By CAROLINE Coronel “Alin” De Venecia
Good evening everyone!
My name is Alin De Venecia – Medalla. I’m the second of four children of Tito & Malou De Venecia. I am the niece of JDV, as my dad Tito is his youngest — and as of yesterday, his only living sibling.
[Edited – Fun fact: Both JDV and Manay Gina are my baptismal godparents, hence the mention of Ninong & Ninang in my anecdotes.]
Today, I’d like to honor and remember JDV — not only as a five-time Speaker of the House, but as a caring and loving member of the De Venecia family, with whom I’ve had the privilege of sharing a few core memories:
CORE MEMORY NUMBER 1 – JDV was already famous pre-Internet:
Growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, I — and I’m sure my relatives here who also carry the De Venecia last name — would randomly be asked, “Kaano-ano mo si Speaker De Venecia?”
I would simply reply, “Tito ko po siya, kapatid siya ng Dad ko.” And I would get genuine responses like, “Wow! Hello sa kanya” or “Ay wow! Bigatin ka pala.”
Needless to say, I was too young to understand why they felt that way, but only later did I realize that JDV must have made a mark so strong as a public figure that people knew him, remembered him, and spoke about him. To be famous in the pre-internet era—that says a lot.
We are grateful to JDV for pursuing what he loved in full view of the public, yet always mindful that behind him is a family who has chosen to live largely in private.
Next, CORE MEMORY NUMBER 2 – JDV opens his home to everyone
I’m sure everyone in this room has been to JDV’s Dagupan home at least once. The wide, open spaces — the lanai, the old fish pond, the pool with the tall slide — the overflowing food, the massive crowds, especially during campaign season or his yearly birthdays, are all quintessentially Binloc. All of this opened my eyes to how public the De Venecia family’s life really is.
For my sisters, Ate Isabelle, Tin, and me, growing up, we simply loved Binloc because we got to play with our cousins, Christopher and KC, who are practically our age. We bonded in the old side of the house over comic books, VCDs, and it was the only time we were allowed to eat junk food — a little fun fact: it was Toff and KC who introduced us to Shakey’s Pepperoni Crunch when Shakey’s first opened in Robinsons Calasiao. It’s also the time we learned that boneless bangus is not just a breakfast staple, as in Binloc, it was literally served throughout the day.
It was also in Binloc that we spent the last several weeks of every campaign season helping out with JDV’s bid to be Congressman of the 4th District of Pangasinan, including the 1998 Presidential elections. Imagine us completely decked out in yellow uniforms — vests, pins, caps, with a lampin at our backs — ready for day-long motorcades, giving out paypays and candy, and singing non-stop to the song “Shalalala, Manong Joe De Venecia!” We loved it all!
When all the noise was gone and we had cast our votes, we’d return to Binloc for a debrief of the elections, computing probabilities with JDV for election outcomes using mental math (as if – ang hirap ), and praying to the life-sized Our Lady of Manaoag in the lanai.
Thank you, JDV, for giving us Binloc — a beautiful reminder that a home is always at its best when shared. The people of Pangasinan will surely miss the energy of Binloc.
And yet, while Binloc showed us JDV’s very public life, there was another side to him that few people saw: his love for rest and simplicity… which brings me to:
CORE MEMORY NUMBER 3 – JDV values laziness once in a while
Choosing laziness — or just “being lazy” — is especially sweet after JDV spent hours meeting hundreds of constituents during long campaign stretches, meetings, and countless events. He would randomly call my dad, his brother Tito, and ask if he could spend a few hours at our beachside home in Bolasi, San Fabian, Pangasinan.
Now, JDV already had his famous beachside home in Binloc, but he still preferred to come to Bolasi to just chill — somewhere no one would see him or bother him. He loved swimming in the pool and beach, and having picnics afterward in the garden.
JDV truly enjoyed all the simple joys. He worked hard, but he also knew when it was time to relax and recharge.
Lastly, CORE MEMORY NUMBER 4 – JDV loves making my Dad host random dinners for him!
If it wasn’t him spending afternoons with us in Bolasi, JDV would come over for dinners — dinners that he would make my parents host for him.
I’ve witnessed several random phone calls between JDV and my dad, where JDV would say, “Tito, onla kami natan ditan ed sayan pandem.” which translates to “Tito, pupunta kami diyan.”
