Drilon returns to UP for memoir launch

Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon will return to the University of the Philippines this April for the official launch and book signing of his memoir, Being Frank: A Memoir, with events set at the UP College of Law on April 11, 2026, and at UP Visayas on April 14, 2026.

The Manila launch will be held during the UP Law Alumni Weekend at Malcolm Hall.

Drilon is expected to meet fellow alumni, students, and members of the legal community for a discussion on public service, law, and leadership, followed by a book signing.

A second leg of the launch will take place in Iloilo at UP Visayas.

The Iloilo event marks a homecoming for Drilon, who began his academic journey at what was then UP Iloilo College, where he finished high school in 1961.

He later completed his undergraduate studies at UP Diliman in 1965.

He earned his Bachelor of Laws from the UP College of Law in 1969.

That same year, he placed third in the bar examinations.

In his memoir, Drilon revisits his formative years at UP and recalls a graduating class that would later help shape Philippine politics and governance.

“I graduated from the UP College of Law in 1969—a star-studded class,” Drilon wrote in his memoir.

“Our valedictorian was Ronaldo Zamora…our salutatorian, Toti Corona… Miriam, who went on to become secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform, graduated third in our class. I graduated as a member of the Order of the Purple Feather, the honor society of the UP College of Law.”

He added that three members of their class—himself, Corona, and Miriam—would later serve together in Cabinet meetings under President Corazon Aquino.

He said those meetings “looked like mini-reunions of Class ’69.”

Drilon’s return to UP also highlights the long arc of a public career closely tied to the state university system.

In 2014, UP conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his contributions to law and public service.

In 2022, the UP Alumni Association Iloilo Chapter named him its Lifetime Achievement Awardee.

A third book launch is also scheduled on April 15 at PHINMA University of Iloilo.

The venue carries personal significance for Drilon because his father, Atty. Cesar Drilon, completed his law degree there when it was still known as Iloilo City College.

The memoir has also drawn praise from business leaders and political observers.

Edgardo G. Lacson, currently chairman of the board of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said the book goes beyond personal storytelling.

“Permit me to be frank about your work of love. Your book is more than a memoir. It is a guide for those who seek not only success, but also a life at peace with oneself while navigating the complex world of Philippine politics. Each chapter reveals your character, perseverance, industry, and steadfast commitment to what is right for the common good,” Lacson said.

Lacson is also a director of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

He was formerly president and honorary chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Reflecting on Chapter One, titled “Unwavering,” Lacson said the memoir offers a lesson on leadership forged through steady struggle and humility.

“It teaches that those who aspire to lead must first learn to follow, grounded in humility rather than pride, aware of one’s strengths and limitations. Ambition alone does not lift a person to greater heights. It is humility, coupled with a sincere desire to serve, that truly elevates,” Lacson said.

Columnist Joanne Rae Ramirez also praised the memoir in a column published in the Philippine Star.

“Frank Drilon’s memoir Being Frank is a like a Netflix political thriller from the moment the first chapter comes to view. It begins with a blast. Literally,” Ramirez said in her column piece.

The memoir also carries a foreword by former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban.

Panganiban praised Drilon’s integrity, legal brilliance, and lifelong dedication to public service.

He even said that “Drilon should have been president.”