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Senate
President Drilon (seated 3R) with Rep. Neric Acosta (standing
2R), Senator Manuel Roxas III (standing 3R), Rep. Henedina Abad
(seated 3L), LP Director General Chit Asis (seated R), FNF's Dr.
Ronald Meinardus (standing 4L) and CALD Executive Director John
Coronel (standing R). |
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(December
16, 2005/ Manila) The Liberal Party of the Philippines, Chair
Party of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats,
inaugurated today its new headquarters in Makati City, Metro
Manila, Philippines.
Heading the
guest list of eminent liberal leaders was Senate President
Franklin Drilon, LP president and CALD chairman. In his keynote
address, he cited the heightened role of the Liberal Party in
international affairs especially with the assumption of LP as CALD’s chair party in Taipei last October. He acknowledged that
members of the party have greatly benefited from participating
in various CALD events and encouraged party leaders to be active
in CALD.
Dr. Neric
Acosta, MP, LP Executive Vice President who assumed the position
of CALD Secretary General, gave the welcome remarks. In his
speech, he mentioned that he just returned from
Rome,
Italy
together with LP Senator Rodolfo Biazon and CALD Executive
Director John Coronel, where they met with illustrious European
and Asian democrats. He stressed that LP will be leading CALD,
which has become a major regional institution in advocating
democracy in political reform, amidst challenging times with
political crisis affecting various CALD member parties.
Other
speakers and guests included former Education Secretary and CALD
Chairman Florencio Abad and his wife Rep. Henedina Abad,
Senator Manuel A. Roxas, Deputy Speaker Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino
III and Dr. Ronald Meinardus, Resident Representative of the
Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The program was emceed by former
Education Undersecretary Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon and LP
Director General Concepcion “Chit” Asis who are both frequent
participants in various CALD events.
Attending
the event from the CALD secretariat were CALD Executive Director
Coronel, CALD Program Officer Paolo Zamora and intern Matt
Sherwin. As the inauguration also served as the LP’s annual
Christmas party, the CALD secretariat donated an Oriental
artwork to the raffle. |
