Former Speaker Of The House Jose C. De Venecia Jr.
Peacemakers
March 29, 2025 4:00 pm
As speaker of the House of Representatives and in the course of our modest foray in parliamentary and political party diplomacy, we have had the privilege of meeting UN Secretaries-General U Thant, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Kofi Anan, and Ban Ki-moon — all men of peace.
Much earlier, as a 29-year-old economic minister and press counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh) from 1966 to 1969, during the Vietnam War, we had the chance of meeting then UN Secretary General U Thant of Burma (now Myanmar).
Celebrating National Women’s Month
March 22, 2025 4:03 pm
March marks a significant milestone for women across Asia and the international community as it is celebrated as the National Women’s Month.
The occasion serves not only to recognize the achievements and contributions of women but also to reflect on the issues and challenges they continue to face.
Battling the scorching heat
March 08, 2025 4:03 pm
Once again, our country finds itself grappling with unbearable heat as summer temperatures soar to alarming levels. Several areas in the Philippines are experiencing extreme heat indices, prompting the Department of Education and various local government units to suspend classes for the safety of students and teachers. The Department of Health has also issued warnings and preventive measures, urging the public to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
These high temperatures are not just a passing inconvenience; they are a clear and present danger that Filipinos must face every year. With climate change exacerbating the problem, it is crucial that we implement long-term solutions, including intensified tree-planting activities, the expansion of green spaces in urban centers, and better heat-mitigation policies.
A journey and reflection in Japan
March 01, 2025 4:06 pm
As our wife Gina and we embark on our current visit in Japan, we are enveloped by a profound sense of nostalgia. This beautiful country, with its harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, has been the backdrop to numerous pivotal moments in our public service career.
Reminiscing EDSA
February 25, 2025 12:31 am
For young Filipinos not yet born in 1986 and who now comprise half of our country’s population of around 115 million, let me give you a glimpse of the first-ever People Power Revolution the Philippines commemorates today.