Remembering Ka Pepe Diokno: a video tribute

What a timely coincidence that the results of the 2011 Bar examination were released days after the 90th birthday of the legendary human rights lawyer Jose W. Diokno, who died in 1987. "Ka Pepe" Diokno topped the bar examinations despite not having a law degree, and had an illustrious law career. During Martial Law, he offered his services pro bono to victims of human rights violations.  In a speech, he told law students, "As lawyers and as law students, our function is not only to cause respect for law. It is to improve law so that it will truly give us justice." To commemorate Ka Pepe's 90th birthday last February 27, the Diokno Foundation and his grandchildren, who include the 23-year-old filmmaker Pepe Diokno, produced a documentary to celebrate his legacy. Among the admirers and friends of the late senator who share their memories of the man are former President Cory Aquino, national artist and novelist  F. Sionil Jose, and former Manila Times publisher Chino Roces, who appears in a vintage film clip. - Candice Montenegro/HS, GMA News Video courtesy of The Diokno Foundation