Teresa Aquino-Oreta

Infobox Officeholder


imagesize = 150px
honorific-prefix = The Honourable

name = Tessie Aquino-Oreta

office = Senator of the Philippines
term_start = 1998
term_end = 2004
office2 = Representative, Lone District of Malabon City-Navotas
term_start2 = 1987
term_end2 = 1998
birth_date = birth date and age|1944|06|28
birth_place = Concepcion, Tarlac, Philippines
death_date =
death_place =
nationality =
spouse = Antolin M. Oreta, Jr.
party =
* NPC (2007–)
* Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-2007)
relations =
children = Rissa Oreta
Len Oreta
Karmela Oreta
Lorenzo Oreta
residence =
alma_mater = Assumption College
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Maria Teresa Aquino-Oreta (born Maria Teresa Aquino Aquino on June 28, 1944), better known as Tessie Aquino-Oreta, is a former Philippine senator. She was the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture of the 11th Congress.

Background

She was born on June 28, 1944 to Benigno Aquino, Sr. and Aurora Aquino-Aquino, the youngest of the Aquino children of Tarlac which included former Senator Ninoy Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983.

Senator Aquino-Oreta finished her primary school at the College of Holy Spirit in Mendiola and finished high school at Assumption Convent. She graduated with a degree in Literature and History at the Assumption Convent (now Assumption College) and received her International Studies degree in Ciudad Ducal, Avila, Spain. She completed her Master's Degree at the National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, earning her a rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Reserved) in the Philippine Air Force .

She is married to businessman Antolin M. Oreta, Jr. They have four children - Rissa, Len, Karmela and Lorenzo.

As a Legislator

Congress

Before being elected to the Senate in 1998, she represented the district of Malabon City-Navotas at the House of Representatives for three consecutive terms, from 1987-1998.

At the Lower House, she authored, and co-authored about 280 bills (79 were enacted into laws) and proposed 101 local and national resolutions (20 were adopted). She became the Assistant Majority Floor Leader during the 8th Congress in 1987 and during the 10th Congress in 1995, becoming the first woman Assistant Majority Floor Leader in the history of the Lower House.Fact|date=April 2007

Senate

In the 1998 National Elections, she was elected senator under the opposition, Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP) banner. In the three years she has been in office, Senator Aquino-Oreta had filed 197 Senate Bills (authored and co-authored) and resolutions.

She participated in the impeachment trial of former president Joseph Estrada and was one of the senators who voted against the opening of the so-called "second envelope". After the vote, she was caught on camera doing a jig, a move for which earned her the nickname "dancing queen" and offended some people. She later apologized for this in a widely-broadcasted political advertisement. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/35540/In-new-TV-ad-Tessie-Oreta-says-sorry-for-dancing-queen-episode GMANews.TV - Tessie Oreta: Sorry for 'dancing queen' episode - Nation - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News - BETA ] ] [ [http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/03/27/MAIN2007032790553.html Manila Bulletin Online ] ]

References

* [http://www.teamunity.ph/candidates/profile.php?id=oreta Personal Biography]
* [http://www.tessiesasenado.com/ Tessie sa Senado Website]