By Eva C. Visperas

 

THERE are moments in a journalist’s career when the lines between the story and personal reflection blur.

A media trip to the new museum and building at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills on February 20 took me—and a handful of fellow veteran newsmen—on such a journey. It wasn’t just a visit to a newly inaugurated site. It was a sentimental trip down memory lane, back to the glory days of Philippine politics when one of our own, Jose de Venecia Jr. (JDV), presided over the House of Representatives not once, but five times—a record still unmatched today.

For us from Pangasinan, JDV was not just a political figure but a source of immense pride. Every time he stood in Congress, shoulder to shoulder with the Senate President during the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), we always felt a deep connection to the process. There was something profoundly special about seeing one of our own leading the nation’s lawmakers, particularly, during those memorable SONA days when the eyes of the entire country were on him.

The atmosphere was always electric during those occasions, and as media practitioners, we’ve had the privilege of being seated in the company of the political elite—former presidents, business magnates, and top diplomats—given the best vantage points to witness history in the making. The media’s role was crucial. As soon as the President finished his SONA, there was always the race for interviews and live reports, with cameras flashing and microphones poised for the next big moment.

It was during this trip to the Jose de Venecia Jr. Museum (People’s Center) that those memories came rushing back. The museum itself, a tribute to JDV’s contributions to both the nation and Pangasinan, stands proudly within the Batasan complex. It was formally inaugurated on January 28, 2025, with key figures like Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, former Speaker JDV himself, his wife Manay Gina, and their son Pangasinan’s 4^th District Rep. Christopher De Venecia leading the ceremony.

Speaker Romualdez’s words during the inauguration encapsulated the essence of JDV’s legacy: unity, compassion, and an unwavering pursuit of peace and progress. For us who had witnessed these principles in action, it was an emotional reminder of the impact JDV had, not just on the country, but on each of us who were fortunate to cover his tenure.

The museum gave us a chance to reflect on those heady days in Congress, where we were often seated among the country’s political elite, watching the drama of national governance unfold. It felt like stepping back into the pages of history, a history that we had a hand in telling.

After exploring the museum, we wandered into the plenary hall, where countless moments of political significance had taken place. There, we couldn’t help but recall how the Manila-based media would rush to cover the President’s SONA—mics, cameras, and reporters scrambling to capture the next big soundbite. It was a time when the energy in the room was palpable, the very air filled with anticipation as the country’s political heavyweights weighed in on the national issues of the day.

As we posed for photos with Aldwin Requejo, Congressman Toff de Venecia’s chief of staff, and reminisced those SONA days, it was clear that this trip was more than just a visit—it was a reflection of how far we’ve come, and to pay tribute to the man who helped shape many of those defining moments. JDV’s legacy, enshrined in the museum, lives on in the hearts of those who knew him, as well as in the corridors of power where his influence was unmistakable.

The Jose de Venecia Jr. Museum, located at the People’s Center in Batasan, is more than a building—it’s a reminder of the values we must continue to uphold: unity, compassion, and progress. But for us who were privileged to cover his illustrious career, it will always serve as a symbol of the pride we felt for our own, he, who rose to the highest levels of public service.

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