Manay Gina withdraws, son Toff substitutes
GAME CHANGER
MANY were caught unaware and surprised by the unexpected withdrawal of 4th District Rep. Gina de Venecia from the congressional race, and her subsequent announcement that she will be substituted by her son Christopher.
Christopher “Toff” de Venecia, substituted on Dec. 8 for his mother, and filed his candidacy after his mother withdrew her electoral bid at the Commission on Elections provincial office here. Manay Gina is on her second term.
The 29-year old Toff de Venecia, who is running under the administration Liberal Party, is a registered voter in San Fabian town like his mother.
“The youth is incredibly vital to the community because like me, they are energetic, passionate, and full of ideas,” Toff, currently a section editor and a columnist for Young Star, the Friday youth section of The Philippine Star.
“I would like to galvanize them to become more involved in re-imagining the fourth district, not to mention, bolster culture and education, industry, and tourism in service of the people,” he said.
Manay Gina said she and her husband, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. decided as a family that it was the right time for Toff to enter the world of politics since he has the willingness and determination to help people, especially the youth.
In a statement jointly signed by JDV and Manay Gina, they thanked the people for their support over the past decades especially for JDV who was elected five times speaker of the House of Representatives and the subsequent election of Manay Gina for two terms ending on June 30, 2016.
“Now in our senior years and in the course of our reduced work activity, we take this humble opportunity to recommend for consideration by our people the election of our son, Christopher de Venecia (Toff) for the position of Congressman of the 4th district of Pangasinan…to continue our humble legacy of public service to our Pangasinan constituents and the Filipino people,” the De Venecia couple said.
“We earnestly believe that we have moulded our son to become the best he can be and with your help, to be interactive with the wellspring of emerging young leaders in this nation,” they said.
Manay Gina said the district will benefit under Toff’s leadership since it will be a ‘Serbisyong 3-in-1’ pointing to her and the former Speaker’s guidance to ensure continuance of the De Venecia brand of public service marked by Toff’s style of consultative leadership.
For his part, Toff said he will not only continue the many projects and endeavors that his parents have started but will also forge new narratives in putting the fourth district of Pangasinan in the map. “My father (JDV) was the builder; my mom was the heart. I’d like to nurture the soul of our district,” he said.
The young De Venecia will square off with Angel Bautista Aquino, Catherine Aquino Blanco, Arvin Tambaoan de Guzman, Ronaldo Melendez Ebreo and Mario Gallardo Operana for the district congressional post.
Toff is expected to campaign with Mayors Belen Fernandez of Dagupan, Bona Fe Parayno of Mangaldan, Constante Agbayani of San Fabian, Robert de Vera of Manaoag, and Kim Amador of Manaoag, all LP stalwarts.
Toff was a former child star, having appeared in sitcoms such as Ober da Bakod, Billy Bilyonaryo, Haybol Rambol, and movies such as Pretty Boy and Kung Kailangan Mo Ako.
Toff finished elementary school at the Colegio de San Agustin where he pursued higher education at the Ateneo de Manila High School and college at the Ateneo de Manila University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. (Tita Roces/ Leonardo Micua)
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