Also absent was beleaguered Liga ng mga Barangay (LB) president Eric Muñoz, chairman of Barangay Tambac. A seat that was allotted for Muñoz was given to a barangay councilman, who is his opponent in the barangay.
Taguig-Pateros Representative Allan Peter Cayetano, an opposition stalwart, was the guest of honor and speaker in the affair.
After de Venecia's daughter, KC, died in a fire two years ago, the Speaker and his family have not been celebrating Christmas the way they used to. The de Venecias said they cannot afford to rejoice the Christmas Day while feeling the pain of losing KC.
In the past years, the de Venecias had been attending fiesta activities scheduled every December 26 and 27.
But Mayor Benjamin Lim has a different interpretation on the Speaker's absence.
When asked why de Venecia did not participate in the affair, Lim said: "Since we started the fiesta on December 15, I believe even much earlier than that, the fiesta committee headed by Councilor Dada Reyna has been coordinating with the good Speaker. But I think he (de Venecia) would prefer to enjoy his birthday and Christmas there in the US rather than be with his people here, as usual!"
Cayetano, for his part, kept mum when asked by local reporters on the absence of de Venecia in the event and insisted there is no problem between him and the House Speaker although they are in the conflicting sides as regards the proposed Charter change.
De Venecia is the principal proponent of Charter change, which the Taguig congressman strongly opposed.
On a prediction that 2007 would be a bad year for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cayetano said being a religious person who believes in the Bible, he does not believe in predictions. (Sunnex)
