Drilon to launch memoir, hold book signings at UP Law and UP Visayas

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

The Manila launch will take place during the UP Law Alumni Weekend at Malcolm Hall, where Drilon is expected to engage fellow alumni, students, and members of the legal community in a discussion on public service, law, and leadership, followed by a book signing.

A second leg of the launch will be held in Iloilo at UP Visayas, marking a homecoming of sorts for Drilon, who began his academic journey in what was then UP Iloilo College, where he finished high school in 1961. He later completed his undergraduate studies in 1965 at UP Diliman and earned his Bachelor of Laws from UP College of Law in 1969, the same year he placed third in the bar examinations.

Drilon’s memoir revisits his formative years in UP, recalling a distinguished graduating class that would later shape the country’s 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, which “looked like mini-reunions of Class ’69.”

In 2014, Drilon was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by UP in recognition of his contributions to law and public service. In 2022, the UP Alumni Association Iloilo Chapter named him as its Lifetime Achievement Awardee.

A third book launch is also scheduled on April 15 at PHINMA University of Iloilo, where his father, Atty. Cesar Drilon, completed his law degree when it was still known as Iloilo City College.

Drilon’s first memoir has drawn praise from industry leaders and observers of Philippine politics.

Edgardo G. Lacson, currently the Chairman of the Board of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), described the work as more than a personal account.

“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, a Director of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and was formerly President and Honorary Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), also offered reflections on the book.

In Chapter One, titled “Unwavering,” Lacson described the memoir as a reminder that leadership is shaped through steady struggle and grounded in 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 commended Drilon’s memoir in her 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, who praised Drilon’s integrity, legal brilliance, and lifelong dedication to public service, even saying that “Drilon should have been president.”