By Farah G. Decano
JDV: Never a RepreTSINAtive
The passing of Speaker Jose C. De Venecia marks the departure of a titan in governance. To serve an unprecedented five terms at the rostrum is more than a political feat. It is a masterclass in the “alchemy of consensus.”
JDV led the House with such political savvy. In a chamber of more than 250 individuals—each a “king” or “queen” fiercely
protective of their own turf—JDV possessed the rare, almost legendary ability to persuade the stubborn and the demanding to submerge their egos for the sake of the national interest.
He was truly primus inter pares—first among equals—navigating the delicate temperaments of his peers with a blend of extreme humility, creativity, and tireless diplomacy. He transformed a room of conflicting agendas into a cohesive force for the country’s development.
But as we mourn the man, we must also confront the vacuum he leaves behind.
One cannot help but wonder: How would a heyday JDV handle the escalating crisis in the West Philippine Sea? I am certain he would not be silent. He would be rallying the House, forging a unified front against the blatant disrespect of our sovereign rights, our territory, and our people.
Instead, in today’s heated maritime climate, we are
witnessing a disturbing mutation in our halls of power: the rise of the out and proud RepreTSINAtives and the TSINAdors. These are the figures who wear the Philippine barong but seemingly recite scripts written in Beijing. They act as if they have traded the statesman’s mantle for a pawn’s role.
JDV was a negotiator and a master of “principled pragmatism,” but he was never a puppet.
As the West Philippine Sea issue simmers, his absence highlights a haunting void where our legislators once stood firm and united. We have plenty of politicians today, but we are in desperate need for more brave patriots.