'Joe is my one true treasure in life' - Manay Gina

On his 75th birthday last month, five-time Speaker Joe de Venecia got the best gift of all — genuine friendship.

“The best time to find out who your friends really are is when you’re out of power and a private citizen. And I’m pleased and proud that I can still count on many roomfuls of you,” JDV said during his 75th birthday celebration last Dec. 26 at the Golden Bay Restaurant in Pasay City. When he was at the peak of his political power, a multitude paid homage to him on his birthday, but one was not sure whether they were there for Speaker Joe or Citizen Joe.

But last Dec. 26, he was simply Citizen Joe, but was honored like a head of state by loved ones, friends and associates.

The “roomfuls” that didn’t escape his eye were the close-to-a-thousand guests who graced his birthday celebration, composed mostly of national leaders like former President Fidel Ramos and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile,  Pangasinan officials led by Gov. Amado Espino, diplomats like US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., heads of Asian political parties, and foreign leaders: Deputy Prime Minister Sok An of Cambodia; former Prime Minister Mahdav Nepal of Nepal; Gustavo Carvajal, president of COPPAL, an organization of 53 political parties in Latin America and the Caribbean, and his wife Olivia; former Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed of Pakistan and his wife Dushka; Asaf Hajiyev, Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan and head of the International Department of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party; and Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Beibut Atamkulov.

As founder and co-chair of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and president of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI), JDV at 75 is still on top of his game as a global diplomat and negotiator, with the primary interest of bringing peace in the Asian region.

On his birthday, he was conferred by no less than Deputy Prime Minister Sok An himself the Royal Order of Sahametrei Grand Cross, the highest award given by the Cambodian government, in recognition of his achievements in international and civil consensus.

At the same time, JDV was also honored by the Kazakhstan government with the Dostyk Award, given by Ambassador Atamkulov, for his contribution in promoting peace, friendship and cooperation. (There are only two Asians who have received the award — former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and JDV.)

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The following days saw JDV and wife Gina (now a congresswoman representing Pangasinan’s 4th district), with son Christopher, perpetuating the tradition of generosity that has defined JDV’s brand of service.

With Gina, Chris and some close friends, JDV visited charitable centers he helped establish: the Haven for Women and the Haven for Children in Muntinlupa City and the Haven for the Elderly in Tanay, Rizal. They also visited the clients of Marillac Hills in Alabang and the  Mother Teresa charities in Tondo, Manila.

Chris admires his father for the latter’s “passion for public service and world affairs, his fish and his vongole.”

“He is a Renaissance Man and he’s funny without meaning to be funny!” adds Chris.

When I asked him to elaborate on what his dad’s “fish” is like, Chris laughed, “I mean saltwater tilapia and other fish that he breeds. He is to his fish as I am to theater. There’s no messing with it!”

For her part, his wife and soulmate Gina says, “Life with Joe has been an adventure with many shining moments.”

Celebrating with the residents of Marillac Hills in Alabang.

They have relished virtually every success in life, dined with kings and slept in palaces. But they have also survived the loss of a child, a tragedy that has drawn them even closer to each other. They had to take each other’s hand as they struggled to move on after the death of their beloved daughter KC in 2004. They came into each other’s life after first marriages that didn’t work out. Today, they have been together for more than 25 years.

 “My life with JDV is a life full of valuable lessons learned, a life defined by character-building experiences, and one which I will choose to live all over again with him. For Joe is my one true treasure in life,” says Gina.

Gina’s daughter Carissa Cruz-Evangelista describes JDV’s role in Gina’s life most succinctly: “My mom’s grandkids are her joy; her mom and her sisters, her heart; JDV, her rock.”

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(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)