VP Sara, Arroyo visit wake of former Speaker JDV in Dagupan
Published Feb 15, 2026 03:22 pm
Former President and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte at the wake of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia in Dagupan City on Feb. 15, 2026.
Vice President Sara Duterte and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo paid their respects to former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. at his wake in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.
The Vice President arrived at the Simbahan na Bato, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, at about 7 a.m., while Arroyo arrived at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Vice President Sara Duterte signs the funeral guest book at the wake of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia in Dagupan City on Feb. 15, 2026.
De Venecia, who served as Speaker of the House five times, passed away on Feb. 10 at the age of 89.
He 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.
A 5 a.m. Mass will be held on Feb. 16 at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag before the funeral cortege proceeds to the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
The House will hold a memorial service at 10 a.m. at the Plenary Hall, according to the official program released by the chamber.
The memorial service will be hosted by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and members of the 20th Congress, honoring De Venecia’s decades of public service and leadership in the House.
Born on Dec. 31, 1936, in Dagupan City, De Venecia studied at De La Salle University-Manila and Ateneo de Manila University and later became one of the stalwarts of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
He served as Speaker from 1992–1995, 1995–1998, 2001–2004, 2004–2007, and 2007–2008, and represented Pangasinan in multiple Congresses.
In his final Manila Bulletin column published Feb. 8, De Venecia wrote that after “decades of service as legislator, diplomat, entrepreneur, peace advocate, and five-time Speaker of the House – we never imagined that we would be granted the privilege of returning to where it all began.”
“In 2016, the Manila Bulletin extended that invitation, allowing us once more to engage the Filipino people through the written word. For this, we remain deeply thankful,” he added.
In an earlier statement, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto described De Venecia as a leader who “championed reforms that broke down barriers” and believed in “the art of the possible,” crediting him for helping usher in reforms that expanded access to utilities, promoted competition, and strengthened democratic institutions.
De Venecia was widely known as “Manong Joe,” a veteran lawmaker who also served as a diplomat and peace advocate before and after his speakership.