On May 21, 2025, Atty. Leila de Lima stood before a crowd of students, youth leaders, and activists in the acacia-lined enclave of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus. It was her first public address since being proclaimed a member of the House of Representatives, representing Mamamayang Liberal (ML), the sectoral party-list affiliated with the Liberal Party. Instead of a press conference or partisan rally, she chose to speak at a student-led summit focused on leadership and public service.

The event—VINZONS LEAD 2025—was organized by residents of the Upsilon Sigma Phi, together with a network of youth organizations, offices, and advocacy groups. It was named after Wenceslao Q. Vinzons, a UP student leader, constitutional delegate, and World War II guerrilla fighter who was executed by Japanese forces in 1942 for his refusal to cooperate. He belonged to batch 1930 of the Upsilon. Known for his intellect and courage, Vinzons is remembered as someone who stood his ground in the face of pressure. The summit bearing his name was intended as a space for reflecting on leadership shaped by his values.

For many attendees, especially the younger students, it was their first time hearing de Lima speak in person. She thanked those who had supported her during her detention and spoke briefly about the experience, but most of her talk centered on what comes next—on truth-telling, accountability, and the need for democratic engagement.

Drawing from the writings of Paulo Freire, Pierre Bourdieu, José Rizal, and Amartya Sen, De Lima urged the youth to look beyond surface-level service and instead grapple with the structural roots of inequality. “True generosity,” she quoted Freire, “is the struggle to dismantle the very structures that perpetuate inequality.” Leadership, she said, must go beyond charity or token representation — it must be about conscientização or critical consciousness: asking why people are poor, why injustice persists, and what role we must play in transforming those realities.

“Justice,” she reminded the crowd, “is not only about addressing needs or inequalities. It is about expanding people’s freedoms — and their capabilities — to live the kind of lives they value.”

In a striking moment, she declared, “The hardest truths to power are not the ones we speak to power, but the ones we must speak to ourselves.” It was a challenge to everyone in the room — to turn inward, reflect deeply, and lead with integrity. “Let your leadership,” she said, “be defined not by ambition, but by integrity. Not by power, but by principle.”

In that hour, Senator Leila de Lima was not just a guest speaker. She was the embodiment of the summit’s theme. “We’re not here to watch history unfold,” she told the audience. “We’re part of it, and we have a responsibility to act.”

Her speech was framed around the role of young people in pushing back against apathy and fear. Without sounding rehearsed or sentimental, she called for the kind of persistence that outlasts a news cycle or a single administration. She also referred to the motto of the Upsilon, which had helped organize the summit: “We gather light to scatter.”

Her presence at a summit named after Wenceslao Vinzons added weight to the event. Though they lived in different times, both had been tested by political persecution and made difficult choices based on principle.

The summit brought together a broad group of attendees. Among them were student leaders, local officials, former representatives, and organizers from various causes. Activists from across the political spectrum shared the stage. Former Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza was among the speakers, and her words rang throughout the hall: “Kung lagi mong tatanungin kung para kanino ka tumitindig, hindi ka maliligaw sa layunin at esensya ng pagseserbisyo.”

The Legazpi brothers of the Upsilon were also in attendance: Karl Legazpi, batch 2014, now Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission, and Franz Legazpi, batch 2018, a law student turned Representative of the Pinoy Workers Partylist.

It was also a moment when campus rivals were seen for the first time together under one roof, represented by two UP Student Regents, the newlt elected UPD USC Chairperson from the LABAN KABATAAN COALITION (affiliated with STAND UP), and the President of UP ALYANSA.

The program was kept simple: a plenary session, smaller breakout discussions, and a dinner for informal exchange. Speakers included:

• Francesca Mariae Duran, 41st UP Student Regent
• Prof. Jay-Ar Igno, from the Office of Student Projects and Activities
• Prof. Fe Mendoza, former NCPAG dean
• Mark Alcazar, from Pasig Laban
• Moderator: Sofia Jan “Iya” Trinidad, 40th UP Student Regent and NUSP President

Organizers said the aim was not to hold a large or flashy event, but to bring people together in a meaningful way. That meant creating space not only for student councils and public officials, but also for local vendors, transport workers, and other community voices.

The team behind the summit consisted mostly of juniors in the fraternity. Many were still completing final exams and balancing other commitments. They worked late nights coordinating permits, handling logistics, and bringing together groups that don’t often share the same platform.

Support came from the UP Office of the Student Regent, the ML party-list, the National Youth Commission, and youth and advocacy groups such as Rise for Education, Sigma Delta Phi, GoodGovPH, and others.

VINZONS LEAD 2025 was later featured by GMA Online and picked up by other outlets, but those involved said media coverage wasn’t the goal. What mattered was creating a moment where people could listen, speak, and take ideas seriously.

For many of the students in the room, De Lima’s speech served as a reminder that integrity in public life isn’t just about reputation or position. It is about the decisions people make when it’s difficult to stand alone.