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December in the life of the De Venecias

. Rep. Gina de Venecia  talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when  typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.
Rep. Gina de Venecia talks to survivor Michael Abadia of Palo Leyte, who lost his entire family, his wife and five children when typhoon Yolanda struck. At the background are Rep. Victoria Noel and another victim, Wilma Castillote who also lost a child.
December 26 is the birthday of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, who is now sporting an arm sling after he figured in an accident at his relative’s house in San Francisco, California last month. He stepped on a hose in the garden and fell to the ground fracturing his shoulder and harming his knees. His doctors advised him against undertaking long-haul travels in the next two to three months.

The accident compelled the peripatetic JDV to forgo attendance in the meeting of the standing committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties in Ankara, Turkey last Nov. 21 and 22.

JDV co-founded ICAPP, a forum of political parties of various ideologies among countries in Asia-Oceania to promote exchanges and cooperation; enhance understanding, and create an environment for sustained peace and shared prosperity in the region.

ICAPP members include political parties in Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Vietnam.

In a message sent to the Ankara conference organizers, JDV urged ICAPP members to work on or with their respective governments to undertake measures to cope with Climate Change. citing the “apocalyptic destruction of the Philippines’ Tacloban City and Visayan Islands.

The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives  visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor  Remedios Petilla, Representatives Sandy Ocampo,  Gina de Venecia, Marie Anne Pernes, Linabelle Ruth  Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.
The women lawmakers of the House of Representatives visit Yolanda victims in Palo, Leyte. From left are Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Rep. Sandy Ocampo, Rep. Gina de Venecia, Rep. Marie Anne Pernes, Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Magnolia Antonino-Nadres.
JDV said the destruction wrought by typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) “reminds us (that) it is the poorest countries that suffer the most from the greenhouse gases the richest countries let loose heedlessly in the atmosphere.”

Last week, the De Venecias marked the 9th year death anniversary of their daughter KC, who perished in a fire on Dec.16, 2004 in their old house on Magnolia Street in Dasmariñas Village, Makati.

The admirable thing about the De Venecia is how they have channeled life’s adversities into something good. Out of that grief, Gina, who is now a member of the House of Representatives representing the fourth district of Pangasinan, formed Inang Naulila sa Anak (INA) Foundation, a support group for mothers who have lost a child.

In INA, in times of grief, they hold each other’s hand and offer a shoulder to cry on.

Last Thursday, Gina, together with her fellow women lawmakers (she is president of Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. or AWLFI) and three members of INA – Yna Yulo, Titing Brillantes and Ditas Tan visited Palo, Leyte, one of the places devastated by typhoon Yolanda last month.

They met parents who lost several members of their family. “Who could understand them better if not another parent who experienced the same grief?” Gina said.

“In great tragedies like this, equally important is the moral support to the victims. Their great loss will be lightened by their understanding that they are not alone,” she added.

The all-women group didn’t limit their counseling to mothers. They met Michael Abadia, 50, who lost his wife and five children. Gina said Abadia told them that they sought refuge in a two-story shelter together with two other families but when the structure collapsed and got carried by the waters all the 18 who were there were gone.

‘Bakit ako pa ang nakaligtas?’ Abadia lamented, which Gina said is a common sentiment of survivors of a tragedy that claimed lives of their loved ones.

The other women lawmakers who joined the relief mission were Representatives Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Rosenda Ann Ocampo (6th District, Manila), Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija) and Victoria Noel (An-Waray).

Gina said last Thursday’s visit is just the first of a series of missions they will be doing for the victims of Yolanda. They will continue to hold their hands, help them find meaning in all these sufferings and together face the future.

Published inDisasters

5 Comments

  1. Mannie Mannie

    JDV’s accident was inside his relative’s home. His relative has home insurance. The insurance should pay for his medical bills. If JDV was inside someone else home, he could even sue the homeowner.

    JDV used to clap for GMA during SONA. His wide smile complimented his pair of large ears. A very loyal GMA dog until his son got involved in that ZTE controversy. Otherwise, JDV and GMA would have remained the best of friends. Who knows, he could also be involved in GMA’s other scams if he remained in power under GMA’s protection or among Napoles’ beneficiaries. JDV has had his good times. Now could be pay back time.

    As for daughter’s KC’s death (RIP), critics then said it was Karma for JDV. Painful but could be true for all JDV has done for himself and GMA. He served GMA instead of the Filipino people.

    Let’s hope JDV gets well and if he is a changed man, he could still return to politics. If the old dog Enrile who’s much older is still very much around, why can’t JDV?

  2. MPRivera MPRivera

    dinky soliman’s smile depicting her light mood is a slap in the face of every survivor. this old faggot is a soul-less individual who only wants to be at the center of any issue but does not like to be accountable to her responsibilities.

    ‘kakainis!

  3. Mannie Mannie

    Dinky’s smile was exactly the same smile she had when together with the other cheer leaders in Malacanang at the time of GMA, serenaded the midget with a song. I never like this short woman with weird hair from Pampanga.

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