Senator Loren Legarda paid an emotional tribute to former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on Monday, remembering him as a statesman, peacemaker and mentor whose influence shaped generations of leaders.

Delivering her eulogy at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Legarda described de Venecia, fondly called “Manong Joe,” as a guiding presence in her own political journey.

“I probably would not be a Senator today if, in 1997, Manong Joe hadn’t brought me into his Lakas party,” Legarda said. “He believed in my capabilities long before I did.”

She recalled how de Venecia, then Speaker of the House, opened doors for her when she was still a 37-year-old journalist with no plans of entering national politics.

“He shared his knowledge and wisdom, opened doors that I did not even know existed, and insisted that my voice and the voices of everyday Filipinos have a place in the great conversation about our nation’s future,” she said.

Beyond his unprecedented five terms as Speaker, Legarda said she would remember the quiet conversations and sincere encouragement that defined his leadership style.

In one of his recent articles, de Venecia wrote: “Public office is both a privilege and a crucible. It tests your resolve, challenges your principles, and demands sacrifices not only from you but also from your loved ones.”

Legarda said those words captured the weight of public service and the personal cost borne by de Venecia and his family, including his wife, Cong. Gina de Venecia.

She highlighted his role in steering the country through the turbulent years following Martial Law, building the “Rainbow Coalition” to pass key reforms and help stabilize the country’s democracy. He also championed laws converting former military bases into economic hubs and supported measures benefiting overseas Filipino workers.

“He reached out to those who had once stood on the other side of conflicts, not because it was convenient, but because he believed that peace, however challenging, was always worth taking a risk for,” Legarda said.

She added that de Venecia viewed politics not as a pursuit of power but as a means of building bridges — between parties, religions and generations — to strengthen the Republic.

“I mourn today not only the country’s loss of a brilliant leader and statesman, but my own loss of a mentor and a dear friend,” she said.

Addressing the de Venecia family, Legarda expressed shared grief and pride, noting that the Senate had earlier adopted a resolution in 2024 honoring his “illustrious career and invaluable contributions to the country.”

“His greatest legacy is not only the institutions he built or the laws he passed, but the men and women he encouraged — that includes me — the younger leaders he formed, and the faith in this Republic that he passed on to us,” Legarda noted.

She ended her tribute with a final message: “Rest in peace, our dear Manong Joe. We will honor you best not by our words today, but by the way we choose to serve the country every day.”