Getting to Know Senator Manny Villar

Posted by in 2010 Philippine Elections, New Media, Politics | 57 comments


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“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell

Disclosure on Political Affiliations: I do not work for Senator Manny Villar or any other politician. I was only aware of his friendship with Senator Alan Cayetano through my husband when he told me a day before the interview. Ties with Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator Alan Cayetano date back even before they became senators. Former President Fidel V. Ramos is a family friend due to ties from my father-in-law. I used to be a student activist in my UP Diliman days. My political views range from conservative to liberal. I don’t have plans to run for public office. Meeting with politicians and writing about their programs is part of my current plans for this blog till 2010. Any endorsements (if any) will be made just a few weeks before Elections 2010.

manny-villar-and-bloggers
I have always been curious why Senator Manny Villar ranks high in most Presidentiable polls. There must be something he did that made him quite popular with the masses. My helper told me that he is known to help her “kababayan” way down south. Really? All I know about Manny Villar is that he is a successful real estate business man and associated with that C5 mess. Yesterday, I asked my husband what questions to ask Senator Manny Villar. Butch said “ask him about the corruption charges with regards to C5″ and added “oh and they are good friends with Alan Cayetano”.

The opportunity came today when a few bloggers had an intimate interview with Senator Villar at Bo’s Coffee Shop. Present were a few of his staff and his two sons, Paolo, Mark and his daughter, Camille. I thought it quite unusual that he brought his three children and was quite charmed by their humility. No airs at all.

What were the points that struck me in the more than 3 hours conversation?

1. I am not privy to the facts on the C5 corruption but he claims the charges are untrue. He gives the real score on C5 which I will let you judge for yourself. (see his explanation below and the video interview). Even after a year, there is still no evidence of corruption. He never got the money. If ever, the DPWH should be held accountable.

2. I think he should be more supportive of the Reproductive Health Bill even if they are Catholic Couples for Christ. Being a Catholic is a personal choice but as a potential leader, he should be able to dissociate his political and religious beliefs. Besides, the country is not composed of the Catholic faith alone.

3. Like all the other political ads I see on TV, I find them just so sickening and self-serving. I know it is all a marketing strategy. Senator Villar claims that the stories in the ads are all true and the funds come from his pocket. Of course he sets priorities on the beneficiaries. He needs to place ads because he is at a disadvantage compared to other presidentiables that have some “media celebrity” status. Hm. let’s see Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Mar Roxas and his fiancee,, Vice President Noli de Castro Chiz Escudero because of FPJ, (edited to correct the fiancee part)

4. I believe him when he says that the country should be ruled by someone with experience in managing people. Senator Villar says he has the experience of being a leader in his own business, the Senate and the Congress.

5. I also support his advocacy on Entrepreneurship which he will launch simultaneously in all sectors of society whether he is a President or not. Apparently, media does not really cover his interest in entrepreneurship. Like Senator Villar, I believe that entrepreneurship values should be encouraged in our society so we can be self-sufficient and stimulate economic growth.

Of course that advocacy remains to be seen. During the photo opportunity, I told Senator Villar that if he becomes President of our country, I will show this photo and remind him of his promises.
manny-villar-and-me1

And he reassured me “Don’t worry, I will pursue Entrepreneurship even if I am not President” and then thanked me for bringing up the topic of his cause on the small and medium-sized enterprises. I later found out that he authored and passed into law the landmark New Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises (RA 8289) and initiated creative legislation such as the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprises Stock Exchange and Business One-Stop-Shop centers, the latter he immediately implemented in Las Piñas City with the help of local officials.

It was an enlightening chit-chat. I have more to say but that will come once I’ve talked to all the Presidentiables.

Manny Villar Platforms and Legislative Performance

Manny Villar Governance Matrix

Senator Manny Villar’s Legislative Record

The Real Score of C5

Judge for yourself
C5 the Real Score

Read more from other bloggers who attended:

Chuvaness
Sonny
Ganns
Jude


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  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

    duh. have you ever had a business, When I was growing up, my parents let us all in the bakery business giving trust completely to us.

  • Sunny Ignes

    Noemi, I do not think he is a crook…his detractors are labelling him to be one. Mr Villar is ma main man for President.

  • Val of Cainta

    Here are my opinions. Just opinions. =)

    I hate it when Villar brags himself as a poor boy.
    – what for?

    I hate it when Villar uses poor children in his ads.
    – what for?

    I hate it when Villar spent billion of pesos in campaign.

    - – - – - – - –

    These are enough for me to not vote for Him. As long as he can manipulate the minds of people, he will, just to get the highest position in the country.

