Good afternoon – first I would like to thank former Chief Justice

Artemio Panganiban and the rest of the people behind the Foundation for
Liberty and Prosperity as well as the dissertation board of judges headed
by Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe for this great honor and
privilege.
The philosophy of Liberty and Prosperity can manifest in different
forms. In my thesis, it can be seen mainly on how protecting and
conserving the country’s natural resources, its natural wealth, ensures that
we and future generations have the opportunity and capability to fully
exercise our rights.
Liberty and Prosperity cannot truly exist without the other.
Prosperity is the necessary consequence of liberty when fully and properly
utilized. I’d like to define liberty as the ability to do what is right; and
for those who know me – one of facets of liberty which I hold dearest is
the freedom of speech. It is, after all, as per Justice Cardozo of the US
Supreme Court, the “indispensable condition of nearly every other form
of freedom”.
As a law student, our higher education is both a privilege and a
responsibility. Because we know more, we should be expected to speak
more and educate others, especially in these times when misinformation
seems to be the language of many; when dissent is tagged as
destabilization.
Free speech is not measured by how often you can nod your head,
but by how loud you can say no – and in this era of supermajorities , it is
left to us, the public, to stand up against abuses, to speak up and say –
that’s enough.
To my fellow scholars and awardees, I hope that when the dust
settles, we will see each other on the same side, heads held up high,
knowing that when the chips were down – when institutions were shaken,
when rights were challenged, when women were belittled, when God was
mocked – we stood our ground, we did not cower, we did not compromise
– we spoke for those not heard and we fought for what is right.
“Safeguarding liberty and nurturing prosperity under the rule of law”
– is more than just a philosophy. It is a challenge for all of us, whether we
be in the legal profession or not – to remain vigilant against attempts to
unlawfully curtail our inherent liberties, or unjustly enrich those in power.
Let each of us be a beacon of hope – hope that our nation would continue
to have liberty and prosperity. Thank you.