Jose de Venecia Jr.: A visionary leader

House and government leaders on Monday eulogized former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., led by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, who said the late statesman’s leadership reshaped the chamber and set standards that continue to guide the institution today.

The AFP Band played the song “Ako ay Pilipino” as the memorial service at the Plenary Hall opened, followed by an invocation led by Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, before a series of eulogies from past and present leaders who described De Venecia as a consensus builder whose imprint remains woven into the House.

Former House Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II honored De Venecia as “an exceptional statesman, a bridge-builder, a steadfast servant…a magnificent diplomat,” recalling that he “stood at the center of Philippine democracy for many years with a purpose.”

The Mandaluyong City solon said that as Speaker of the House, De Venecia’s leadership “was not about dominance, but about Dialogue; not about division, but about unity,” bringing together differing voices and tempering conflict with wisdom, even at the height of political tensions, when, as Gonzales noted,

“He had a way of listening to you, that made you feel like your perspective was the only one that mattered. Hindi mo makukuha magalit sa kanya,” he said.

Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers honored De Venecia as a leader whose character defined his public life and whose presence left a lasting mark on colleagues across party lines.

“He was not someone out to please everyone. He is in fact a multi-faceted person, a public servant, peacemaker, leader,” Barbers said.

He recalled that even when De Venecia was teased as “Joe de Bola” for his long stories, Barbers explained he merely wanted to share his experiences, broad knowledge of history, geography, politics, and almost everything else, and impart lessons to those who have time to listen.

Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, in his eulogy, also urged fellow public servants to draw lessons from the former Speaker’s example, especially at a time when the nation faces political and economic headwinds that demand steadiness rather than spectacle.

“As we pay our last respect to this great man of our country, I could not help but recall his life as an honest and truly accountable public servant: As a statesman, a seasoned parliamentarian, a gentle peacemaker, and a visionary architect of unity, to name a few,” Abante said.

Sen. Migz Zubiri, for his part, called De Venecia “a political visionary like no other,” saying his genius lay in uniting leaders around a common cause.

“As a leader, he led not by force, not by an iron fist. He led by listening, by sitting down with us as an equal. He made decisions with us, not for us. That is how he got everyone together for the Rainbow Coalition,” Zubiri said, noting that De Venecia was elected Speaker for a historic five times.

Zubiri led in presenting a Senate resolution to the family of De Venecia, honoring his memory and legacy as a leader.

Sen. Loren Legarda described De Venecia as “our beloved Manong Joe – a statesman to the world, a peacemaker in times of division, but to many of us, a mentor and a friend,” saying she speaks “not only as a Senator of the Republic, but as one of the many whose paths were defined by the generosity and faith” of the late Speaker.

She credited him for believing in her early in her political journey, recalling that she “probably would not be a Senator today” had he not brought her into his party and supported her candidacy.

Those who also gave their separate eulogies for De Venecia included: Sen. Win Gatchalian, Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron, MD, Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Hon. Chung Eui-yong, Hon. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Former Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia, Sec. Conrado M. Estrella III, former Sen. Mar A. Roxas, and former Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr.

The service concluded with offerings of legislative memorabilia, a video presentation, a response from his family led by Rep. Georgina De Venecia, and a final musical tribute, as the chamber stood in collective remembrance of a leader whose career spanned business, diplomacy, and five terms as Speaker.