‘Saludo’ honors founder at 98th anniversary

Juan Enrique Reyes, President of Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation (NRMF); Aurelio Montinola III, Chairman of Far Eastern University, and Juan Miguel Montinola, President of Far Eastern University

A highlight of Far Eastern University (FEU)’s 98th founding anniversary celebration was the launch of “Saludo,” a special exhibit presenting documents, photographs, and memorabilia of founder Dr. Nicanor Reyes Sr. from the University Library and Archives collection.  

The exhibit honors Reyes, whose vision in 1928 laid the foundation for what is now one of the country’s foremost universities. Members of the FEU community, administrators, faculty, staff, and representatives from across the FEU Group of Schools, gathered in unity to remember the life and legacy of the university’s first president. 

A pioneer in private higher education in the Philippines, Reyes was the first Filipino to obtain a Ph.D. in Accountancy. He championed the then-unheard-of notion that higher education should be accessible to the “working student”—a radical and compassionate stance at a time when college education was beyond reach for many. That bold belief in inclusive and meaningful education continues to define FEU today. 

As FEU advances toward its centennial milestone, “Saludo” stands as both remembrance and renewal—a reminder that the university’s future is firmly rooted in the clarity of its founding vision. 

Since 1928, FEU has contributed to nation-building and opened its doors to generations of Filipinos seeking meaningful education and purposeful careers. Ninety-eight years on, the institution continues to honor the legacy of its founder—not only by remembering him, but by living out his mission in every Tamaraw it forms.