The Executive Committee of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), the umbrella organization for the world's young liberals, will be gathering in Manila this coming 24 – 28 July 2008 for their regular meeting.
"They're very excited to come here. IFLRY has long wanted hold its Executive Committee Session in the Philippines, and now is as good a time as any, it will be the first time in Manila, and the second Asian City to host such event" Prof. Jan-Argy Tolentino, Vice President of IFLRY and Secretary General of the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI) said. KALIPI will be serving as host for the IFLRY Executive Committee and other delegates during the four day event. More than Forty (40) foreign guests are expected to attend the Executive Committee of IFLRY.
IFLRY gathers together the youth wings of the world's liberal parties, as well as other liberal youth organizations that share the liberal democratic ideology. KALIPI, the two-decade old youth wing of the Liberal Party, is its first Asian member, and two previous KALIPI officers – Former Congressman and Constitutional Commissioner Chito Gascon and former Bukidnon congressman Neric Acosta – have served as its Vice Presidents.
IFLRY is currently headed by Ms. Paola Silva, a political scientist and active NGO worker from Colombia who served as Vice President from 2003 – 2005. Aside from Tolentino, the other sitting Vice Presidents of IFLRY are Ahissata Camara from Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Africa; Frederik Ferie of Germany, and; Jelena Spasovic from Serbia. Bart Woord of the Netherlands, one of IFLRY's longtime stalwarts, currently serves as its Secretary General, while Chris Gallaway, the former president of the Young Democrats of America, is the organization's Treasurer.
Among the young liberal leaders attending the meeting is Rajendra Mulmi of Nepal, the President of the Young Liberal and Democrats of Asia (YLDA), the regional organization for Asian young liberals, Aloys Rigaut of Belgium, President of European Young Liberals (LYMEC), Deependra Chaulagain, President of Liberal Youth of South Asia (LYSA) and former Manila congressman Miles Roces, President of KALIPI.
"For this Executive Committee Session, we'll be focusing on the impact of the growing role of China in regional and world politics and its challenges for young liberals," Tolentino said. He added that aside from the Regular Session, there will be interactions with local youth and a debate using the All-Asians Format on the meeting's theme. Local experts on international politics from the academe and civil society were invited to speak in the forum part of the meeting on July 25th.