Leni to receive Thai honor, speak in US

Vice President Leni Robredo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

VICE President Leni Robredo will make her first foreign trips as the Philippines’ second highest official this week, visiting Thailand and then the United States to receive an award and to keynote a conference, respectively.

Today (Monday) Robredo will receive from Thailand’s Queen Sirikit recognition as one of the “Honorary Outstanding Women of 2016” as part of the commemoration of Thai Women’s Day.

The Vice President is being honored by the Thai Queen for her “dedication for women in her country to improve women’s rights and gender equality, including overcoming barriers to be a successful Asean woman leader,” a statement from Robredo’s office said.

Thailand’s National Council of Women of Thailand, under the auspices of the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, is hosting the Thai Women’s Day celebration together with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education.

The event will also commemorate the 70th anniversary  of the accession to the throne of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the 84th birthday of Queen Sirikit.

Robredo will head to the United States later this week to keynote the 12th National Empowerment Conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations scheduled for Aug. 6 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.