The Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI), the official youth wing of the Liberal Party, elected its officers during its 6th National Congress last 6-7 September 2008 at the Imperial Suites Hotel, Tomas Morato, Q.C.
Elected to the position of President was Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon of the 2nd District of Caloocan City, the youngest member of the Liberal Party contingent in Congress.
“Being a member of this proud and historic organization is honor enough; to be asked to lead KALIPI as we young liberals face these challenging and exciting times is something that words cannot fully convey,” Rep. Cajayon said after her oath taking as the new President of KALIPI. She is the first woman ever to be elected President of the 19-year old organization.
The other officers of KALIPI elected during the Congress were: DENR Assistant Sec. Jayjay Suarez, Chairman; Von Valdepeña, Vice Chairman; Nico Valencia, Exec. Vice President; Rey de Guzman, VP for Communities; Martin Defensor, VP for Students; Jan-Argy Tolentino, Secretary General; Michelle Quinto, Treasurer; Atty. Mia Wacnang, Auditor; DJ Bagatsing, Area Chair for the NCR; Yvette Fernandez, Area Chair for Northern Luzon, Board Member Rommel Edaño, Area Chair for Southern Luzon; GP Abayon, Area Chair for Visayas; and Mayor Cherilyn Akbar, Area Chair for Mindanao.
Among those who spoke during the 2-day Congress were DENR Sec. Lito Atienza, LP President; Deputy Speaker Eric Singson; former Sec. Mike Defensor, a past Chairman of KALIPI; former Undersecretary Manny de Castro; Department of Education Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, who is a former Vice President of KALIPI, and; DENR Undersecretary Eli Quinto, who is the Founder of the organization.
Miles Roces, the outgoing KALIPI President and now its Honorary Chairman, praised the new leadership, saying that he was “glad that the future of KALIPI is in good hands.”
Roces also commended the members of the Preparatory Committee, led by newly-elected VP for Communities Rey de Guzman, for a successful Congress. “After all the delays, all the hardships, we were able to push through with our National Congress and do what’s right by electing our national leadership.”
KALIPI was founded in 21 August 1989 by Quinto, Dinggoy Roxas, Mikee Macapagal-Arroyo, Jinggoy Estrada and Solfie Confiado. Its first major action as the youth wing of the LP was in acting as the backbone for the presidential campaign of Sen. Jovy Salonga in 1991, earning for the organization the moniker, “the saving grace of the Liberal Party” from the Grand Old Man of Philippine Liberalism.
“I assure you that, with your continuing support, we will accomplish much during my term as President,” Rep. Cajayon told her fellow young liberals. “We will build on the long record of service to the Party and to the nation by KALIPI, and add to our proud history as the vanguard of Philippine liberalism by strengthening our ranks and doing our utmost to help heal the divisions that have estranged our senior Liberals for the last three years.”