President Horta delivered a speech entitled, “Is Long Lasting Peace an Attainable Dream?” at Teresa Yuchengco Theater at De La Salle University on January 15, 2009. The lecture was included in the program of the 8th Young Economist’s Convention, a joint activity of the Angelo King Institute at De La Salle University and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The 500 young economists who attended the conference tackled the issues of regional integration and regional peace building on Day 1 before moving to the Concept of Social Market Economy on the 2nd and 3rd Day of the conference.
Pres. Horta, the 1996 Nobel Laureate for Peace, expressed how he is not an optimist like the Dalai Lama, who believes long lasting peace is attainable, but a realist. He reiterated how it is important to respect the basic human rights and follow the rule of law. He stated, “We can fix political differences but it will take a lot more to heal the heart.” However, even in time of discord, he expressed, violence should never be an option towards the innocent.
He continued to say how no amount of force can prevail over emotions. When questioned by a student what he believed students can do to help bring about peace, he said “Study, study, study.” He added, students should do their very best for family, village and duty to serve.
De La Salle University conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa) to President Horta amidst students, media, diplomatic core and 1st-term Senator Loren Legarda.
In his speech to around 500 students, President Horta thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the support of the Philippine government. After the arrival of the 1st group of Timolese students, he hopes for an increase in the numbers in the future.