AGuiLa and The Haven: From politics to social work
By Eva C. Visperas
THE week of August 17 to 22 was packed with significant events, spanning politics to social work.
On Saturday night, August 17, AGuiLa leaders — representing the Alyansang Guico-Lambino that propelled the governor, vice governor, and other key leaders of Pangasinan to power —gathered at the Urduja House in Lingayen for a fellowship and press conference. Details of the proceedings can be found in this issue of the paper.
The primary goal of the press conference was to quell rumors of a brewing rift between some of its prominent members, specifically Rep. Mark Cojuangco and the father-son duo Gov. Monmon and Rep. Monching Guico.
According to AGuiLa’s top leaders, any friction has been resolved, with concessions likely made to ensure harmony and strengthen unity in Pangasinan. They unanimously declared that AGuiLa is now stronger than ever.
Lingayen Mayor Pol Bataoil, who is not an AGuiLa member, must now tread carefully in his future political maneuvers.
Mayor Pol is considering a bid to reclaim his position as the second district congressman, challenging Rep. Cojuangco. It will be a tough contest with Cojuangco as opponent.
During the press conference, Board Member Haidee Pacheco pledged her support for Cojuangco, now that they are teammates in AGuiLa.
BM Haidee is grateful for being part of AGuiLa, acknowledging that any previous reservations between her and Cojuangco stemmed from simply not having been formally introduced yet.
“This is the first time we’ve met like this, but I told him earlier that I plan to visit him one of these days. For now, I want to express my full support for the congressman, regardless of whether he has an opponent or not, since I am now part of this group,” Haidee emphasized during a brief ambush interview with this corner and DWPR’s Lina Cervantes.
With BM Haidee and BM Philipp Cruz supporting Cojuangco, along with the majority of incumbent mayors in the second district and former Lingayen Mayor Iday Castañeda — who almost won the last election and is making a comeback with Cojuangco as her main supporter — it will, indeed, be a formidable challenge for Mayor Pol.
In the previous election, Cojuangco already supported Mayor Iday. The two remain close friends to this day, embodying the sentiment of unwavering loyalty.
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On August 22, I had the privilege of revisiting the Haven for Women in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. Having been present during its inauguration, returning to this place held deep sentimental value for me as a reporter.
The Haven for Women is closely associated with Manay Gina de Venecia. It was her flagship project during the tenure of her husband, JDV, as Speaker of the House of Representatives. As the president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. at the time, she acknowledged her husband Joe for his unwavering support in realizing her vision for this landmark initiative. The Haven for Women is a 24-hour residential care facility that offers temporary shelter, care, and protection to women who are victims of gender-based violence. These women, aged 18 to 59, have endured abandonment, abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation.
The Haven stands as a testament to Manay Gina’s dedication and compassion. It was fitting that on its 25th anniversary, Manay Gina, ever youthful and beautiful, inside and out, was honored as the guest speaker during a simple yet meaningful program. This center was the first regional facility established by Manay and the congressional spouses in 1999, four years after the opening of the National Center for Women in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Today, The Haven is one of 15 regional centers for women across the country, all managed by the DSWD, and continues to serve as a sanctuary for abused women.
In a moving testimonial during the anniversary celebration, a former client of The Haven, now a Social Work student, shared her story of overcoming adversity, crediting the institution for giving her the strength to dream again. The Haven remains a beacon of hope, tirelessly fulfilling its mission to provide care and protection to the most vulnerable women in society.
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