Megan Young’s victory: a much welcome break

Megan Young’s winning the Miss World title is welcome break from all the depressing news that we have been getting the past months.

We so wanted something pleasant after months of pork barrel stories exposing the insatiable greed of Napoles and our public officials. The Zamboanga stories, despite the government’s declaration of ‘Mission Accomplished” are heartbreaking and emotionally draining.

Megan Young provided a lovely respite. And we thank her for that.

We deserve a break.

That’s what those who watched ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert of the music from Disney movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, Mulan, Alladin and others at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Saturday felt .

For two hours, we forgot about pork barrel and Zamboanga and traveled to as far away as South Africa and China under the baton of the ebullient Gerard Salonga with actress and TV personality Nikki Gil as our journey guide.
We just wished the screen was bigger for the excerpts from Disney’s animated films.

We need the break because the painful truth is that even as we applaud Megan Young today, tomorrow, we still have to deal with corruption in all sectors of our society. The Mindanao problem is still there.

But that’s the real beauty of being a Filipino. We are a strong and resilient. We will overcome. We just need to re-charge.
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Another pleasant news is a release sent from the Office of Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th district) that she has been re-elected president of Association of Women’s Legislators, Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI), the official women’s coalition at the House of Representatives.

The other newly elected officers of AWLFI, are: Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan (4th District, Manila), Vice President for NCR; Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica (4th District, Bulacan),Vice President for Luzon; Rep. Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor), Vice President for Visayas; Rep. Bai Sandra Sema (1st District, Maguindanao), Vice President for Mindanao; Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (CIBAC), Vice President for PartyList; Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City),Secretary; Rep. Elenita Milagros Ermita-Buhain (1st District, Batangas), Asst. Secretary; Rep. Evelina Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), Treasurer; Rep. Elisa “Olga” Kho (2nd District, Masbate),Asst. Treasurer; Rep. Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo (3rd District, Camarines Sur),Auditor; Rep. Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), PRO; Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres (4th District, Nueva Ecija),Asst. PRO; and Rep. Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Muse.

The AWLFI Board of Advisers are: Rep. Henedia Abad (Lone District, Batanes), Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo (1st District, Lanao del Norte), Rep. Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Rep. Herminia Roman (1st District, Bataan, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party List, Gabriela), Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo (Lone District, Aurora) and Rep. Ruby Sahali (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi).

Although this 16th Congress has the most number of lady legislators (79) in the history of Philippine Congress, it is still less than one-fourth of the total number (289) of members the House of Representatives.
That’s why De Venecia said, “It’s important that the lady legislators band together to achieve a sense of balance with our men-folks.”

De Venecia rallied her fellow women lawmakers to be resolute in their stand “for gender equality issues, for peace, for education, for environment & sustainable development and for basic human rights.”

She also reminded them to review and consider some 38 house bills filed at the Committee on Welfare of Children chaired by Rep. Aurora Cerilles, and another 21 house measures at the Committee on Women, under the chairmanship of Rep. Linabelle Villarica.
On her first term as president, during the 15th Congress, Rep. De Venecia transformed the 12 year-old coalition into a registered foundation at the Securities and Exchange Commission. She likewise established its official headquarters at Room 219 of the second floor of the South building of the HOR’s complex.

It’s good seeing Gina make her mark as legislature. During the time when her husband, Jose de Venecia, was Speaker, she led the Congressional Spouses in undertaking several projects, one of them building havens for street children and for women who had been victims of rape.

As a legislature, De Venecia continued her advocacy for those in need.Recently she filed a bill seeking the establishment of a welfare institution that will take care of special children or those with autism, and hearing and speech impairments.