My Dad in return would say, “Upa ray kaiba yo?” which translates to “Ok Kuya Pepe. Sino sino kayo?” “Siak labat, si Gina tan si Christopher”
“It’s just me, Gina, and Christopher coming over for dinner.” My Dad in return would say “Ok Kuya Pepe. Anytime Kuya laki labat dia basta na korsonadaan so onla dia.” which meant “You’re always welcome here.” But this, the headcount, could not be further from the truth — he’d literally bring the entire Binloc with him: five extra vans filled with his entourage and more guests! I distinctly remember the first time this happened. My mom, Malou told my sisters and me to stop whatever we were doing, set the tables, clear our kalat fast, and help in the kitchen — whatever we could do to pitch in. For Mom Malou and her small team of helpers, this was “taranta to the next level.”
But in all fairness, JDV and Manay Gina would always send an advance party — their Binloc crew — to help with food preparations before arriving, which helped calm nerves. Over the years, my Mom learned to anticipate these random dinners, especially when JDV was in town.
Upon arrival, JDV would always say, “Why hello, beautiful ladies,” accompanied by the biggest hug for my sisters and me. Ninang Gina in the background would add, “Ayan na yung mga De Venecia girls, yung mga barkada ni Toff at ni KC.” It’s the same classic Tito/Tita script each time, and we’ve grown to love it.
He also never fails to call my only brother Marco De Venecia “The Taiwan Baby,” because, back in the late ’90s, a Taiwanese female monk named Sister Shih — who JDV and my dad visited — predicted that Mom would have the son they longed for. True enough, it happened and we’re now three girls and a boy.
More than the dinner itself, JDV loved good wine — trusting that my dad would only open the best bottles — and simple treats like sliced oranges, green and yellow mangoes. Around the table, he’d catch up with Lola Pering, my dad’s mom and JDV’s stepmom. Not a lot of people don’t know this but it was Lola Pering, the second wife of Lolo Peping or Judge Jose De Venecia Sr., who raised both JDV and my dad in Nueva Vizcaya. JDV was attending 1st or 2nd year High School and my dad was a year old. Despite the 13 years age gap between JDV and Dad, they grew up very close.
Over the years, we built stronger bonds with our San Fabian neighbors, including more members of the De Venecia family — our favorite eye doctors, cousin Bell de Venecia, our late Tito Emong De Venecia (he’s half German but can speak Pangasinan fluently) and his American Nurse-wife Aunt Martha. Recently, Kuya Joey and Ate Karen De Venecia have joined Team Bolasi, as they’ve recently moved in too.
Through all these surprise Bolasi dinners hosted by my parents for JDV (and his guestsss), one thing became clear: we could truly be ourselves around family. Just because you’re with someone important doesn’t mean you have to act a certain way — you can laugh, tease, and simply enjoy the moment together.
Without you, JDV, Team Bolasi will never be the same! And to everyone curious about Bolasi… please come visit.
Ninong Joe, you may be gone but our memories of you and your legacy continue to live on. If one day my daughter Ines asks me who his Lolo Joe is for a school project, I’d know exactly what to say – he’s an excellent example of how it is to live a life with passion and purpose.
As a five-time Speaker of the House, he dreamt big dreams for the Philippines, worked hard with and through others, spread peace, and helped other people along the way. This he wouldn’t have done without his best support system ever, his wifey and “babes” Ninang Gina.
JDV loved your Granolo Tito and Granola Malou’s place in Bolasi, San Fabian. He loved his hometown of Dagupan. He’s proud to be from Pangasinan.
He loved us, his family, and made sure to give everyone close to him a warm hug. Continue to watch over us.
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About the writer
Caroline Coronel “Alin” De Venecia–Medalla is the niece of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.. She is the second of four children of Tito and Malou De Venecia. Her father, Tito De Venecia, is the youngest sibling of Jose de Venecia Jr. Both Jose de Venecia Jr. and his wife, Gina “Manay Gina,” served as her baptismal godparents, a detail she referenced in recalling personal family anecdotes.
The speech was delivered during the wake and memorial gathering for Jose de Venecia Jr., following his passing at age 89 on February 10, 2026. The remarks were presented as a personal family tribute reflecting on his role not only as a national political figure, but also as a brother, uncle, and godfather within the De Venecia family.
