January 19, 2011

Liberals worldwide converge in Manila

Around 300 liberals from around the world will come to Manila for the pre-eminent Liberal International (LI) Congress. Rep. Jun Abaya, Secretary-General of the Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP) made the announcement on 10 February 2011 that LP is honoured to host the prestigious event. LI Secretary-General Emil Kirjas was also present during the announcement.

“The theme of the congress will be Human Rights and Free Trade. We need not go far to digest these two core liberal principles. Just looking at our region, a lot of complexities and issues will arise. There is an inverse proportional relationship between the two. We expect a very good interaction at the Congress in June,” said Abaya. LP President MAR Roxas will be the theme rapporteur.

The Congress’ website was also launched, and the video teaser that plays “Manila” by the 80’s popular band Hotdogs was shown to an audience of 100. The audio visual presentation highlights the Philippines as the first democratic republic in Asia, the home of people power, and being led by a liberal government. The song goes “there is no place in the world like Manila.”

LI is the world federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties where LP is the first Asian full member. “The 57th LI Congress will allow the membership from over 80 countries to learn of Aquino’s ability to develop administration that is a benchmark of good governance, and of a government that is also able to show solidarity with the international community in bringing issues like human rights, democracy and free trade to the forefront,” expressed Kirjas.

LI member parties, including members of parliament, ministers, diplomats, and heads of states, and representatives from liberal institutions and think tanks are expected to participate in the Congress. Liberal parties are now in government in such countries as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, U.K., Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Marocco, Slovenia, Kenya, Malaysia, Kosovo and Senegal.