Teresa Aquino-Oreta

Maria Teresa Aquino-Oreta (born Maria Teresa Aquino Aquino on June 28, 1944), better known as Tessie Aquino-Oreta, is a Filipino politician. She was the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 11th Congress.

Background
She was born on June 28, 1944 to Benigno Aquino, Sr. and Aurora Aquino-Aquino. She was the youngest of the Aquino children of Tarlac. Her siblings included Ninoy Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983.

Senator Aquino-Oreta attended primary school at the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola and high school at Assumption Convent. She graduated with a degree in Literature and History at the Assumption Convent (now Assumption College); she received her International Studies degree in Ciudad Ducal, Avila, Spain. She completed her master's degree at the National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Reserved) in the Philippine Air Force.

She is married to businessman Antolin M. Oreta, Jr. They have four children: Rissa, Antolin (Len-Len) III, Karmela and adopted son Lorenzo.

House of Representatives
Before being elected to the Senate in 1998, she represented the district of Malabon City-Navotas at the House of Representatives for three consecutive terms, from 1987-1998.

At the Lower House, she authored, and co-authored about 280 bills (79 were enacted into laws) and proposed 101 local and national resolutions (20 were adopted). She became the Assistant Majority Floor Leader during the 8th Congress in 1987 and during the 10th Congress in 1995, becoming the first woman Assistant Majority Floor Leader in the history of the Lower House.

Oreta ran as Congresswoman in Malabon in the 2016 elections; but lost to former representative Frederico "Ricky" Sandoval II.

Senate
In the 1998 National Elections, she was elected senator under the opposition Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP) banner. In the three years she was in office, Senator Aquino-Oreta filed 197 Senate Bills (authored and co-authored) and resolutions.

Estrada impeachment trial
She participated in the impeachment trial of former president Joseph Estrada and was one of the senators who voted against the opening of the so-called "second envelope." After the vote, she was caught on camera doing a jig, which earned her the nickname "dancing queen" and offended some people. She apologized for the incident in a widely-broadcast political advertisement. She subsequently ran for the Senate and was defeated. She has not been elected to public office since.