PEACE-MAKER

Yesterday, Feb. 15, the love of our life and the pillar of our family – Gina — marked her 76th birthday. We are filled with gratitude for the life of a remarkable woman whose strength, grace, and compassion have touched countless lives, including our own.

Gina is our “Rock of Gibraltar,” a constant source of strength especially during our many decades in Philippine politics and in our foray into parliamentary- and political party diplomacy in Asia and the international community. We could not have carried out our modest initiatives for our country and abroad without Gina’s unwavering support.

Throughout the years, Gina has championed causes close to her heart. She has extended her hand to women and children, giving them a chance for a better future; and to elderly individuals who have been left behind by their families, offering them the comfort and dignity they deserve. And in one of the most personal and profound aspects of her advocacy, she has supported mothers who, like her, have endured the unimaginable pain of losing a child.
As then president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., when we were Speaker of the House, she established, with the spouses of House members, the Haven for Women in Alabang, now with 15 regional centers throughout the country, which rehabilitate women who are victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, forced prostitution, human trafficking, and the like; the Haven for Children in Manila, currently with four regional centers, which shelter street children who are victims of illegal drugs and have committed crimes at their very young age; and the Haven for the Elderly in Antipolo, which serves as a home for senior citizens who have been abandoned by their families.

She also built the INA (Inang Naulila sa Anak) Healing Center in Quezon City which provides free counseling, psycho-social support, and livelihood trainings to mothers who lost a child. We have witnessed her resilience and her determination to turn grief into purpose after we lost our beloved daughter KC on December 2004. Gina reached out to others who shared their pain. Her courage to speak about loss, her willingness to listen, and her ability to inspire healing have created a legacy of compassion that will endure.

Gina’s dedication to uplift those in need extended to her role as representative of the fourth district of Pangasinan from 2010 to 2013 and from 2013 to 2016, where she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our constituents and implement meaningful programs and projects that benefitted countless communities. She was also elected two times as president of the Association of Women Legislators of the House of Representatives during the 15th and 16th Congresses.

As Gina begins to write a new chapter in her life, we look back on the life we have shared with profound love and admiration. Her light continues to shine brightly, illuminating the path for those who are lost, weary, or in need of a helping hand. She is the testament to the power of love, resilience, and faith, and we are endlessly proud to call her our wife.

Happy birthday, our dearest Gina. You are our greatest blessing and we thank God every day for the gift of your life. Our love for you will go on “‘til the end of time.”