Under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, the House of Representatives, in solidarity with its former Speakers, will hold a memorial service on Monday for Jose C. de Venecia Jr., paying tribute to a five-term Speaker whose stewardship shaped the institution and influenced the course of national governance.

The memorial service will open with a rendition of “Ako ay Pilipino” by the AFP Band, followed by the invocation, to be led by Hon. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica of Bulacan, setting a solemn tone for a program crafted to reflect both the dignity of the institution and the breadth of De Venecia’s public life, according to the official invitation from the House of Representatives.

Eulogies will then be delivered in sequence, led by Dy, with tributes from ex-President and former Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, former Senate President and ex-Speaker Manuel B. Villar Jr., former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Win Gatchalian, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Rep. Conrado Estrella III, former Sen. Mar Roxas, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., former Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron, MD, Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, former House Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” M. Gonzales II, House Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, and former Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia.

The program will also include the offering of legislative memorabilia and a video presentation chronicling De Venecia’s life in public service, before a response from Rep. Ma. Georgina Vera Perez-de Venecia, the late Speaker’s wife and current representative of the 4th District of Pangasinan, after which the AFP Band will render “The Impossible Dream.”

A photo opportunity and floral offering will follow, culminating in the playing of “Edelweiss” by the AFP Band, a closing musical tribute meant to echo the quiet resolve and idealism that colleagues often associated with De Venecia’s leadership.

Earlier, the 20th Congress of the House of Representatives adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 758, in which the chamber formally expressed its profound condolences to the family of De Venecia.

The memorial rites are set at 10 a.m. on 16 Feb. 2026 at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives in Quezon City, where lawmakers from the 20th Congress and members of previous Congresses will gather to pay tribute to the man widely known as “JDV” and “Speaker Joe.”

The resolution was introduced by Dy, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos of Ilocos Norte, and Libanan of the 4PS Party-list. HR 758 recognizes De Venecia’s singular distinction as the only member of the House to have served as Speaker for five terms, during the 9th Congress from 1992 to 1995, the 10th Congress from 1995 to 1998, the 12th Congress from 2001 to 2004, the 13th Congress from 2004 to 2007, and the 14th Congress from 2007 to 2008.

De Venecia, who passed away on 10 February 2026 at the age of 89, was also a member of the House of Representatives for seven terms, carving out a legislative career that spanned decades and bridged shifting political eras.

HR 758 recalls his role as an architect of political unity, particularly in forging the “Rainbow Coalition” that unified seven political parties and supported then-President Fidel V. Ramos in restoring stability and securing the passage of more than 200 economic and social reform laws.

This also includes his leadership in co-founding Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and steering key measures such as the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the New Central Bank Act, and the Philippine Economic Zone Act.

Beyond the chamber, the resolution underscores De Venecia’s work in advancing peace initiatives, interfaith dialogue, and Asian parliamentary cooperation, as well as his recognitions from France, Spain, and several other countries.

In honor of his legacy, a museum has been established at the People’s Center of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress during Romualdez’s stint as Speaker, ensuring that the life and work of the five-time Speaker will remain part of the institution he helped shape.

In the 19th Congress, Romualdez led the House of Representatives in adopting HR No. 247 commending de Venecia “for his distinguished service and significant contributions to the country.”

Adopted during the Third Regular Session of the Nineteenth Congress and consolidated with HR No. 1940, the measure recognized de Venecia as “the only Member of the House of Representatives who served as Speaker for five terms.”

The resolution also cited his role in forging the “Rainbow Coalition,” which “paved the way for the smooth passage of more than two hundred economic, political, and social reform laws,” and noted that he was a principal author of key measures, including the “B-O-T (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law,” the “Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992,” and “The New Central Bank Act.”