Opening Remarks of Former BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. during the awards ceremony of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity held on August 29, 2025 at the Manila Polo Club.
FLP Awarding Ceremony
29 August 2025
Manila Polo Club
The Honorable First Lady Madame Louise Araneta Marcos,
The Honorable Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo,
Our Guest Speaker, Mr. Fernando Zobel de Ayala,
The Chairman of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity, retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban,
The Foundation’s President, retired Justice Angelina Sandoval- Gutierrez,
Members of the Judiciary present here,
Our Partners in the Foundation’s various programs and projects,
Our Friends and Supporters from the academe, business and the government,
My fellow Trustees of the Foundation,
Parents, teachers, mentors, friends, and most especially our new scholars, fellows, and winners,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
GOOD EVENING
It is with great pride and joy that I welcome you to this momentous occasion — the awarding and recognition of our new Law Scholars, ESMEL Fellows, and Dissertation Contest Winners.
Today is not just a celebration of individual achievement, but also of the values that bind us together as a Foundation: liberty and prosperity under the rule of law — a judicial philosophy born from the vision and work of an honorable, extraordinary individual and friend, Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban.
We gather not merely to hand out certificates or plaques, but to honor something far greater — the spark of potential within each and every one of our scholars, fellows and winners.
Our Foundation’s philosophy reminds us that liberty is not simply the absence of restraint; it is the presence of opportunity — the freedom to aspire, to forge our own path, and to build our future. But liberty, on its own, is fragile. It needs the steady foundation of the rule of law to safeguard it, and it needs prosperity to give it meaning in people’s daily lives.
Prosperity, in turn, is more than wealth. It is the ability to live with dignity, to create, to contribute, and to share in the fruits of progress. It grows best when rooted in justice, fairness, and respect for one another’s rights. This is the balance we seek, as seen in the programs and projects of the Foundation — and the balance we see reflected in each of you we honor today.
To our scholars, fellows and winners, we hope you carry with you not only the pride of your families, friends, and schools, but also the hopes of communities who see in you a future leader, innovator, and servant of the common good. Your education is a gift, yes — but it is also a responsibility.
As we honor you today, we also place upon you a gentle but important challenge: to use the opportunities before you not just for your own advancement, but to help build a society where liberty and prosperity thrive together. In doing so, you carry forward not only the vision of our Foundation, but also our shared mission as a growing community for the future.
After this event, we hope you will show us that excellence is not a one-time achievement, but a way of life. Through discipline, integrity, and service, you can prove that liberty and prosperity are not abstract ideals — they are lived values that transform lives.
To our partners: the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, the Ayala Corporation, the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, and the Metrobank Foundation, — thank you. Thank you for your generosity, for your counsel, and for collaborating with us and believing in our vision and programs. None of this would have been possible without your steadfast support and guidance.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank my fellow trustees, directors, and staff of the Foundation, and the hardworking members of the Boards of Judges and Screening Committees, for generously sharing their time and effort in choosing the most deserving scholars, fellows, and winners.
Let us then celebrate, with gratitude and hope, the promise that each of our honorees represents. May this ceremony inspire us to continue working toward a nation where every person’s dreams can take flight — under the shelter of freedom, the guidance of law, and the blessing of shared prosperity.
Congratulations to all! Let us begin this meaningful celebration.
Thank you.