Professor David is a Filipino sociologist who has also worked as a TV host and a producer. In this public lecture, he talked about Philippine politics, culture, and history as well as the important events that led to the formation of Philippine society.

The talk began with professor David posing a question: “Do you know what is happening in the Philippines right now?” He said that the answer is not simple and began explaining the experiences unique to the Philippines.

First, regarding culture and history, he explained that the ethnic communities in the Philippines are not unified and described how these regional differences could not be overcome during the Spanish rule. After this, he discussed how landowners exercising minority rule still existed when democracy began to take root under American rule. Discussing the various factors that contributed to this context, he explained that “Filipinos were angry at the elites who controlled the country for a long time, so they wanted a leader to emerge from the people who could take the power back.”

Next, he touched on the two types of politicians that have succeeded in the Philippines. The first type is the authoritarian leaders like President Marcos and President Duterte, while the other type is the moral leaders like President Aquino, but the Filipino people have always been drawn to the former. After this, he provided commentary on recent administrations— namely, how Marcos strived to concentrate all kinds of power, how Aquino’s moral character gave her credibility, and how the charismatic Duterte earned the support of people angry at society and past leaders.

He talked passionately about the People Power Revolution and how the assassination of Benigno Aquino, an opponent of the ruling government, led to the people rallying behind his widow Corazon Aquino to oust Ferdinand Marcos from power. According to David, the concept of People Power is now a global framework for peacefully overthrowing authoritarian regimes, and it still remains as a part of the political consciousness of the Filipino people. He ended his lecture, by stating, “Our search for social development with people in the leading role will not end until we can find the right formula for bridging the gap between law and culture and between the modern Constitution and national loyalty. And this will likely remain an issue for the current generation and the next.”

Professor David discussed Philippine society by effectively weaving in the experience of him and his late wife Karina who worked with him. His speaking style, which was reminiscent of a news caster, fascinated the audience.