House honors JDV, ‘a towering figure of inspiration,’ with museum
The House of Representatives inaugurated on Tuesday a building named in honor of former Pangasinan congressman Jose de Venecia Jr., who served as Speaker for five terms and under two presidents.
De Venecia—or JDV, as he is fondly called—now 88, was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Jose de Venecia Building and Museum, where Speaker Martin Romualdez hailed him for his “distinguished service and contributions to the country.”
The building, located within the Batsang Pambansa Complex, used to be known as the People’s Center.
In his speech, Romualdez urged his colleagues to uphold the legacy of “Speaker Joe,” who remains the only member of the House who has served as Speaker for five terms (9th to 10th, 12th to 14th Congresses) under the Ramos and Arroyo administrations.
“As we dedicate the Jose de Venecia Building and Museum, let us also commit ourselves to honoring his legacy by embodying the values he holds dear: unity, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of peace and progress,” Romualdez said. “To us who have been fortunate enough to walk alongside him in the halls of public service, he is not just a mentor but a towering figure of inspiration.”
“His wisdom, tempered by decades of experience; his humility, borne out of genuine service; and his optimism, unwavering even in the face of challenges, remain etched in our hearts,” he added.
Mentor to legislators
De Venecia’s wife, Georgina, and their son, now Pampanga Rep. Christopher de Venecia, were present at the ceremony. Romualdez’s wife, Tingog Rep. Yedda Romualdez, and other ranking House leaders also attended.
The eponymous building also houses a museum, designed and curated by Arc Lico, showcasing pictures and other memorabilia on the life and times of the former Speaker who has mentored countless legislators, including incumbent Senators Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros.
Romualdez recognized the 88-year-old statesman as a “rare force in Philippine politics–one who bridges divides with the precision of a diplomat and the passion of a patriot.”
He recalled the “Rainbow Coalition”—composed of seven political parties and which De Venecia led under the low-plurality Ramos presidency to create a solid majority in the lower chamber—as a “masterclass in inclusive governance, a vivid testament to his belief that diversity is not a weakness but a profound strength.”
FVR’s peace envoy
Before becoming a legislator, De Venecia was a diplomat who conceived and implemented the dollar remittance program for overseas Filipino workers. As President Fidel V. Ramos’ peace envoy, he had reached out to both Moro insurgent groups and the leaders of the National Democratic Front and New Peoples’ Army then led by Jose Maria Sison.
De Venecia also co-founded the powerful Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the dominant political party at the House for around 15 years.
He resigned as party president in 2008 but joined the second incarnation of Lakas-CMD in 2020.
