Philippine Liberals Give YLDA Great Reception
2004-08-26

The members of the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI or the Young Liberals of the Philippines) were indeed very excited as they welcomed the delegates of the YLDA Strategic Planning Workshop with great hospitality in their country.

One of the highlights of the program was the visit to the Senate, where Senate Pres. Franklin Drilon, Chairman of the Liberal Party, hosted a lunch for the YLDA Delegates on August 19, 2004.

In the Upper House, the delegates wished to learn more about the Philippine Senate as well as the current issues in Philippine politics. Sen. Drilon talked about the importance of the political parties and their role in nation-building. The Senate President also emphasized the leading role of the Liberal Party in Philippine political landscape.

Joining the foreign participants were KALIPI Officers namely: Atty. Taikee Calleja, Executive Vice President, Mr. Eric Caliboso, Vice President for Students, Mr. Jan-Argy Tolentino, Secretary-General, Ms. Claudette Tolentino, Deputy Secretary General and Mr. Robert Anthony Ramos, Media Bureau Officer. Dir Eli Quinto, Director General of the Liberal Party and founder of KALIPI, also joined the foreign guests.

On the morning of August 21, the workshop participants took part in the wreath laying ceremony held at Sen. Ninoy Aquino Monument at the Baywalk in Manila as part of the official ceremonies commemorating Ninoy?s martyrdom. Manila Mayor and LP Executive Vice President Lito Atienza led the event.

The commemoration in Manila of Aquino's 21st death anniversary stressed the importance liberalism and how the young and future leaders of Asia correspond to it. "For all these years, Ninoy has been a symbol of liberalism and democracy in the Philippines", KALIPI Sec-Gen Mr. Jan-Argy Tolentino said.

Also on the same day, KALIPI conducted an Asian Youth Forum to celebrate its 15th founding anniversary. After the different member organizations and countries of YLDA were introduced, Hon. Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, Chairperson of the National Youth Commission, hosted a talk show-style forum.

The participants talked about the youth leadership in Asia and issues facing the Youth Leadership of Asia. YLDA Pres. Jonathan E. Malaya facilitated the forum.

The panelists for the youth forum were Mr. Koy Koung of KNYM-Cambodia, Mr. Eko Darwanto of PKB Youth-Indonesia, Mr, Rajendra Mulmi of YI-Nepal, Ms. Hsiu-Hui Yuan of DPP Youth-Taiwan and KALIPI's Mr. Henry Bacurnay. Ms. Essa C. Remoquillo, Associate Editor of the Liberal Philippines, was the Master of Ceremonies for the said event.

After the forum, Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan, Vice Chairman of the LP and Senate Majority Leader, was the guest of honor. He said: "Today, after 15 years, KALIPI remains and is acknowledged as one of the largest and most dynamic youth wings of a political party in the Philippines and continues to make itself relevant to its constituents among its various chapters by providing needed exposures and trainings."

Before leaving Manila, YLDA Sec-Gen Rajendra Mulmi expressed his gratitude to the hosts and said: "The young Asian liberals are very impressed by the great hospitality of the Liberal Party of the Philippines".

Garda Bangsa Garda Bangsa was formed in 1998 following the successful political reform spearheaded by students and other campus activists to depose the tyrannical regime of President Suharto. The organization was founded by Abdurram Wahid, a former adviser of President Suharto who resigned following an escalation in government corruption and political management by the administration. He championed "Responsible Openness" within the government system and proposed the establishment of a Reform Committee in order to mitigate poor governance within the administration. His calls were left unheeded and so he eventually withdrew support for the government and joined the efforts advocating for reform in the government. Read more...