CALD, FNF and LP Philippines hail Filipino liberal stalwarts

(December 18, 2007/ Manila, Philippines) The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and the Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP) paid tribute today to Hon. Franklin Drilon and to Dr. Neric Acosta during the Liberal Christmas Party celebration at the Mandarin Oriental in Gateway Mall, Cubao.

LP president, senator Mar Roxas, honored former senator Drilon with a toast for his invaluable contributions and principled leadership as both LP president and CALD chair.  Likewise, CALD Women’s Caucus chair Dina Abad spoke of Dr. Acosta’s adventures as CALD secretary general and how he was able to bridge diverse political leaders together.   

In response, former Senator Drilon said that CALD, for more than 14 years, has stood to uphold the cause and struggle for the fundamental right to free expression and assembly, democratic choice, and justice. The Liberal Party stands proud and honored in having served as CALD Chair Party. He added that LP is deeply inspired by the synergy of commitment and devotion of the CALD member parties to the indivisible cause of freedom and democracy.

Dr. Acosta, on the other hand, lamented on the difficult times where the LP of the Philippines had to sail on turbulent waters withstanding all political pressures and harassments. In his speech, he described how the Party, through its principled leadership, has taken the path of the “difficult right”. “It is the way of moral leadership in the politics of principle over convenience or expediency, taking this path has come at high political cost but we are secure in the belief that we simply did what was the right thing for the country in strengthening of our institutions,” he further added.

FNF resident representative Siegfried Herzog also honored Hon. Drilon and Dr. Acosta. He spoke of their significant role in bringing Philippine and Asian liberal concerns to a wider audience. “The time and effort they have devoted to international work has raised the standing of Filipino liberals and of the Philippines as a democratic nation.  They have enriched the political debate, and they have enabled other Filipino liberals to share in this exchange of ideas and experiences,” he affirmed.

Senator Drilon, former president of the Philippine senate and Dr. Acosta, former member of the Philippine House of Representatives, served as CALD chair and secretary general respectively from 2005-2007. Dr. Acosta, as decided upon by the CALD executive committee, will continue to assume his position as CALD secretary general until next year

Categorised in: News Article

This post was written by CALD