Don’t upstage your husbands, Gina de V tells wives

DAGUPAN CITY – Georgina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., has some words of wisdom for wives of senatorial bets as they go on the campaign trail.

Mrs. De Venecia, whom the speaker acknowledges as the woman beside and behind his successful political career, told Audrey Zubiri, Julie Defensor and Sunshine Cruz at a press conference held at her Bonuan Binloc residence here the other day that, "Huwag ninyong agawin ang eksena sa inyong asawa. (Do not steal the limelight from your spouses.)"

"Allow your husband to be the main star and remain as just a co-star," she said.

Zubiri, Defensor, and the movie actress Cruz, all inaanaks (godchildren in marriage) of Mrs. De Venecia, are wives of senatorial candidates Miguel Zubiri, Mike Defensor and actor-director Cesar Montano.

Normally, wives of the senatorial bets accompany their husbands during their campaign sorties.

She reminded them to accept wholeheartedly that their husbands are now into politics and they should start enjoying the people around them.

She said these are among the many secrets to their successful tandem.

Audrey, Julie and Sunshine are attention-getters for their beauty and popularity, too.

Mrs. De Venecia has been widely acknowledged as the "secret weapon of JDV" as she knows well how to properly use her charm and tact during difficult situations.

She recalled that when she and the speaker got married in 1986 and the speaker was actively involved in his political career, she had a hard time adjusting to her new life.

She said she even suffered daily headaches and had to consult her doctor. She took many medicines but her condition didn’t improve.

It was only when she wholeheartedly accepted her doctor’s advice to accept her new role as a politician’s wife and the realities of her husband’s work did she get "cured" of her abnormal headaches.

"The love of my husband for the people rubbed off on me," she said.

Now, Mrs. De Venecia has successfully put up her own pro-poor, pro-battered women and children projects. One is the halfway home called The Haven in many parts of the country under the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the INA or Inang Naulila sa Anak Center for grieving mothers.