IN a rare show of unity that rose above party lines and political generations, five past and present Speakers of the House of Representatives stood together Monday in the plenary hall to honor the late Jose C. De Venecia Jr., the longest-serving Speaker and the only lawmaker in Philippine history elected to the post five times.
Incumbent Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III was joined by former Speakers Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., and Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in delivering eulogies for De Venecia, whose decades-long career helped shape modern parliamentary leadership in the country.
“We gather as one House to honor a life that shaped this institution and influenced the course of our democracy,” Dy said, repeatedly referring to De Venecia as “Tito Joe.”
Dy said De Venecia showed “what it means to wield the gavel with purpose,” noting that his five elections as Speaker were proof of a level of competence and leadership difficult to match.
The incumbent Speaker credited De Venecia with setting “a standard of dignity in conduct, discipline in stewardship and fidelity to the nation above all else.”
Arroyo, who worked with De Venecia as both senator and president, eulogized him as “a statesman, a colleague and a man whose imprint on Philippine political life will endure for generations.”
The current representative of Pampanga’s second district said she would remember most his “unwavering belief in the power of dialogue over division.”
Describing him as a parliamentarian, statesman and peacemaker, Arroyo said De Venecia believed political dialogue must outlive electoral cycles and that coalition-building was “not a tactic, but a philosophy.”
Villar, who served as Speaker during the 11th Congress, said De Venecia had an “unshakable love for the Philippines” and the rare ability to “turn disagreements into dialogue and dialogue into action.”
“He built bridges across the aisle and across continents because he understood that the Filipino dream was larger than any quarrel or ambition,” said Villar, who also later became Senate President.
“For him, service was not a posture, but a practice — steady, pragmatic, and always anchored in hope for our people,” Villar added.
Belmonte, who served as Speaker during the 12th, 15th and 16th Congresses, highlighted De Venecia’s international legacy, calling him “a statesman and diplomat par excellence” who believed that “Asia’s future depends on its economic and political integration.”
He cited De Venecia’s role in strengthening regional parliamentary institutions and fostering cross-border political dialogue.
Belmonte described De Venecia as “a beacon of hope in challenging times” who “embodied the qualities of integrity, dedication, resilience and hard work.”
“He understood that leadership is not just about holding a post, but connecting with people, addressing their needs and advocating for their rights,” Belmonte added.
Romualdez remembered De Venecia as a “founder, builder and unifier” whose leadership reshaped the House and elevated consensus as the highest form of democratic strength.
He also highlighted De Venecia’s role as a founding force behind the ruling party Lakas-CMD and as architect of the Rainbow Coalition, describing it not merely as a political strategy but “a philosophy of governance” rooted in inclusion and consensus.
“He did not silence dissent; he harmonized it. He did not diminish differences; he reconciled them,” Romualdez said, adding that De Venecia proved “unity is not weakness. It is strength disciplined by wisdom.”
De Venecia, who died Feb. 10 at 89, served as Speaker during the 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th Congresses. His five terms remain unmatched.
In a chamber often defined by fierce debate, the sight of five Speakers standing side by side to honor one of their own underscored the breadth of his influence and the enduring power of the consensus politics De Venecia championed.
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