Madam Girlie’s Gone

My good friend Chona C. Ordenes is now grieving because of her former principal and mentor, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Calimbas Villarosa of the lone district of Occidental Mindoro’s representative to Congress died on her 78^th natal day on May 30, 2021.

The former solon passed away at the Intensive Care Unit around 4:34 p.m. that day. Villarosa died of an aneurysm while receiving treatment at a hospital in Metro Manila, according to her husband, former congressman, and governor Jose T. Villarosa.

A very religious woman, Chona’s Madam Girlie rested in the hands of her Creator on Trinity Sunday. Cong. Villarosa first held the electoral post as her district’s representative to the House of Representatives from June 30, 1998, to August 29, 2000, to the 11^th Congress as a Lakas-CMD stalwart. Still, the election was declared annulled after an electoral protest lobbed by her rival Ricardo “Ding” Quintos. But Villarosa bounced back, defeating her competitors in the polls in 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010. She took office from June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2013. She exhibited gentle prowess in the tough realm of politics.

Ma’am Chona told me via Messenger that the former lady solon collapsed after coming from office and rushed to Makati Medical Center on May 27 and was in a coma for three days.

Mrs. Villarosa made history in 2007 when she was elected by her colleagues at the House of Representatives its first woman deputy speaker. That year, she took her oath before then Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. Villarosa represented her 53 other female colleagues in the lower chamber. In a way, Villarosa’s appointment recognized her capability as a lawmaker and the vital role of female House members. She was a close ally of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She escorted President GMA in many of the latter’s official functions here and abroad.

The former deputy speaker from Occidental Mindoro was born May 30, 1943, in Balanga, Bataan. According to Ate Chona, her Madam Girlie was a hard-working and giving woman. Not only was she committed to her daily tasks, but she was also committed to giving back to the community. She always encouraged the people closest to her to be involved in life as she brought out the best in them. She kept on reminding them to make the best of everything

Ma’am Chona remembered her saying that she was her second mother, very kind, supportive, and helpful to everyone, especially to her family. Her supporters widely considered Girlie Villarosa as the Mother of the Province.

Aside from JTV and Mayor Bambi, Madam Girlie is survived by her children Bunny Villarosa-Kalaw, Nanny Villarosa- Drilon, Sookie Villarosa- Chiongbian, and Mikho, the youngest son.

“She is very motherly and very caring, especially when we are out of town during the campaign sorties,” says Ma’am Chona. Ms. Ordenes worked as her close-in aide while officially functioning as chief of staff then of Mamburao Mayor Voltaire “Bambi” Villarosa, Mrs. Villarosa’s eldest son. “Madam Girlie was also very loving and generous,” she adds.

Isabelle Allende once said that people only die when we forget them. Our dear departed is best remembered by all as once served her province as their representative to Congress. 

Even Death cannot take that truth away from her.