Executive Secretary Ralph Recto paid tribute to former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., describing him as a leader driven by reform and nation-building following his passing at age 89.

In a statement on Tuesday, Feb. 11, Recto honored the longtime statesman’s role in public life and political discourse.

“In Joe de Venecia, we saw the grit and the grace of a leader driven to make his nation great,” he said.

He noted that de Venecia’s career was marked by challenging convention and advancing reforms.

“Never content with the status quo, he championed reforms that broke down barriers and overthrew conventions that hindered progress,” he added.

Recto also highlighted the former lawmaker’s diplomatic and entrepreneurial contributions, recalling his early work promoting dialogue amid conflict and recognizing overseas opportunities for Filipino workers.

“As a young diplomat in a country splintered by war, he reached across battlefields and ideological fault lines to talk peace,” he said.

“As an entrepreneur, he was among the first to see the potential of oil economies as employer of our talent, whose remittances enabled millions of families to realize their dreams,” he added.

The Executive Secretary cited de Venecia’s leadership in the House of Representatives, where he backed structural reforms.

“As a House leader, he was the hopeless optimist who believed in the art of the possible, that ideas once dismissed as unthinkable, such as the breakup of entrenched monopolies, soon became laws of the land,” Recto said.

He also credited de Venecia with supporting measures that expanded access to utilities and transportation.

“Through the reforms he helped shepherd, he brought water to dry taps, light to dark homes, and filled the skies with more planes with cheaper seats,” he said.

Recto described de Venecia as a principled political figure who promoted cooperation across ideological divides.

“As a senior statesman, he continued to preach the politics of principles, so parties run on ideas, and not merely run by personalities,” he said.

“In JDV’s vision, enmity is set aside, yet debate is not silenced, as long as work animated by a common purpose is pursued by a ‘rainbow coalition’ of Filipinos of various beliefs who can come together for love of country,” he added.

He ended the statement with a brief message of thanks to the late leader: “Maraming salamat, Ninong JDV.”

De Venecia, popularly known as “Manong Joe,” also a Manila Bulletin columnist, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, and is survived by his wife, Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia, and their children Christopher, Joey, Leslie Norton, Kristina Casimira Perez, Vivian Garcia, and Alexandra Haner.

Born Dec. 31, 1936, in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, he studied at De La Salle University-Manila and Ateneo de Manila University and became one of the stalwarts of Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats.

In his final column published Sunday, Feb. 8, he reflected on his decades of service as legislator, diplomat, entrepreneur, peace advocate, and five-time House Speaker, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue engaging the public through writing.