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

    It is a fact that he was once a poor boy.

    his ad is to deliver his core message on poverty and he has been successful in the delivery.

    http://pcij.org/stories/credible-message-not-volume-or-value-makes-good-%E2%80%98pol-ads%E2%80%99/

    Indeed, campaign strategists and public-relations experts point to Villar’s ads as the major reason why he has been able to catch up with the frontrunner in the presidential race, Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III.

    It is a fact that Villar was prepared for this presidency and prepared years ahead. He is using most of his money for the campaign. What do we know of others? where did they get their funds?

  • Pingback: On Manny Villar’s brother, black propaganda & negative campaigning | A Filipina Mom Blogger

  • Dave

    I second to this. what I realized is that… Filipinos tend to be so emotional in everything…we tend to be attached to a person that tickles our soft spots. but in the end, it is not a wise way to decide on things. Before you vote define first what is a real good leader…. Villar is so tied up in so many things…I don’t really know him, and there is no point trashing him nor any other candidate. Villar is like Paquaio, he is better off being a businessman as Paquaio is better off with boxing. What we really need is sustainability. You cannot help the poor by giving out money…it is not sustainable. Poverty is a complex thing, and it boils down to history. Being slaved for 300 years under Spanish rule had messed up our way of thinking. It takes a lot of self realization to admit these things.

  • Dave

    It is what you call Political Career…too naive to believe it is all for services of the Filipino…give me a break.

  • blue flame

    he has already attained his goal in life of earning soooooo much money that he wants to use it for his campaign ads, just for the presidency?? yeah true… as early as now, we can see how he breaks the law by spending more than what a presidential candidate should spend, per comelec ruling!!

    as an entrepreneur, a capitalist, a businessman.. or whatever he could be, the money spent forms part of his investment… its return has already been calculated (he is good at it, he is a CPA, right?) that is why, he now resorted to several dirty tactics, desperate moves of someone who can never be as honest to himself!! he has even gotten really desperate to the point of fabricating lame stories against his opponents..

    if he was once poor, it does not mean that he has his heart for the poor people! Again, fellow citizens, voters… lend me your ears.. let’s think really hard about this guy.. the way he wanted people to see him, at least those who can easily be blinded by his ads and poetry (and money too!), please take a closer look.. and look hard enough… everthing we see about Villar DOES NOT SPELL PRESIDENCY, NOT EVEN LEADERSHIP!!!

  • blue flame

    from the way i see it, you are a true blue pro Villar.. your comments are very obvious.. you are not biased but you are not fair either!

    dapat nga mag negosyo na lang si villar, doon siya magaling.. presidency is not any business venture!

    the legacy that cory and ninoy left for the Filipino people is more that the track record you are talking about!! and that is what noynoy have, and he has everything to lose if he falls short of the expectations of the filipinos!!

    it is more dangerous to choose someone to lead this country especially if that “someone” has the passion for profit (pronounced as “money”), return of investment (“money ” pa rin yan uy!), business (still, “money ” pa rin ang bottom line)..

  • Juan dela Cruz

    I hate Manny Villar, kung talagang tutulungan nya ang mhhirap bkit ang mga Taga Las Piñas mhirap pa rin isa syang gago at manloloko ng tao.

  • rianne

    What I really dont like about Manny V is first his infomercials where he is spending lots of money. I think thats his Capital (in terms of politics) and the profit…?

    Second, C5 road project. Hindi pa man cia presidente nagawa na nia to how much more when he’s already d president of our country.

    Sa dalawang rason lang na to mapapaisip ka na kung karapat dapat ba cia talaga. How much more kapag nadagdagan pa? Hindi ako naniniwalang ang reason nia why he want to be the president is becase he want to help filipino people specifically ung mahihirap.
    I am 2000% (kung meron mang ganon) na ang reason ay POWER. He is rich already. He doesnt want money. Kung meron ng money… kulang na lang power. Pag meron ka na ng dalawang to magagawa mo na lahat.

    Noynoy Aquino, ang magiging kontra mo lang sa kanya kulang cia sa experience. Pero malinis ang pangalan nia (so far kc wala akong naririnig or nababasa na nakakabit sa pangalan nia)

    Anyway, wala pa akong napapagdesisyunan kng cno ang ivote q na presidente pero I would rather vote for Noynoy than Manny V kung clang dalawa rin lang ang choices.

  • Grace

    Pakiusap, kaibigan. Huwag kakalimutang iboto sa May 10 ang AAPS Party List, ang party list ng mga retirado at senior citizens. I-shade lang, No. 21 sa balota. Sa atin ang AAPS!

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