December in the life of the De Venecias

. Rep. Gina de Venecia  talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when  typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.

Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.

December 26 is the birthday of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who is now sporting an arm sling after he figured in an accident at his relative’s house in San Francisco, California last month. He stepped on a hose in the garden and fell to the ground fracturing his shoulder and harming his knees. His doctors advised him against undertaking long-haul travels in the next two to three months.

The accident compelled the peripatetic JDV to forgo attendance in the meeting of the standing committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Ankara, Turkey last Nov. 21 and 22.

JDV co-founded ICAPP, a forum of political parties of various ideologies among countries in Asia-Oceania to promote exchanges and cooperation; enhance understanding, and create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.

ICAPP members include political parties in Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Vietnam.

In a message sent to the Ankara conference organizers, JDV urged ICAPP members to work on or with their respective governments to undertake measures to cope with Climate Change. citing the “apocalyptic destruction of the Philippines’ Tacloban City and Visayan Islands.

The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives  visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor  Remedios Petilla, Representatives Sandy Ocampo,  Gina de Venecia, Marie Anne Pernes, Linabelle Ruth  Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.

The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Rep. Sandy Ocampo, Rep. Gina de Venecia, Rep. Marie Anne Pernes, Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.

JDV said the destruction wrought by typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) “reminds us (that) it is the poorest countries that suffer the most from the greenhouse gases the richest countries let loose heedlessly in the atmosphere.”

Last week, the De Venecias marked the 9th year death anniversary of their daughter KC, who perished in a fire on Dec.16, 2004 in their old house on Magnolia Street in Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

The admirable thing about the De Venecia is how they have channeled life’s adversities into something good. Out of that grief, Gina, who is now a member of the House of Representatives representing the fourth district of Pangasinan, formed Inang Naulila sa Anak (INA) Foundation, a support group for mothers who have lost a child.

In INA, in times of grief, they hold each other’s hand and offer a shoulder to cry on.

Last Thursday, Gina, together with her fellow women lawmakers (she is president of Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. or AWLFI) and three members of INA – Yna Yulo, Titing Brillantes and Ditas Tan visited Palo, Leyte, one of the places devastated by typhoon Yolanda last month.

They met parents who lost several members of their family. “Who could understand them better if not another parent who experienced the same grief?” Gina said.

“In great tragedies like this, equally important is the moral support to the victims. Their great loss will be lightened by their understanding that they are not alone,” she added.

The all-women group didn’t limit their counseling to mothers. They met Michael Abadia, 50, who lost his wife and five children. Gina said Abadia told them that they sought refuge in a two-story shelter together with two other families but when the structure collapsed and got carried by the waters all the 18 who were there were gone.

‘Bakit ako pa ang nakaligtas?’ Abadia lamented, which Gina said is a common sentiment of survivors of a tragedy that claimed lives of their loved ones.

The other women lawmakers who joined the relief mission were Representatives Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Rosenda Ann Ocampo (6th District, Manila), Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija) and Victoria Noel (An-Waray).

Gina said last Thursday’s visit is just the first of a series of missions they will be doing for the victims of Yolanda. They will continue to hold their hands, help them find meaning in all these sufferings and together face the future.

Megan Young’s victory: a much welcome break

Megan young is crowned Miss World. AFP photo from YahooMegan Young’s winning the Miss World title is welcome break from all the depressing news that we have been getting the past months.

We so wanted something pleasant after months of pork barrel stories exposing the insatiable greed of Napoles and our public officials. The Zamboanga stories, despite the government’s declaration of ‘Mission Accomplished” are heartbreaking and emotionally draining.

Megan Young provided a lovely respite. And we thank her for that.

We deserve a break.

That’s what those who watched ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert of the music from Disney movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, Mulan, Alladin and others at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Saturday felt .

For two hours, we forgot about pork barrel and Zamboanga and traveled to as far away as South Africa and China under the baton of the ebullient Gerard Salonga with actress and TV personality Nikki Gil as our journey guide.
We just wished the screen was bigger for the excerpts from Disney’s animated films.

We need the break because the painful truth is that even as we applaud Megan Young today, tomorrow, we still have to deal with corruption in all sectors of our society. The Mindanao problem is still there.

But that’s the real beauty of being a Filipino. We are a strong and resilient. We will overcome. We just need to re-charge.
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Another pleasant news is a release sent from the Office of Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th district) that she has been re-elected president of Association of Women’s Legislators, Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI), the official women’s coalition at the House of Representatives.
Newly-elected members of the women lawmakers organization
The other newly elected officers of AWLFI, are: Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan (4th District, Manila), Vice President for NCR; Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan),Vice President for Luzon; Rep. Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), Vice President for Visayas; Rep. Bai Sandra Sema (1st District, Maguindanao), Vice President for Mindanao; Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (CIBAC), Vice President for PartyList; Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City),Secretary; Rep. Elenita Milagros Ermita-Buhain (1st District, Batangas), Asst. Secretary; Rep. Evelina Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), Treasurer; Rep. Elisa “Olga” Kho (2nd District, Masbate),Asst. Treasurer; Rep. Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo (3rd District, Camarines Sur),Auditor; Rep. Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), PRO; Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija),Asst. PRO; and Rep. Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Muse.

The AWLFI Board of Advisers are: Rep. Henedia Abad (Lone District, Batanes), Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo (1st District, Lanao del Norte), Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Rep. Herminia Roman (1st District, Bataan, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party List, Gabriela), Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo (Lone District, Aurora) and Rep. Ruby Sahali (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi).

Although this 16th Congress has the most number of lady legislators (79) in the history of Philippine Congress, it is still less than one-fourth of the total number (289) of members the House of Representatives.
That’s why De Venecia said, “It’s important that the lady legislators band together to achieve a sense of balance with our men-folks.”

De Venecia rallied her fellow women lawmakers to be resolute in their stand “for gender equality issues, for peace, for education, for environment & sustainable development and for basic human rights.”

She also reminded them to review and consider some 38 house bills filed at the Committee on Welfare of Children chaired by Rep. Aurora Cerilles, and another 21 house measures at the Committee on Women, under the chairmanship of Rep. Linabelle Villarica.
On her first term as president, during the 15th Congress, Rep. De Venecia transformed the 12 year-old coalition into a registered foundation at the Securities and Exchange Commission. She likewise established its official headquarters at Room 219 of the second floor of the South building of the HOR’s complex.

It’s good seeing Gina make her mark as legislature. During the time when her husband, Jose de Venecia, was Speaker, she led the Congressional Spouses in undertaking several projects, one of them building havens for street children and for women who had been victims of rape.

As a legislature, De Venecia continued her advocacy for those in need.Recently she filed a bill seeking the establishment of a welfare institution that will take care of special children or those with autism, and hearing and speech impairments.