THE House of Representatives on Monday unanimously adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 598 commending and congratulating former Deputy Speaker (DS) Rose Marie J. Arenas for bringing honor to the country after receiving the Association of Southeast Asian Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Distinguished Service Award.

Given to exemplary individuals whose “invaluable service, outstanding contribution, and unceasing and tireless efforts proved significant in achieving the goals and objectives of AIPA,” the award was conferred to Arenas at the 43rd AIPA general assembly held November 20 to 25, 2022, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The resolution likewise cited Arenas for her other outstanding accomplishments during her term as a member of the House of Representatives.

“…For her laudable accomplishments on both local and international fronts, Honorable Rose Marie ‘Tita Baby’ J. Arenas deserves the highest honor and distinction not only from the House of Representatives but from the whole nation as well,” the resolution said.

HR 598 was introduced by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, and Tingog Party-List Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre.

Arenas represented the 3rd District of Pangasinan in the House from 2013 to 2022, and was elected as vice chairperson of the Committee on East ASEAN Growth Area in 2013; chairperson of the Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy in 2016; and Deputy Speaker in 2018.

Among others, the resolution hailed Arenas for her “stellar participation” in major AIPA activities, particularly during the 38th AIPA General Assembly held in September 2017 in Manila, where she successfully mounted and adeptly managed important and spectacular ceremonies.

The resolution noted that during her term as chairperson of the Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, Arenas displayed exceptional administrative leadership and diplomatic abilities and guided the Philippine Delegation in crafting important policies, rules, and resolutions for adoption during major inter-parliamentary assemblies.

Arenas also served as an adviser to the Delegation of the House of Representatives to the Inter-Parliamentary Meeting between the Philippine Parliamentarians and Members of the European Union Parliament in 2022.

She was the head of the Philippine Delegation and speaker during inter-parliamentary exchanges and meetings from 2017 to 2022; panelist in the First East Asia Forum in 2018; and chairperson of the AIPA Committees on Organizational, Economic, and Social Matters of the Philippine Delegation from 2017 to 2021.

The resolution also cited Arenas’ advocacy that centered on the rights and protection of Filipino seafarers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and the rights of women, children, and migrant workers during her nine years as a legislator.

Arenas authored about three hundred House bills and resolutions and co-authored several bills that were passed into laws, including Republic Act (RA) No. 10747 or the “Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines,” RA 10929 or the “Free Internet Access in Public Spaces Act,” and RA 11641 or the “Department of Migrant Workers Act.”

She was named Country Ambassador to the Women in Parliament Global Forum from 2016 to 2022 and was elected as president of the Association of Women Legislators in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022.

The resolution added that Arenas is also a known philanthropist and benefactor “whose endeavors, with the assistance of her daughter, Representative Ma. Rachel J. Arenas include building a home for orphans and street children, repairing churches and monasteries, extending scholarship grants, establishing livelihood programs for poor communities, conducting medical missions for indigent patients, and conducting relief operations for victims of calamities.”

Moreover, the resolution extolled Arenas for her keen appreciation for the arts and culture that inspired her to invite some of the greatest international artists, such as pianist Cecille Licad and tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, to perform in the Philippines.