Jose de Venecia Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jose de Venecia Jr.
de Venecia in 2017
17th and 21st Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives
In office July 23, 2001 – February 5, 2008
Preceded by	Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Succeeded by	Prospero Nograles
In office July 27, 1992 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Ramon Mitra Jr.
Succeeded by	Manny Villar
Member of the House of Representatives from Pangasinan
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Benjamin Lim
Succeeded by	Gina de Venecia
Constituency	4th district
In office June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Antonio Villar Sr.
Succeeded by	Benjamin Lim
Constituency	4th district
In office December 30, 1969 – September 23, 1972
Preceded by	Jack Laureano Soriano
Succeeded by	District abolished (next held by Antonio Bengson III)
Constituency	2nd district
Personal details
Born	(1936-12-26)December 26, 1936 Dagupan, Pangasinan, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Died	February 10, 2026(2026-02-10) (aged 89)
Political party	Lakas (1991–2008; 2020–2026)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2008–2020) LDP (1988–1991) Lakas ng Bansa (1987–1988) Liberal (1969–1987)
Spouses	Victoria Perez (divorced) Georgina Vera-Perez
Children	6, including Joey and Christopher
Alma mater	Ateneo de Manila University (BA)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Journalist

Jose Claveria de Venecia Jr. (December 26, 1936 – February 10, 2026), often called JDV or Manong Joe, was an important Filipino politician and journalist. He served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines for many years, from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2008.

A member of the Lakas political party, he ran for president in the 1998 election. He finished second among many candidates.

Mr. de Venecia was elected as a representative for the 4th district of Pangasinan six times, starting in 1987. He was the Speaker of the House during several Congresses. He was the first Filipino to be Speaker five times. On February 5, 2008, a majority of representatives voted to choose a new speaker.

Early Life and Education

Jose de Venecia Jr. was born in Dagupan, Pangasinan, on December 26, 1936. His parents were Judge Jose R. de Venecia Sr. and Casimira Villamil Clavería. His family had a history in public service. His grandfather, Guillermo de Venecia, was a municipal president (like a mayor) in the early 1900s.

He finished elementary school in Dagupan and high school at De La Salle College. In 1955, he completed his studies in Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila.

Career Before Speakership

Mr. de Venecia was also a successful businessman. In the 1970s, he helped many Filipinos find work overseas, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. His companies hired thousands of Filipinos for jobs in places like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This effort helped create many job opportunities for Filipinos abroad.

He also started programs to find oil and gas in the Philippines, leading to the first discoveries off the coast of Palawan. He became the president of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines.

His political journey began in 1961 as a spokesperson for presidential candidate Diosdado Macapagal. From 1966 to 1969, he worked in diplomatic service as an economic counselor. He also helped create a program for overseas Filipino workers to send money back home. He was recognized as one of the top congressmen before martial law in the Philippines. He served as a congressman for Pangasinan's 2nd district from 1969 to 1972. After the House of Representatives was restored in 1987, he was elected again, this time for the fourth district of Pangasinan.

He also helped start the Radio Philippines Network.

Becoming Speaker of the House (1992–1998)

Mr. de Venecia's official portrait during the 8th Congress.

In 1992, Mr. de Venecia helped form a new political party called Partido Lakas ng Tao with Fidel V. Ramos. He worked to bring different political groups together to create a strong party.

He was re-elected as a congressman that same year. To create a strong majority in the House, he formed a "Rainbow Coalition." This group included several political parties working together. Because of this, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was re-elected as both congressman and Speaker in 1995.

Working for Peace

As a peace envoy for President Ramos, Speaker De Venecia worked to bring peace to different groups in the Philippines. He met with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Mindanao and helped create a peace agreement in Tripoli in 1976. This led to a peace pact signed in 1996.

He also held secret talks with military rebel leaders, which resulted in a ceasefire in 1992 and a peace agreement in 1995. In 1997, he traveled to the Netherlands to meet with leaders of the National Democratic Front and the New People's Army. He was also the first Christian leader to visit Camp Abubakar in Mindanao in 1997. There, he started peace talks with Hashim Salamat, the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Presidential Election of 1998

In 1998, Mr. de Venecia was chosen by his party, Lakas–NUCD–UMDP, to run for president. He competed against 10 other candidates. He received the second-highest number of votes, but Joseph Estrada won the election. After this, Mr. de Venecia took a break from politics.

Return to Public Service

Mr. de Venecia returned to public life in 2001, suggesting a change in leadership for the country. Later that year, the Vice President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, became president.

Speaker of the House (2001–2008)

In the 2001 election, he was re-elected as a congressman for the 4th District of Pangasinan without opposition. The House overwhelmingly re-elected him as Speaker. He formed an alliance with other parties called the Sunshine Coalition. In 2003, he was praised for respecting a Supreme Court decision regarding the Chief Justice.

He played an important role in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's successful presidential campaign in the 2004 election. He also won his congressional seat by a large margin and was re-elected as Speaker for the fourth time.

Re-election and Removal as Speaker

On July 23, 2007, Mr. de Venecia was chosen as House Speaker for the fifth time by 159 lawmakers. He was the only person nominated for the position.

However, on January 31, 2008, some congressmen announced they no longer had confidence in Speaker de Venecia. On February 4, 2008, a motion was made to declare the Speaker's position vacant. During a speech, Mr. de Venecia spoke about the challenges he faced and his disagreements with the administration. He also expressed his intention to continue fighting for good governance.

Shortly after midnight on February 5, 2008, 174 members of the House voted to declare the Speaker's position vacant. This removed Mr. de Venecia from his role. Prospero Nograles was then elected as the new House Speaker.

After the Speakership

On March 10, 2008, Mr. de Venecia resigned as president of the Lakas–CMD party. In 2010, he traveled to the United States to speak to Filipinos living there. He highlighted the significant contributions of overseas workers to the Philippine economy, calling them "heroes and heroines."

In April 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Mr. de Venecia as Special Envoy for Inter-Cultural Dialogue. In this role, he advised the government on policies related to cultural diversity.

Mr. de Venecia rejoined the Lakas–CMD party in 2020.

Public Opinion

A survey conducted in late 2007 showed that Speaker Jose de Venecia's public approval rating was about even, with 37% satisfied and 37% dissatisfied.

Family Life

Jose de Venecia Jr. had children from his first marriage to Victoria Perez. They had four children: Alexandra, Leslie, Vivian, and Jose III (Joey).

He later married Georgina Vera-Perez, who is also known as Manay Gina. They had two children: Christopher and Kristina Casimira (KC). Manay Gina is a social worker and radio host.

Sadly, in December 2004, a fire at his home resulted in the tragic death of his 16-year-old daughter, KC.

Legacy

On February 10, 2026, Jose de Venecia Jr. passed away at the age of 89.

In January 2025, a building and museum named the "Jose de Venecia Jr. Building and Museum" opened at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. This honors his contributions and legacy.