Labor leader, human rights lawyer and democracy advocate, Atty. Luke Espiritu urges Generation Z Lasallians to be the drivers of change in the Philippines during his address as the keynote speaker of the Jose W. Diokno Memorial Lecture Series on September 15 at the St. La Salle Coliseum.
With the theme, “Remembering Resistance, Defending Democracy” the legacy lecture series commemorates the 53rd anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law.
Atty. Espiritu highlighted how the EDSA People Power Revolution brought forth lasting change such as the restoration of democracy and the removal of repression and censorship over the media.
In his address, he pointed out that reforms were limited to the political sphere, underscoring the lack of social and political change, which he sees as the cause of the problems the Philippines continues to face today.
From elite social structures held by political dynasties to the absence of economic modernization, Atty. Espiritu emphasized that amidst these longstanding issues he sees the current Generation Z as the hope of the Philippines, echoing Jose Rizal’s enduring belief that the youth are the hope of the nation.
Key student-leaders also empowered Lasallians to remember resistance, defend democracy, and continue the pursuit for freedom and social justice.
In attendance were Br. Irwin Anthony A. Climaco FSC, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Rowena A. Chiu, and Political Science Program Chairperson Elias Patriarca Jr.
This memorial lecture, organized by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Political Science Department, and the USLS Political Science Society, previous keynote speakers include former Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Atty. Leila de Lima and De La Salle University–Manila College of Law Founding Dean Atty. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno.