By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

I HAVE long wanted to interview Mrs. Georgina Vera-Perez de Venecia or Manay Gina to many.
I saw the chance Friday evening at the Philippine Mental Health Association compound where she was the guest of honor and inducting officer during the turn-over ceremony.
Despite my itchy throat and sporadic cough (which was silent during the interview), I told Imelda Clores of Super Radyo I will not let the opportunity pass and I will try my luck to have a one-on-one interview. Thanks to Gypsy, I managed to have it..
I really admire women who are able to juggle time between their family, civic works and many other things, women who have a soft and big heart for other people. They inspire me.
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Let us know more about Manay Gina, a multi-faceted woman, as she shared her thoughts and feelings through the (few) questions I mustered to ask. March is Women’s Month, the timing is really perfect and I went home very happy and fulfilled after the interview.
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What little things make you smile?
Manay Gina: When I see the sun rise. I’ve been to so much pain, I lost a child. Yong buong mundo ko naging madilim na madilim. Just seeing the sky in the morning, with the sun coming out, lumiliwanag muli. Ibig sabihin may pag-asa pang lumigaya ulit.My children, my husband, my family. Seeing people’s lives improving makes me smile. Seeing a flower, which is a creation from God. Seeing a child being born. Seeing an empowered woman (after going through so much physical pain and being rehabilitated at the Haven for Women, bilib sila ulit sa sarili nila. They learn livelihood skills that will help them financially independent).

Favorite dish?
Manay Gina: For breakfast, ginisang sardinas with white rice, piniritong pingka na maliliit. That’s what I eat everyday. My favorite dish is adobo cooked in the house of my mother and laing, (pork) binagoongan ng Pangasinan, steamed fish. But lately I’ve been eating fish because the doctor wants me to cut down on fatty foods.

With your so many activities, how do you relax?
Manay Gina: I go to tiangge. I buy things not usually for me but for my friends, for our leaders. I share what I have. I buy blouses for the women in Haven, buy t-shirts for the children in Haven. For the bereaved mothers I get them little bracelets. Just little things to make people smile.

What’s your beauty regimen that keeps you fresh looking despite your hectic schedule?
Manay Gina: I think I’m just lucky I’m like my mother, walang wrinkes. My mother is turning 90 years pero halos wala siyang white hair at wrinkles. I think it’s with the Vera family. I put sunblock, and I wash my face with soap. Dr. Avellana, my dermatologist gives me some cream which I put in my face before I sleep.
Have a positive attitude and have a good heart. When you are problematic, it reflects. So have peace of mind, sleep peacefully and come out looking 10 years younger than your age.

How do you divide your time?
It’s quality time. My daughter Carissa ( DTI Undersecretary in-charge of regional operations) and I don’t see all the time. But when we see each other, I hold her hand. When we’re together, she tells me about what she feels. She’s going a mother soon. When she had an ultra-sound, I cancelled all my appointments and I accompanied her.
My son Ipe (he’s just been promoted and occupies a high position already with ABS-CBN Publishing) has a dog named bambie. When I go to tiangge, I buy something for his dog like dog bag, dog collar etc. When we eat together, we chat about what he does in his work, his friends.
When I go out with my son Christopher, we bond together by talking about Repertory Philippines where he is a member, about Ateneo’s Blue Rep (where he is also a member). He shows me his columns in Philippine Star. He talks about his girlfriend.
When I’m with friends like my bestfriend Maridee, we talk about her children, her grandchildren. When I’m with Gypsy, we talk about anything under the sun. Its quality time really.

How do you feel now that you’re going to have a grandchild?
Manay Gina: It also makes me smile. I’m very excited especially for my daughter because she was devastated when she lost her sister KC. I’m so happy as her pain now will be eased a little with the birth of her child. Her life will be complete, she’s married to a very good man Jojo Evangelista. He takes good care of my daughter and he loves her dearly including me.

Like any mother, what do you fear for your children?Manay Gina: I fear for their failures. I fear for their lives. At the end of the day, it’s only God who knows what will happen like what happened to my daughter KC. Who would think that she will die in our own house in a fire, how can that happen. Seguro God really has a masterplan for all of us.

(Second part next week)