MLQU and Espiritu Family Sign Historic Endowment Agreement for the Erlinda Arce Espiritu Professorial Chair in Civil Law and Innovation

The Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) School of Law reached a historic milestone with the signing of the Endowment Agreement for the Erlinda Arce Espiritu Professorial Chair in Civil Law and Innovation — the first ever endowment fund established at MLQU since its acquisition by New San Jose Builders, Inc. in 2014.

The agreement was signed by Atty. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., President and Chairman of MLQU, and Dr. Benjamin I. Espiritu, on behalf of the Espiritu family, as donor. The signing was witnessed by EVP Lucille Ortile, MLQU School of Law Dean Atty. Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, and Atty. Lourdes Marivic Punzalan-Espiritu.

A Lasting Legacy in Legal Scholarship

The Erlinda Arce Espiritu Endowment Fund, seeded with ₱1,000,000.00, is dedicated to promoting scholarly work in Civil Law and legal innovation at MLQU. The Fund is structured as an open endowment, allowing additional contributions from the original donor or other benefactors to further expand its reach and impact.

As its initial project, the Fund will support the Professorial Chair in Civil Law and Innovation, providing resources for scholarly research, public lectures, and publication of works that contribute to the development of Philippine jurisprudence.

Honoring a Trailblazing Alumna

The Professorial Chair is named after Atty. Erlinda Arce Ignacio Espiritu, alumna of the MLQU School of Law and a pioneer in Philippine legal history:

• The first Filipina admitted to Harvard Law School for a Master of Laws degree;
• One of the first two women in the world to earn a Master of Laws from Harvard;
• Part of a three-generation MLQU-Harvard legal legacy.

This initiative serves both as a memorial to her remarkable career and as a forward-looking platform for fostering intellectual leadership in Civil Law.

Supporting Excellence in Legal Research

The Chairholder, a qualified member of the Philippine Bar with a current teaching load at MLQU School of Law, will be tasked with preparing a scholarly paper titled “A Survey of Significant Supreme Court Decisions in Civil Law in the Last [10/5/2] Years and a Commentary Thereon”, and delivering a public lecture at the launch of the Professorial Chair on September 9, 2025 the birth anniversary of Atty. Arce-Espiritu.

The Fund will also provide an honorarium of at least ₱50,000.00 to the Chairholder, support research-related expenses, and retain the right to publish the scholarly work to further benefit the legal community.

About the Donor

BGEN. Dr. Benjamin I. Espiritu, AFP (Res), PhD, MNSA, is a distinguished leader in corporate governance, public service, and academia. A Certified Public Accountant and President of ROAM Inc. and Chairman of Banco de Mindoro, he has served as Governor of Oriental Mindoro, elevating the province to first-class status. Dr. Espiritu’s extensive academic leadership experience includes roles at PLM, FEU Makati, Don Bosco Technical College, and DLSU Graduate School of Business.

His commitment to integrity, leadership, and education is now enshrined in this endowment, ensuring continued excellence in legal scholarship for generations to come.

A Milestone for MLQU School of Law

This endowment marks a new era for the institution, demonstrating growing stakeholder confidence and opening opportunities for future academic partnerships.

President Ochoa expressed the University’s deep appreciation to Dr. Espiritu and the Espiritu family, noting:

“This is more than a generous gift—it is a beacon for the future of legal scholarship at MLQU, a lasting tribute to an extraordinary alumna, and an investment in the next generations of lawyers.”