Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The House of Representatives will hold a memorial service on Monday for former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., with key lawmakers and political figures expected to attend.
The ceremony, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., will open with the AFP Band performing “Ako ay Pilipino,” the House said in a statement.
Eulogies will be given by Speaker Faustino Dy III, former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former House leaders Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Manuel Villar Jr., Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and Senators Loren Legarda, Win Gatchalian, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, among others.
The program will also feature a video presentation chronicling De Venecia’s life in public service and the offering of legislative memorabilia, followed by a response from his wife, Rep. Ma. Georgina Vera Perez-de Venecia, who represents Pangasinan’s fourth district.
The service follows House Resolution 758, which formally extended condolences to the family and recognized De Venecia as the only House member to serve five terms as speaker.
During his career, De Venecia oversaw the passage of over 200 laws, including the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the New Central Bank Act, and the Philippine Economic Zone Act, aimed at economic and social reforms.
He also co-founded Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and was credited for forming the “Rainbow Coalition,” uniting multiple parties in support of former President Fidel V. Ramos.