Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party (LP) is eyeing to recruit 75,000 new members and volunteers for the May 2022 elections, its president, Senator Francis Pangilinan, said Tuesday.
This “massive recruitment” is among several pipeline activities of the LP in 2021, which Pangilinan announced in celebration of the party’s 75th founding anniversary.
In a kick-off speech posted on LP’s Facebook page, Pangilinan said the party would continue with its commitment to upholding democratic values.
“Ang kasaysayan ng ating partido, malaking bahagi nito ay kasaysayan din ng ating Republika. Apat na pangulo ng Republika ay nanggaling sa ating hanay sa ating partido. Malawak at makabuluhan ang naging karanasan ng Partido Liberal sa loob ng 75 taon. Maraming pagsubok ang hinarap ng partido sa loob ng pitong dekada, subalit naririto pa rin tayo,” he said.
(A big part of the party’s history is the history of our Republic. Four Philippine presidents were from our or are allied with our party. It has been a fruitful and meaningful 75 years for the Liberal Party. There were a lot of challenges in the over seven decades we’ve been around but we are still standing.)
“We are a part of Philippine history as a party. It is a legacy of public service and dedication to democratic values and principles that transcend the decades,” he added.
In 2019, LP, where Vice President Leni Robredo serves as chairman, has established 33 chapters across the country and it grew to 106 chapters and organizing committees by the end of 2020, according to the senator.
“Kayo po ito. Tayo po ito. Dahil po ito sa inyo. A party of, by, and for the people,” he said.
(This is you, this is us, this is because of you. A party of, by, and for the people.)
Aside from the recruitment of 75,000 new members of volunteers, the party also prepared the following activities to engage its chapters and promote the organization this year:
- Establishment of a Liberal Youth Academy – training arm or think-tank of the Liberal Youth
- Liberal Hackathons or good governance design thinking workshops
- The FREEDOM Show with the Liberal Youth
- FREEDOM Explained Project (explainer videos on abstract concepts of
liberalism)