Manay Gina beats GMA, Imelda in Lady Legislators race

MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan Rep. Georgina de Venecia was unanimously elected president of the 64-strong Association of Lady Legislators (ALL) on Monday.

De Venecia vowed to lead the initiatives of women legislators at the House of Representatives.

De Venecia served as president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI) since 1992 when her husband, then Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., was House speaker.

She cited the achievements of ALL legislating the passage of the Magna Carta for Women, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

She added that they are expected to work and lobby for bills that are pro-women, pro-family and pro-children since most of them are mothers.

De Venecia would now lead a prominent bloc of women legislators that include former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Pampanga representative and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, the former first lady.

“I should say this group is pro-Filipino. Whatever is best for our country, that is what we are going to do,” she said.

Humbled by her election, De Venecia said she is glad that she got the overwhelming support of her colleagues.

She also said it was never an issue for her to outshine Arroyo, her erstwhile friend and frequent travel companion with whom she had a falling out in the later years of the Arroyo presidency.

De Venecia said she and Arroyo had already patched up their differences since “it is the right thing to do.”

Even if the group can be considered a minority at the House, De Venecia said they have unity and “the right use of strength.”

“Ours is a strong and eclectic group: We have a former president, a former first lady, and practically every one is a leader in her own right,” she said.

The 15th Congress listed the most number of lady legislators in history. “Expect pro-active lady legislators,” De Venecia remarked.

Several lady legislators, citing De Venecia’s qualities as an excellent woman advocate and defender, signed a manifesto of support.

During her stint as president of the CSFI, De Venecia helped build four nationwide projects that directly helped the most aggrieved sectors of society, namely The Haven for Women and its 15 regional centers that rehabilitate abused women; The Haven for Children with four regional centers that cater to street children and which is the largest welfare institution today; the 20-building The Haven for the Elderly that serves as a sanctuary for senior citizens abandoned by their families, and the INA Healing Center that helps parents who have lost their children.

With the help of the late former Interior secretary Robert Barbers, they initiated the putting up of Women’s and Children’s Desks in all police precincts in 1997.

This year, De Venecia said she intends to build The Haven for the Disabled, a special home for special children with learning and physical disabilities.