(December 20, 2006/ Manila) The Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats hosted a dinner reception last night to bid farewell to CALD Program Officer, Mr. Brian Gonzales, and to give thanks for a successful 2006. The dinner reception was held at the FNF-CALD Office in Manila.
Mr. Gonzales will assume January, 2007 his new post as Southeast Asia Project Officer of the IUCN-The World Conservation Union regional office based in Bangkok, Thailand.
A Plaque of Recognition was presented by CALD and Liberal Party Secretary General, Representative Nereus Acosta, PhD. The plaque cited Mr. Gonzales’ exemplary performance as CALD Program Officer, his invaluable contributions to the organization, and his commitment to its ideals and principles.
The plaque was signed by CALD Chairman, Senator Franklin M. Drilon, Rep. Acosta, Taiwanese parliamentarian Bi-Khim Hsiao who was CALD Secretary General when Mr. Gonzales started his tenure as CALD Program Officer in 2004 and CALD Executive Director, John Joseph S. Coronel.
The plaque was awarded by Messrs. Acosta and Coronel accompanied by Philippine liberal parliamentarians Henedina Abad (Chairman of the CALD Women’s Caucus) and Lorenzo Tanada III.
Prior to the awarding, Mr. Siegfried Herzog, Resident Representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), presented a gift to Mr. Gonzales.
Among those who attended the event aside from the above mentioned parliamentarians were Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta, PhD, former Deputy Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat and former Education Undersecretary (Deputy Minister) and MP, Mr. Jose Luis Martin Gascon, Esq.
In his welcome address during the reception, Mr. Coronel acknowledged and thanked CALD’s partner, FNF and the chair party, the Liberal Party of the Philippines.
Aside from expressing his congratulations and thanks to Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Coronel also paid tribute to Mr. Paolo Zamora, CALD Program Officer who will be entering his fifth year in CALD. He also welcomed the incoming program officer, Mr. Carlo Religioso.
When Mr. Coronel announced the impeding resignation of Mr. Gonzales last month, members of the CALD Executive Committee and partners sent messages of congratulations and thanks.
Among them were from Italian Senator and Deputy Foreign Secretary Gianni Vernetti: “we from Italywere very much impressed about Brian’s work at CALD. I’m sure he will continue to do extremely well in his new position at IUCN in Bangkok”; and, Deputy Secretary General Nicollo Rinaldi of the Alliancefor Liberals & Democrats for Europe: “My best wishes to Brian for his new position. Here in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament we are very grateful to him for all the work he has achieved in making our organisations closer and in establishing an excellent mutual cooperation. I’m sure he will enjoy Bangkok and this important development of his career”.
Liberal Party Sri Lanka President Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha wrote that “Brian was a pleasure to work with. Quiet efficiency, along with a sense of humour, are invaluable”. CALD Secretary General Nereus Acosta said, “We wish Brian every success as he moves to Bangkok in January. We at CALD will certainly miss him, but we know our loss will be regional environmental conservation’s gain. Brian’s work with CALD was most valuable; as part of the secretariat he helped steer CALD’s work and responsibilities towards the kind of liberal networking and solidarity that we have and embrace today. To Brian we express our gratitude and congratulations for a job splendidly done. Mabuhay!”
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