Legarda receives honorary doctorate degree from UP

MANILA — The University of the Philippines has conferred upon Senator Loren Legarda the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa on Sunday during the 107th General Commencement Exercises on Sunday of the state university where Legarda was guest speaker.

The honorary degree was given to Legarda “in grateful recognition of her four decades of exemplary commitment as a lawmaker, journalist, and an advocate of social concerns such as the promotion of social justice, human rights, peace, cultural diversity, environmental protection, universal access to education, job creation and entrepreneurship, among others.”

“It is a tremendous honor and pride to be conferred by my Alma Mater with this eminent award. I humbly accept this honorary degree, grateful that my hard work, dedication, passion and commitment as a public servant are acknowledged,” Legarda said.

Meanwhile, Legarda spoke before around 2,000 graduates of the University of the Philippines Diliman as this year’s commencement speaker.

“I wish to express my profound gratitude to the University of the Philippines for this recognition and for letting me address this year’s batch of graduates who holds the future of our country in their hands. I hope to inspire these young minds with the message I will deliver tomorrow,” she said.

Key measures

In her speech, the lady senator spoke of the advocacies and the key measures she lobbied as member of the upper house, and how she went beyond politics to help pass laws.

“Few people seem to truly understand me, because the causes I espouse are not the ones which make the headlines. I do not seek out political controversy, or engage in sometimes tiring and endless debates, whether on the floor of the Senate or on social media,” she said.

“The concerns I raise and the causes I espouse go beyond governments and administrations. They do not have six-year life spans,” she added.

During her tenure at the Senate, Legarda authored and sponsored the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Renewable Energy Act, the Climate Change Act, and the People’s Survival Fund, “among other key measures to improve our environment, build up our resilience against disaster, and fight climate change.”

‘Tatak UP’

Legarda also called on the graduates of the state university to continue pushing their advocacies, and let their voices be heard.

“UP would not be UP if it were not to remain the bastion of intellectual inquiry and academic freedom in this country. UP would not be UP if we were to devote ourselves to anything less than service to the people, in whatever form. UP would not be UP if it did not dare to lead, to be different, and to excel,” Legarda said.

“To the demonstrators, I say welcome, and say your piece if you must, as I have said mine. UP will not be UP without you,” she said in her speech.

The 107th General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Diliman was held Sunday at the University Ampitheater.