Gina de Venecia

Maria Georgina Perez-de Venecia
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pangasinan's 4th District
Assumed office
June 30, 2010
Preceded by Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Personal details
Born Georgina Vera Perez
(1949-02-15) February 15, 1949
Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Nationalist People's Coalition
Spouse(s) Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Residence Makati City
Alma mater Pace College
Religion Roman Catholic

Gina de Venecia, also known as "Manay Gina", is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 4th district of Pangasinan. She is the wife of Jose de Venecia, Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998 and 2001 to 2008.

Early life

De Venecia's father was the famed star-builder of Sampaguita Pictures, the late Doc Perez of Bulacan, while her mother, Azucena Vera-Perez of Catanduanes, is currently the president of Sampaguita Pictures and Vera-Perez Pictures. Her maternal grandfather Jose O. Vera was once the governor of Albay, senator of the Philippines, and judge of the Lower Court of Manila.

She finished high school at the Assumption Convent, and a degree in Business Administration at Pace College, New York. Immediately after graduation, she served as Vice President and Comptroller of Sampaguita Pictures, VP Enterprises and Jose Vera Corporation.

Public service

In 1992 she became the President and Chairperson of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI).[1] Her first two terms as CSFI president is defined by her landmark achievement in championing the cause of abused women with the establishment of The Haven for Women in Alabang.[2] It was inaugurated on September 30, 1995, and immediately followed by the construction of the 15 Regional Centers for Women, nationwide.

On February 15, 1997, Mrs. de Venecia also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with then DILG Secretary Robert Barbers that paved the way for the setting-up of Women’s and Children’s Desk in every police station in the country.

The plight of battered women whose lives were transformed by The Haven for Women, served as inspiration for her radio program Pira-pirasong Pangarap, launched in June 1996. The following year, its TV version made its debut on GMA 7. After seven years, the program was re-launched as Nagmamahal, Manay Gina in the tri-media: DZBB, Balita and GMA Network. Her radio program won three Catholic Mass Media trophies as the country's Best Radio Drama. Manay Gina also maintains advice columns in Balita and Tempo publications.

Manay Gina also lends her name to noble causes, as Chairperson of the 2002 Apolinario Mabini Awards that honored the achievements of the disabled; and the 2002 Aliw Awards that gave recognition to outstanding artists.

On January 15, 2004, she inaugurated another project for the CSFI, The Haven for Children in Muntinlupa City, that rehabilitates streetchildren, ages 6 to 12. In 2006, she brought her campaign to save the abandoned children to a national scale by finishing three Regional Centers for Children in Dagupan City, Tarlac City, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur and Solana, Cagayan.

A tragedy that took her youngest child, KC on December 16, 2004 moved Mrs. de Venecia to establish the INA (Inang Naulila sa Anak) Foundation. Its mission is to provide psycho–social support to grieving mothers who lost their child, to help them move on from a place of grief to a place of hope. INA Healing Center was opened on December 16, 2006 in commemoration of KC’s 2nd death anniversary, at the DSWD Compound, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

In 2007, she started her third project as President of the CSFI, The Haven for the Elderly, a 20 building facility for senior citizens in Tanay, Rizal. It was opened on April 28, 2010.

At the same period, The Phase II of The Haven for Women was also constructed. From its original 9 buildings, it has expanded as a 16-building facility with 2 livelihood centers, an inter-faith chapel, a gym, an administration office, several residential cottages, an air-conditioned nursery and a sick bay with dental and medical clinics.

Political career

During the May 10, 2010 elections Manay Gina won as Congresswoman of the Fourth District of Pangasinan. On Jan 17, 2011, she was elected as President of the Association of Lady Legislators of the 15th Congress.

Last May 13, 2013, she won her second landslide victory as congresswoman. She asked for reconciliation among victors and vanquished in Pangasinan and thanked the Blessed Virgin Mary of Manaoag for the largely peaceful elections in the province.

Distinctions

De Venecia has received an honorary doctorate degree in humanities from Mindanao State University (2001), Pangasinan State University (2007), Laguna State Polytechnic University (2007) and University of Luzon (2009). During the International Women's Day celebration on March 7, 2007, Mrs. de Venecia was the recipient of the Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award from the International Centennial Feminist Association of the Philippines and the Rotary Club of Manila 101.

Projects

References

  1. ↑ Roces, Mina (1998). Women, power, and kinship politics: female power in post-war Philippines. Praeger. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-275-96006-3.
  2. ↑ "Women in power inaugurate children's haven in Alabang". Manila Bulletin. February 22, 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
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