PNoy follows Cory, Ninoy footsteps at Asia Society in New York

President Benigno Aquino III is slated to speak before Asia Society in New York, the same organization where his father, the late Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., delivered his now famous phrase, “The Filipino is worth dying for…" 31 years ago. Aquino, the 15th Philippine President, is scheduled to go to the United States for an official visit from September 18 to 23. According to Malacañang, the President will highlight his administration’s campaign for transparency during his five-day visit to the US. The Asia Society in New York invited Aquino to deliver a speech on his domestic and foreign policy thrusts, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday at a briefing in Malacañang. “The Asia Society speaking engagement resonates, both on a personal level for the President and on a historical level for the Filipino people," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Patricia Ann Paez said. Aquino’s father delivered a speech at the Asia Society on Aug. 4, 1980. His, mother, the late President Cory Aquino also spoke before Asia Society in 1986. The Asia Society was founded in 1956 by billionaire-philanthropist John D. Rockefeller III to promote greater knowledge of Asia in the US. It holds conferences featuring heads of Asian governments and business and policy leaders to examine the implications of macroeconomic trends and geopolitical developments for the region and the world. Open Government Partnership Upon the invitation of US President Barack Obama and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff, co-chairs of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), President Aquino will attend the launching of the OGP in New York on Sept. 20. The OGP is a new multilateral initiative to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. In a joint letter to Aquino, Obama and Rousseff wrote: “We appreciate the active engagement and leadership of your government in developing this effort, and look forward to standing with you as we launch this initiative in September." The Philippines is one of only eight countries, and one of only two from Asia, which are members of the Steering Committee of OGP. The other countries are US, Brazil, UK, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway and South Africa. “The selection of the Philippines as a steering committee member is an international acknowledgment of the Aquino government’s demonstrated commitment to, and innovative practices in, open governance and anti-corruption," Paez said President Aquino will also deliver the keynote remarks, entitled “The Power Open: A Global Discussion," at an OGP forum. He is the only head of state invited to address this forum — an all-day multi-stakeholder, ministerial level conversation focused on the role of openness in improving responsiveness, fostering accountability, creating efficiency, fighting corruption, and similar themes. Paez said Aquino at the OGP will enhance the Philippines’ strategic profile by underscoring his administration’s commitment to OGP’s good governance and anti-corruption agenda. IBM, Fordham U On Sept. 21, the President will also keynote speech at the IBM Centennial Forum called “THINK: A Forum on the Future of Leadership." The event marks IBM’s 100th anniversary and will be attended by more than 700 leaders from government, business, the academe and science, as well as up-and-coming leaders from across the globe. Fordham University in New York will confer on Aquino an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. An independent university in the Jesuit tradition, Fordham was founded in 1841. It had also conferred an honorary degree on President Corazon Aquino in September 1986. Following a Fordham tradition, the names of over 30 world leaders conferred a degree are carved on the steps of the “Terrace of the Presidents" at Keating Hall. The President’s name will be carved next to that of President Cory Aquino. While in New York, the President will meet with high level business executives of the US-Asean Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce in a roundtable meeting. Paez said the President Aquino will highlight his government’s economic agenda and accomplishments after a year in office. He will also meet with present and potential US investors. The President’s economic team will be with him, but there will be no one from the private sector in his delegation. In Washington, DC, the President will give a public lecture before the World Bank. He was invited by World Bank Group president Robert B. Zoellick for this event. In his invitation letter, Zoellick wrote to Aquino: “We are inspired by the Philippines’ experience of ‘People Power’ and your administration’s platform of good governance and poverty reduction." The President will also have a meeting with Sen. Daniel Inouye, President Pro Tempore of the US Senate and chairman of the Appropriations Committee, to thank him for his continued support of Philippine causes in the US Congress. Sen. Inouye was responsible for the passage of Filipino Veterans Compensation Fund. He was also a primary sponsor of the SAVE Act, which is expected to benefit both the Philippine garment industry and US textile manufacturers. Paez said Aquino will have an interview with The Washington Post, which is still being arranged. The President’s last activity in Washington is a meeting with the Filipino community in the tri-State of Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. This is his first meeting with the Filipino community of about 110,000 Filipinos in the region. Aquino will appraise the Filipino community on his administration’s accomplishments and share with them the latest developments in the Philippines. — VS, GMA News