Thursday, October 23, 2008

Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (Young Liberals of the Philippines)


On August 21, 1989, with the aim of providing increased youth involvement in various parliamentary issues, serving as training ground for young leaders, inculcating and deepening the understanding of liberalism among young people and building a strong youth movement that will transform the nature of Philippine politics, the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas was born.

KALIPI is composed of young patriotic leaders aged 15-35 years – –fully representing a dynamic community youth leaders, elected local officials, respected student leaders, and successful young professionals.

It played and continues to play a crucial role in Philippine politics, such as its patriotic stance for the removal of foreign military bases, condemnation of the coup d’ etat, lobbying for the creation of the National Youth Commission, fight for the Magna Carta for Students, the Kabataang Kontra Cha-cha and the Anti-VFA campaigns and participation in the 2nd people power revolution.

From then on, the KALIPI has remained and is acknowledged as one of the largest and most dynamic youth wings of an institutional political party in the country today. KALIPI continues to be relevant to constituents of its various chapters by providing them exposure and training.

As part of the organization’s expansion project, Ms. Nysa Tolentino, then Vice President of the BSU-Supreme Student Council, founded KALIPI in Bulacan State University on August 21, 2003. Mr. Nelson Robles, founding President, spearheaded different programs and projects to promote and invigorate the organization’s program of action. The two conducted seminars and forums informing the youth on important issues. KALIPI-BSU likewise started the Voter’s Education Seminar by conducting a mock election entitled “Who Would You Vote For in the 2004 Election?”, the first mock election in BSU. This was undertaken in cooperation with the BSU Student Government.

KALIPI has also been a partner of Bulacan State University - Alliance of Students for Action and Progress from its inception up to the present. KALIPI provides training, lectures and workshops to the leaders of ASAP to equip them for the BSU Student Elections. Indeed, KALIPI’s assistance to ASAP help the alliance overcome five-struggling years to remain the true party for BSU students.

KALIPI – BSU has also taken part in different activities of the national leadership. The group participated in the Stop Impeachment Movement in 2003. The group likewise joined the Student Leaders’ Forum, a sister organization of the KALIPI, a network of student organizations all over the country. Along these lines, the founder of KALIPI has also played a part in the formation of the National Students League and the Council of Ladies. Several leaders of KALIPI - BSU represented BSU in the 5th and 6th National Congress held in cities of Roxas and Quezon respectively.

For five years now, KALIPI –BSU continues to be in the forefront of building the structures and systems that will allow today’s youth to effectively and pro-actively meet the challenges they face and prepare aspiring leaders for responsibilities they will eventually face.

KALIPI hopes to provide the Filipino youth with a venue for responsible expression and effective action relating to the issues facing the nation and the youth today.

In this regard, KALIPI – BSU is determined to be a trailblazer chapter promoting KALIPI’s mission and vision.

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