Manaoag Pangasinan woke to quiet grief on Tuesday as Jose de Venecia Jr., former House Speaker and one of the country’s most enduring political figures, passed away at 89. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, closing a chapter that spanned more than six decades of public service.
Known widely as JDV or Speaker Joe, De Venecia was more than a lawmaker. He was a bridge-builder in an often divided political world. His family announced his death “with heavy hearts,” remembering a man who was first a husband, father, grandfather, and the steady center of a large family.
Born on December 26, 1936, in Dagupan City, his story began far from the marble halls of Congress. He often spoke of simple childhood mornings, birdsong in the air, and riding carabaos through open fields. Those memories shaped a leader who never fully lost touch with rural life and ordinary struggles.
De Venecia went on to serve seven terms in the House of Representatives, five of them as Speaker. That record made him the longest-serving post-war Speaker in Philippine history. He helped form the Rainbow Coalition and authored laws that strengthened economic policy and national institutions during critical years.
His influence reached beyond Manila. In Dagupan City, Mayor Belen Fernandez credited him with helping the city stand again after the devastating 1990 earthquake. She spoke of his vision and calm leadership at a time when the city needed both.
On the global stage, De Venecia pushed for peace, interfaith dialogue, and cooperation among nations. These efforts earned him respect well beyond Philippine borders and defined the later years of his career.
He is survived by his wife, Gina de Venecia, now a representative of Pangasinan’s Fourth District, their children including former Representative Christopher de Venecia, their grandchildren, and extended family. The family also remembered their late child, KC de Venecia, whose absence remained close to their hearts.
As the nation mourns, many are choosing gratitude over sorrow. Jose de Venecia Jr. leaves behind laws, institutions, and a quiet reminder that public service, when done with patience and purpose, can last well beyond a lifetime.
Photos: Jose de Venecia Jr. during his years as House Speaker; family moments with his wife Gina and their children; public gatherings in Pangasinan honoring his legacy.
