One Hundred First started as a handicap.
When I volunteered for our commemorative program committee over a year ago, my first realization was that the silver anniversary of my class - the class of 1987 - would be the year following the centennial celebrations of the College of Law.
Which meant that we would probably be even more burdened by donor fatigue, alumni disinterest and a general sense of "what could come after a centennial?"
But I realized that the turn of a century is historically a time of hope, of looking forward, and the silver jubilee of my class would be the first year of this brave new century of the College of Law. So handicap became inspiration.
To celebrate the one hundred first anniversary of the college, the 2012 commemorative program, entitled One Hundred First, features a unique section - One Hundred Firsts. This section lists the graduates of the College of Law who were First to occupy a position or hold a title important to the history of the college, the university and the republic.
Let me explain that a little - we all know that George Malcolm was our first dean but he is not the one featured in the list. It is Jose A. Espiritu who was the first alumnus to serve as dean of our college. It is he who is therefore listed in One Hundred Firsts.
Still there are many absolute firsts in the list, after all, these are the alumni of UPLaw. In fact we had to stop the presses to be able to include one of the most recent absolute firsts - first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Which brings me to what I consider the most inspiring subsection and the reason why I am here tonight - the firsts of the female graduates of the College of Law. It is even more inspiring to note that many of the women featured in this list are here with us.
And so on behalf of the other members of the 2012 commemorative program committee, Deng Gatdula and Vicky Loanzon, allow me to present to WILOCI thru Fina de la Cuesta Tantuico, WILOCI president, our co-committee member, our classmate, my friend, a copy of One Hundred First - please keep it as part of the record of the grand history of this organization, and as a reminder of the gratitude of the class of 1987 for your support.
Thank you and here's to many more firsts.
