Christopher George Martin de Venecia (born October 27, 1986), sometimes referred to as Toff de Venecia,[2] is a former child actor,[3] writer, director and a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 4th district of Pangasinan. He is the son of Gina de Venecia and Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Christopher de Venecia | |
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![]() Portrait during the 18th Congress | |
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pangasinan's 4th district | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office June 30, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Gina de Venecia |
Personal details | |
Born | Christopher Vera Perez de Venecia[1] (1986-10-27) October 27, 1986 (age 36) Manila, Philippines |
Political party | Lakas–CMD (2017–present) |
Other political affiliations | Liberal (2015–2017) |
Parent(s) | Jose de Venecia Jr. Gina de Venecia |
He finished his elementary studies at the Colegio de San Agustin and his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila High School.
He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University and recently finished courses in Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School.
Congressman Christopher de Venecia ran under the platform B.A.G.E.T.S., which stands for Buhay na Turismo, Agrikultura, Gusali at Imprastraktura, Edukayson, Trabaho, at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan, and was elected as the Representative of the Fourth District of Pangasinan in 2016.
In the 2019 elections, he was overwhelmingly elected for a second term[4] once again representing the Fourth District of Pangasinan.
At present, he is sitting as a Deputy Majority Leader and also the Chairman of the Special Committee of Creative Industry and Performing Arts.[5]
He is also the lead convener of the Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Bloc of the 18th Congress,[6] with 6 Deputy Speakers and 12 Committee Chairmen as members. This Bloc seeks to introduce and support legislations that protect, promote, and bolster arts, culture, and creative industries.
On July 10, 2020, he, along with his cousin Edward Maceda, was one of the 11 representatives who voted to grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. He is the only North Luzon Representative and the only Pangasinense to grant the franchise as opposed to Conrado Estrella III (who voted to reject the franchise).[7]
His notable works are:
Congressman de Venecia was able to develop the San Fabian Biker's Trail and finish the building of the Biker's Den. He also pushed for the construction of the Tondaligan Baywalk in Dagupan City and the San Fabian Baywalk[8] in Barangay Bolasi, San Fabian.
He also filed a bill declaring the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag as a destination site.
He was able to distribute water pumps to numerous farmers organization in the district providing irrigation to almost 951 hectares of land. In addition, farm machineries and equipment were also distributed to farmer beneficiaries during his first term.
A Rice Processing Center was also built in Barangay Oraan East, Manaoag in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.[9] This facility will improve the earnings of our farmers.
An Integrated Natural Demonstration Farm was also created in Barangay Aramal,[10] San Fabian to help push for organic farming in his district.
During his first term, 30 multi-purpose covered courts were built, 5 barangay halls, 2 footbridges in Manaoag and San Fabian.
There were also 11 drainage systems, 12 riverbank protection projects, 11 river flood control projects constructed during his first term.
In addition 9 school buildings, 1 livelihood center in San Fabian, 2 day care centers in Mangaldan and Dagupan City, 1 Kabuhayan Center in Dagupan City, 1 Health Center, and a seawall in Bonuan, Dagupan City.
In his first year in office, he was able to provide 478 college scholarships to deserving students in the Fourth District of Pangasinan. This number increased to 685 scholars in 2017 and 2018.
Provided Technical and Vocational Trainings to 1,048 individuals through TESDA.
Livelihood programs such as Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) and Government Internship Programs (GIP) were also made available to constituents.
Almost 22,000 individuals were beneficiaries of his district-wide Medical and Dental Missions. 153 senior citizens and PWDs were given wheelchairs and distributed BP Apparatus and Nebulizers to all the 140 Barangays in the Fourth District of Pangasinan.
The following are the key legislation of de Venecia:
Directing Experience
Year | Title | Awards / Citation | Role | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Dani Girl: A Musical About Hope | 2019 Broadway World Awards nominations for: Best Director, Best Actress (Musical), Best Supporting Actor (Musical), and Best Supporting Actress (Musical)
2019 Gawad Buhay Awards nominations for: Outstanding Stage Direction (Musical), Outstanding Production for Existing Material, Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Sound Design, Male Featured Performance in a Musical, Female Featured Performance in a Musical, Female Lead Performance, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance 2019 Inquirer Best of Theater Awards citations for: Best Actress (Musical), Best Actor (Musical) |
Director | [20] |
2017 | Company Call: Bluerep at 25 | Director | [22] | |
2015 | No Filter 2.0: The Millennial Monologues | Director and Creator | [23] | |
2015 | No Filter: The Millennial Monologues | Director and Creator | [24] | |
2015 | Ang Tugon ni Conchita | Director | [25] | |
2015 | The Boy in the Bathroom | Director | ||
2015 | F(r)iction: A new Musical | Director | ||
2014 | The Glass Menagerie | Winner, Bravo! Best of Theater Awards for 2014 Best Featured Actor for JC Santos, Best Featured Actress for Justine Peña | Director | |
2014 | Dani Girl: A Musical Good for the Soul | Inquirer Bravo! Best of Theater Awards 2014 : Best Musical (Non-Filipino Material), Best Featured Actor – Musical, Best Featured Actress – Musical, and nominations for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor and Musical Direction
Broadway World Philippines nominations for: Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Featured Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Theater Company |
Director | [26] |
2014 | The Boy in the Bathroom | Winner, Bravo! Best of Theater Awards for 2014 Best Featured Actor for Topper Fabregas, Best Featured Actress for Shiela Franciso | Director | |
2013-2014 | Wait Until Dark | Assistant Director | ||
2013 | A New Brain: The Musical | Director | ||
2010-2012 | Slideshow | Director | ||
2012 | 13: The Musical | Director | ||
2012 | Spell 13: A Musical Revue | Director | ||
2011-2012 | Company Call: Bluerep at 20 | Director | ||
2011-2012 | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown | Assistant Director | [27] | |
2011 | Little Shop of Horrors | Broadway World Philippines nomination for: Best Director (Musical) | Director | [28] |
2008 | All Shook Up | Co-Director | ||
2007-2008 | Batboy: The Musical | Assistant Director | ||
2007 | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Assistant Director |
ACTING EXPERIENCE
Year | Title | Awards / Citation | Role | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011-2012 | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Linus | ||
2008 | Disney's Mulan Jr. | Ancestor Yao, Private Hong | ||
2007-2008 | Batboy: The Musical | Pan | ||
2006-2007 | Disney's High School Musical | Thespian | ||
2006 | Hope for the Flowers | Stripe | ||
2006-2007 | Disney's Aladdin Jr. | Iago, Narrator 2 | ||
2005 | Emperor's New Clothes | Mr. Sew, Paige |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993-95 | Ober Da Bakod | Dagul | [29][30] | |
1993-94 | Billy Bilyonaryo | Billy | [29][30][31] | |
1993-95 | Haybol Rambol | [32] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | Pretty Boy | Bongbong | [30] | |
1993 | Kung Kailangan Mo Ako | |||
1994 | Ober Da Bakod: The Movie | Dagul | ||
1994 | Oo na sige na | Ampon ni Bonggoy |