JDV: A statesman, an architect of peace

The nation mourns the passing of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., a statesman whose life was defined by service, conviction, and an unyielding belief in the power of dialogue.

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For more than six decades, De Venecia—known to many simply as “JDV”—stood at the crossroads of Philippine history, helping guide the country through periods of uncertainty toward renewal and growth. His legacy is woven into the democratic and economic fabric of the Republic he so faithfully served.

Born on Dec. 26, 1936, in Dagupan City, Speaker de Venecia’s public life spanned roles as journalist, diplomat, entrepreneur, legislator, and global advocate for peace. Yet it was in the House of Representatives where his leadership left its most indelible mark. Serving seven terms, five of them as Speaker—the longest tenure in the postwar Congress—he transformed the chamber into a platform for consensus-building at a time when division threatened national progress.