Thank you, JdV
The Sunday Punch joins the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of Jose de Venecia Jr., the greatest and most illustrious son of Pangasinan and Dagupan City, whose life of public service helped shape modern Philippine legislation and local governance. He was 89.
No Filipino has ever equaled—much less surpassed—De Venecia’s record as five-time Speaker of the House of Representatives, a distinction he earned during some of the country’s most difficult and defining political moments. His steady hand, political acumen, and capacity for consensus-building made him a pillar of stability in Congress when the nation needed it most.
De Venecia served seven terms in the House of Representatives, first as congressman of the old Second District of Pangasinan and later as a six-term representative of the Fourth District, comprising Dagupan City and the towns of Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, and Manaoag. It was from this district that he rose to national prominence, earning the trust of colleagues across party lines and regions.
Born on December 26, 1936, in Barangay Pogo Grande, Dagupan City, De Venecia was steeped early in discipline, intellect, and public service. Before entering politics, he distinguished himself as a journalist, an Ateneo de Manila graduate, and editor of The Guidon. At an age when most were just starting their careers, he was already the Manila bureau chief of the Pan-Asia Newspaper Alliance and later a co-founder of Radio Network Philippines.
Known affectionately as JdV or Manong Joe, he entered politics by challenging entrenched political figures. Though he lost his first electoral bid, he rebounded with a decisive victory in 1969—proof of a resilience that would define his public life. Martial law cut short his first term, but not his purpose. He turned adversity into opportunity, becoming a successful international entrepreneur in the Middle East and North Africa, opening doors for Filipino enterprise abroad.
After the restoration of democratic institutions, De Venecia returned to Congress, chaired key committees, and—through the historic Rainbow Coalition—was elected Speaker during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos. He would be chosen to the post four more times, serving longer than any Speaker in Philippine history. His legislative legacy includes landmark measures that strengthened democratic institutions and guided the country through political and economic transitions.
De Venecia, along with Fidel Ramos and Raul Manglapus, founded the Lakas-NUCD political party, the dominant political party in the Philippines for good 12 years, and remains a political force to reckon with till today.
He authored landmark legislations that helped national development, transforming the economy and uplifting millions of Filipino families and Overseas Filipino Workers. These include the Dollar Remittance Program, Bases Conversion and Development Act, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Philippine Economic Zone Act, and the New Central Bank Act.
Beyond national politics, De Venecia’s imprint on Dagupan City is enduring. Entrusted by President Corazon C. Aquino after the devastating 1990 earthquake, he mobilized international support to rebuild Dagupan and other quake-stricken areas in Luzon—earning him recognition as an architect of the city’s modern rebirth. He was also known as a peacemaker who wanted nations and faith to reconcile and contribute to world peace.
Jose de Venecia Jr. was a statesman of vision, perseverance, and uncommon political skill. His legacy endures in the laws he authored, the coalitions he built, the city he helped rebuild, and the democratic institutions he strengthened. Pangasinan, Dagupan City, and the nation he served will long remember him.#