Malacañang
28 November 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed former Polish President Lech Walesa during a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace. Joining them are Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Philippines Adam Jelonek and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The former Polish President arrived in the Philippines last November 24 from an invitation of President Aquino. He is expected to conduct a series of talks on the various aspects of democracy with different institutions.

He was recently conferred the title of Honorary Professor by the University of Santo Tomas where he hosted a lecture on “The Role of Faith in the Struggle for Democracy and Development.” He is also scheduled to conduct similar lectures in Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University.

The Former Polish President was also the keynote speaker at the recently concluded 9th MediaNation Summit held in Tagaytay and will be discussing talks on “The Politics of Reform: Protecting the Gains of Democratic Reform from the Enemies of Change” at the Asian Institute of Management’s “Development at Work” Series.

The former Polish President, also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been hailed as a global icon of democracy for his non-violent approach in championing the nationwide social movement of “Solidarnosc” (Solidarity) which led to the eventual downfall of the communist regime in Poland and gave rise to the political changes in Eastern Europe.

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