Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman joined other lawmakers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) held in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 5 to 10, 2023.

The AIPA is an organization founded in 1977 that aims to promote cooperation and understanding among the parliaments of ASEAN member states. It also serves as a forum for dialogue and exchange of views on regional issues and challenges.

Roman, who is also the chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, expressed her honor and gratitude for being part of the assembly. She posted on her social media accounts: “An honor to stand alongside esteemed leaders from diverse ASEAN member nations at the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Together, we’re charting the course for our region’s future and fortifying diplomatic bonds.” Congresswoman Roman also shared some of the topics discussed during the assembly, such as the COVID-19 pandemic response, economic recovery, environmental protection, human rights, and regional security. She said that she learned a lot from the best practices and experiences of her fellow parliamentarians and hoped to apply them in her legislative work.

Rep. Roman also highlighted the importance of fostering solidarity and friendship among ASEAN countries, especially amid the challenges brought by the global health crisis. She said that she was inspired by the vision and mission of AIPA to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. “I am proud to represent not only Bataan but also the Philippines in this prestigious assembly. I hope that through our collective efforts, we can achieve our common goals and aspirations for our people and our region,” she said.

Roman is one of the “equality champs” who launched the passage of the anti-discrimination bill on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGIE) in the Philippine Congress. She was named as one of the 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016 by US-based Foreign Policy magazine and one of the “13 Inspiring Women of 2016 by Time Magazine.

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