Gina de Venecia

Maria Georgina Perez-de Venecia
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pangasinan's 4th District
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Personal details
Born	February 15 Manila
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 1992–1998 and 2001–2008.

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 Albay, 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.^{[citation needed]}

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 DZBB-GMA 7. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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

She is now the congresswoman of the 4th district of Pangasinan, her home province.

Distinctions

De Venecia has received an honorary doctorate degree in humanities from Mindanao State University (2001),^{[citation needed]} Pangasinan State University (2007),^{[citation needed]}, 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

• The Haven for Women: 15 REGIONAL CENTERS
  • Davao City
  • Tagum, Davao del Norte
  • Gumaca, Quezon
  • Catbalogan, Samar
  • Palo, Leyte
  • New Lucena, Iloilo
  • Magalang, Pampanga
  • Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro
  • Labangon, Cebu City
  • Ligao, Albay
  • Baguio City
  • Rosario, Batangas
  • Dagupan City
  • Solana, Cagayan.

• The Haven for Children: 4 REGIONAL CENTERS
  • Dagupan City
  • Solana, Cagayan
  • Tarlac City
  • Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur

• The Haven for the Elderly: Started in 2007, this 20-building complex in Tanay, Rizal now operates as an idyllic refuge for senior citizens.

• Ina Healing Center :Located at the DSWD Compound in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, this facility provides free psycho-social support to bereaved mothers who are orphaned by their child.

References

1. ^ Roces, Mina (1998). Women, power, and kinship politics: female power in post-war Philippines. Praeger. p. 52. ISBN 9780275960063. 
2. ^ "Women in power inaugurate children's haven in Alabang". Manila Bulletin. February 22, 2003. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-98553507.html. Retrieved 15 May 2009. 

Persondata
Name	De Venecia, Gina
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1949
Place of birth	Manila
Date of death
Place of death