) at the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay. Further studies in Tagaytay led to a Master of Arts in Theology (summa cum laude) followed by a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (magna cum laude) from the Pontifical Urban University. He returned to UPLB to complete a Doctor of Philosophy major in Extension Education (minor in Development Communication), which earned him Academic Achievement and Best Dissertation awards.
He became coordinator of Biblical Apostolate of Philippine Southern Province, program director of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program for Divine Word School of Theology and Vice President for Academic Affairs of HNU.
