Rep. Gina de Venecia with other solons taking their oath of office before Pres. Noynoy Aquino

In showbiz, Manay Gina de Venecia made a name as host of the award-winning TV series “Pira-pirasong Pangarap” and the radio anthology “Nagmamahal, Manay Gina.”

In a private capacity however, she is known as the champion of the abused, having built shelters for the really marginalized – the battered women, street-children, senior citizens, and orphaned mothers.

As the 15th Congress opens on July 26, she’s on an entirely new journey as Representative of Pangasinan’s 4th District.

A close friend of the late Cory Aquino, Manay Gina has chosen to take her oath of office in Malacañang before the new Philippine President Noynoy Aquino, minutes after his inauguration last June 30.

As the daughter of film industry leaders, famed star-builder Doc Perez and Mama Nene Vera, Manay Gina has her eyes set on helping the movie industry.

During the 80s, the number of movies produced averaged at 200 per annum as compared to only 30 in 2008.

This early, Manay Gina has her agenda filled with L.O.V.E - acronym of her campaign platform that stands for livelihood, over-all health care, values formation, and education & environment.

To combat poverty, she intends to use the tested “One Town, One Product” formula of Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra, with the help of daughter Carissa Cruz Evangelista who was an Undersecretary in the Department of Trade and Industry.

And because her district was a major casualty of the great flood that ravaged Pangasinan due to typhoon Pepeng last year, she also intends to build Crisis Centers in Manaoag, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Mangaldan and Dagupan City.

She also mentions about the vigorous implementation of the Billion Trees Act as espoused by her spouse, five-time Speaker Joe de Venecia.

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‘Suwerte sa Siyete’ premieres Tuesday

GMA Network’s “Suwerteng-Suwerte sa Siyete: Spin it! Win it!” is a new game show that gives away big cash prizes and loads of fun and surprises to all Kapuso viewers nationwide.

Premiering on Tuesday, July 20, “Spin It! Win it!” is a 10-minute game show which will be hosted by TV host/comedian Joey de Leon and will air every Tuesday and Thursday before “24 Oras.”

Twenty Kapuso stars will play it out for the lucky home partners who will get a chance to win as much as P1-million in cash and giveaways. Four Kapuso stars will each represent one of the five major regions in the country (NCR, North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). All 20 celebrities will be positioned around a giant Kapuso wheel comprised of three spinning wheels with three kinds of pies: The transfer pie, multiplier pie, and sponsor’s pie.

It’s very easy to join. Participants must write their name, address, age, telephone number and signature on a piece of paper together with the proof-of-purchase (POP) requirements.

Submit all entries with complete details and attached POP to drop boxes found in 300 participating Mercury Drugstore outlets or in GMA Network Center, GMA Radio and Regional TV stations nationwide.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 20 to socialite-philanthropist Baby J. Arenas, Jorge Araneta, couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto, Agot Isidro-Sandejas, Ms. Zenaida Tantoco of Rustan’s, Ms. Gloria Roco, Vice Consul Ron Castro, Tess Pamintuan, LA-based Anjanette Abayari, Ms. Nenita Evans, Francesca Arnault-Teotico, Dr. Mely Europa, Butch Victoriano, Ser Alcantara, Biboy Ramirez, Bebong Muñoz, actor Rayver Cruz, Dennis Ladaw, and MB’s Executive Vice President-Advertising Dr. Emilio Yap III.