First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos reminisced about her own graduation from law school as she received the Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Law.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during the conferment rites for her honorary doctorate degree from the West Visayas State University on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (Photo from Liza Marcos Facebook page)

During the college’s commencement exercises and conferment of awards on Saturday, June 8, at the WVSU Auditorium in Iloilo City, the First Lady thanked the institution as she remembered her excitement at finishing her own law degree.

“Before anything else, allow me to express my gratitude for conferring upon me this prestigious honoris causa,” she said in a video posted on her Facebook page.

“I’m deeply humbled to receive this award. Needless to say, I shall try my best to live up to your expectations today and in the years to come,” she added.

Marcos, who is a part-time professor of public international law at WVSU, congratulated the “deserving graduates” of the institution’s pioneer class under the Juris Doctor program of the College of Law, Batch Banaag.

But she also shared her own feelings with the class as it was nearly 40 years ago when she, too, was among her own law school batch, awaiting for her name to be called.

“39 years ago, I was seated where you are now, and it’s funny because look at your faces, I know exactly what you’re feeling,” she told the graduates.

“I can tell that you’re happy because it’s finally over and that you’ll be finally receiving your diplomas, your well-earned diplomas,” she said.

Marcos earned her law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1985. She also took up post-graduate classes in Criminal Procedure at the New York University.