Weaver

There are weavers of dreams and there are weavers of rainbows. Then there is that one who will be long remembered as a weaver of coalitions.

When he first assumed the Speakership in 1992, Jose de Venecia (JDV) immediately recognized the operational problem posed by the multi-party system prescribed by the 1987 Constitution. A highly fragmented assembly threatened to make the House of Representatives ungovernable, making it extremely difficult to get legislation done.

Undaunted, JDV courted and cajoled the many parties represented at the House. Where partisan chaos was highly probable, the Speaker produced his “Rainbow Coalition.” The multi-party caucus made legislation of vital reform measures feasible.

When Fidel Ramos sought the presidency with his ragtag Lakas-Tao party in the 1992 elections, he was supported by only four congressmen. By the time JDV accomplished his magic, the Ramos presidency enjoyed a supermajority in the Lower House.

Through the Ramos administration and beyond, the “Rainbow Coalition” made possible the passage of more than 200 pieces of economic and reform legislation. Among the most important of these were: the Military Bases Conversion Law that opened the door to the Bonifacio Global City, the Newport World Resorts, the Clark Freeport Zone and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone; the Build-Operate-Transfer Law that formed the core of today’s Public-Private Partnership model and a new law that produced an independent Bangko Sentral.

In addition, JDV conceived of the Dollar Remittance Program for Filipino Overseas Workers. This program facilitates remittance inflows now running at $30 billion a year.

On top of his regular legislative work, JDV worked hard as a peacemaker. He initiated the Interfaith Dialogue at the UN as a means for resolving religious conflicts around the world.

JDV is the founder of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) which is composed of 350 political parties in 52 Asian countries. The Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) now includes 43 parliaments in Asia. In addition, JDV was co-founder of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) which assists governments in peace-building and conflict resolution. He also led the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) with members of parliaments from across the globe.

Last Wednesday, the Senate of the Philippines unanimously passed a resolution honoring JDV as a legislator and statesman. The resolution described the five-time Speaker as one who “dedicated his life to public service, peace-building, promotion of international cooperation, inspiring leaders and future generations to pursue excellence in governance and diplomacy.”

In her sponsorship speech, Sen. Loren Legarda described JDV as a “towering figure in Philippine politics and governance” whose “journey in public service is marked by steadfast dedication, results-driven leadership and a relentless pursuit of peace and lasting progress.”

Many of the current crop of senators served at the House during the time JDV was Speaker. Included here, apart from Legarda, are Senate President Francis Escudero, former Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, JV Ejercito, Alan Peter Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Risa Hontiveros and Juan Edgardo Angara. They all praised JDV for being like a father to his colleagues and helping them through their separate political journeys.

The tribute paid to JDV by the Senate is all well-deserved. In the twilight of his life, I am sure the man looks back at all he accomplished with much satisfaction. Few Filipino politicians can match his record.

I have known JDV for nearly three decades now, working with him in many of his advocacies and political campaigns. He found me loitering in the Palace during Ramos’ presidency and invited me to join what he calls his “core group.” We became fast friends and those who joined our noisy argumentative dinners became like family.

My most poignant memory was when, in the days following his defeat in the 1998 elections, his large house was as empty as it was packed with supporters during the campaign. The two of us were scrounging around his kitchen trying to find stuff we could cook for lunch. Until then, I had not realized culinary creation was one of his unspoken talents. I tried to match his skills and we ended up with a meal we thoroughly enjoyed.

It was always easy caricaturing JDV as a “traditional politician.” That is a meaningless redundancy. A politician is necessarily a consensus builder and JDV exemplifies this.

Politics, it is said, is the art of the possible. As a tireless consensus builder, he made the improbable exceedingly possible.

He was a man of bold vision. Sometimes his bold ideas are taken as gross exaggeration. But he never relented in dreaming of a better Philippines.

Even as he has been slowed by age, he continues thinking up solutions for the nation’s problems. I know of very few who love this country as JDV does.

Many of the pieces of legislation that JDV worked for now bear fruit for the next generations of Filipinos. The problems facing the country would have been much graver without the reforms JDV pushed for with resoluteness, with clear vision and such tireless enthusiasm.

I know of no one JDV disliked. He always found the best in everyone. He was always willing to work with anybody to find the sliver of common ground by which cooperation and joint action could be possible.

Very few Filipinos deserve to be called statesmen. JDV fits that bill eminently.

The nation is in much better footing because he served.