A motherhood statement: Gina de Venecia

She is motherhood personified. In fact, her name G-E-O-R-G-I-N-A has the word, “INA,” or mother. And that is what former Pangasinan Rep. “Gina” de Venecia is to a multitude. A mother.

Aside from her biological children (youngest daughter KC perished in a fire that gutted the De Venecia home during the holiday season 14 years ago), Gina mothers many others, young and old, rich and poor, friend and foe (I kid thee not) alike.

Dr. Regina Macalintal, lawyer Lorna Kapunan and SM’s Tessie Coson.

When her husband Joe de Venecia was Speaker, Gina (with the Department of Social Welfare and Development) built many homes for children, underprivileged women and the elderly, specifically the The Haven for Women, The Haven for Children, The Haven for the Elderly and the INA Healing Center.

 When she was in Congress, even the tough boxing champ, then Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, called her “Nanay Gina.”

If you randomly ask in any gathering if there are any godchildren of Gina de Venecia in the house, for sure you will get a queue.

Gina also “mothers” mothers, even those who are older than she is. She established a support group, the INA Foundation, for mothers grieving the loss of their children. She personally brings flowers to the children’s resting places.

(From left) Tess Gonzalez, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Gina de Venecia and Grace Singson.

Thus it was no wonder then that when Gina, who actually was born after Valentine’s Day, had a post-birthday celebration recently at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City (the compound where she grew up), a village showed up to express their love for her.

It was literally a red-letter day for Manay Gina and all her guests who came wearing scarlet, as requested. “For success and good life,” she quipped.

In her speech, Manay Gina said that her heart is filled only with gratitude. “I thank the Lord for the gift of life and for all the blessings that He has been giving me all these years.”

Thus, instead of enumerating her wishes, she shared the secret that makes her the survivor that she is.

PeopleAsia’s Jose Paolo dela Cruz, Gina de Venecia and Bagong Henerasyon par t y - l ist Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy.

 “My safe haven,” she said, “is my childhood. It is my special anchor. So, when storms came into life’s life, and in times when my dreams crumbled before my eyes, what steadied me and helped me from going adrift was that anchor. I hold on to the happy memories of that special place, where I was truly cared for — my happy childhood.”

As she always does, even in private, she told her well-wishers, “Love your children with all your heart while they are little.  So, even if you toss them into life’s ocean, they will float and still be whole.”

Manay Gina’s guest list reflected the ties that bind in her life, from childhood friends like Maridee Chanyungco-Rodriguez, to her classmates at Assumption Convent led by SM’s Tessie Coson, her former allies in Congress and at the Congressional Spouses Foundation, the INA group led by Ali Sotto and Dr. Honey Carandang, former President Fidel Ramos, her constituents in Pangasinan led by Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez, former stars of Sampaguita Pictures, former DSWD chief Dinky Soliman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, among others.

(Seated, from left) Former President Ramos and Singaporean Ambassador Kok Li Peng with Elvira Tetangco and husband, former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.; (standing) US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski, Rep. Christopher de Venecia and Gina de Venecia.

Also present were her children: Vivian and Dennis Garcia; Carissa and Juju Evangelista, Ipe Cruz and Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia. The audio-visual presentation during the dinner also showed taped greetings from opposites in the political color wheel — from Vice President Leni Robredo to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Kris Aquino.

JDV and Gina’s daughter Vivian Garcia prepared a special message for Gina. In her prayer, she said: “I’m sure our father (JDV, who was attending a conference abroad) will agree with us when we say, Tita Gina, you are a unique and irreplaceable individual. No person can fulfill the special role our God has entrusted to you.”

At present, she is busy in her new movement, Inang Mahal, which advocates for the welfare of all mothers in the country.

GINA is an ina, indeed.