Filipina pioneer: How Erlinda Espiritu made history at Harvard Law School
Photo from Harvard University/Facebook
Filipinas have long been making history, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. From politics to sports, arts to science, their contributions continue to inspire and empower.
In the modern era, trailblazers like Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist, Maria Ressa, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist and Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, have brought global recognition to the country. Recently, tennis prodigy Alex Eala has been making a name for herself after upsetting tennis heavyweights in the Miami Open.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Harvard Law School (HLS) has recently paid tribute to Erlinda Arce Ignacio Espiritu, the first woman to earn a degree from the institution.
The school honored her legacy with a social media post highlighting her academic journey and enduring impact.
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Born and raised in the Philippines, Espiritu drew early inspiration from the tales of the Knights of the Round Table. In the post, she admired their commitment to defending the defenseless and dreamed of doing the same through the practice of law.
Undeterred by the turmoil of World War II and the Japanese occupation, she pursued her legal aspirations and became one of the few female lawyers in the Philippines by 1947.
In 1951, Espiritu made history by becoming the first woman to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from HLS, breaking gender barriers at the Ivy League institution.
More than five decades later, in October 2007, Espiritu returned to HLS for the first time in 55 years. Invited as the guest of honor at an LL.M. dinner, she reflected on her journey with gratitude.
“The opportunity to learn well, not only in the matters of law but in improving the lives of our fellow men,” she said, expressing her appreciation for the education she received.
Her presence inspired many of the recent LL.M. graduates in attendance, who gathered around her table, eager to thank her for blazing a trail for women in the legal field.
