Christopher “Toff” de Venecia

Representative Christopher “Toff” de Venecia serves as the congressman representing the 4th district of Pangasinan in the Philippine House of Representatives.

A creative himself—director, producer, writer, and former child actor—de Venecia’s work bridges his artistic background and legislative efforts, ensuring that creatives are recognised, valued, and empowered. His journey began at Ateneo de Manila University, where he actively participated in productions with Ateneo Blue Repertory, taking on roles as both director and actor. As managing artistic director at The Sandbox Collective, he has reimagined theatrical classics like Little Shop of Horrors, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Every Brilliant Thing for contemporary audiences, underscoring his dedication to the arts.

In Congress, de Venecia champions the creative industries through impactful legislation. He was instrumental in the passage of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, enacted on 28 July 2022, which supports Filipino artists, workers, indigenous communities, and stakeholders by fortifying their rights and capacities. He also advocates for the Eddie Garcia Bill, aimed at safeguarding workers’ welfare in film, television, and radio. De Venecia envisions the Philippines as ASEAN’s leading creative economy by 2030, believing strongly in the potential of Filipino talent.