What about the ubiquitous Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga do we not know yet?
From his unavoidable infomercials, not to mention, Asiaweek, Forbes, AsiaMoney and Asian Business Review, we all know his rags to riches story all too well. Born to a humble family from Tondo, Manny Villar helped his mother sell fish and shrimps in the Divisoria market to send himself to UP. After working in SGV and the Private Development Corporation, he got into business and became the housing industry leader, and the biggest homebuilder in Southeast Asia. His many achievements as a businessman and statesman were exalted by many honorary degrees granted by local universities and colleges and prestigious awards such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men Award, Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Management, Most Outstanding CPA by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Most Outstanding UP Alumnus.
With this personal and professional acclaim, politics followed naturally. Villar made his political debut in 1992 as Las Pinas’ representative. From there Villar rose steadily. In 1998, he was made the Speaker of the House, which capacity he presided over the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada. His participation, which paved the way for the elevation of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, did not go unnoticed. This move won him a senatorial slot in 2001. He became Senate President Pro-Tempore; in 2004, he was elected as the President of the Nacionalista Party, the country’s oldest political party and became Senate President in 2006. After re-election as Senator and after losing favor in the Senate, he held Senate Presidency until his resignation. The notable pieces of legislation authored by him focus on social and economic reform, which comes as no surprise, given his personal and business background. The poll-topping Villar seems to have it all— business acumen; track record; the masses can relate to him; the resources of a Kingmaker; a clear platform of governance, no doubt perfected over years of experience; the best man for the job so it seems. But it is not all roses.
First, Villar’s credibility is tarnished by this senate inquiry on the alleged anomaly of double insertion of funds to an item of the annual budget favoring an infrastructure road project connected to his real estate business and charges of corruption, even if he has been exonerated.
Second, I have some misgivings about his excessive election spending because this could mean an ulterior motive to engage in corruption. He is spending millions of money on his infomercials, giving away houses and lots to OFW families, stamping his donations of relief goods with his name, moves that are widely perceived as early political campaigning. Technically, it is not election campaigning since he has not yet filed his certificate of candidacy, but the effects are the same. With his impressive track record, he should have laid low on the infomercials or at least made them less like a campaign ad. But with Noynoy getting ahead of him in the opinion polls, it is unlikely.
Well, it looks like 2010 will be between Villar and Noynoy if the opinion polls are to be believed.
Note: I met Manny Villar, his daughter and 2 sons, about 2 months ago, together with 5 other bloggers. I will be sharing some interesting insights in a separate post. I would welcome the opportunity to meet other presidentiables as well.
Related post: Meeting Our 2010 Presidentiables: The Sorry State of Our Nation.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Watch out for the launching of Blog Watch 2010 Elections, a project of The Philippine Online Chronicles. Here’s a sneak preview.
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5 responses so far ↓
Rocky Garcia // Nov 8, 2009 at 2:35 am
Manny is one of the biggest names on Presidential candidates!
noone // Nov 8, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hi there. I think of all the presidentiables running for 2010, it is Manny who has the edge over the rest. He started from obscurity to fame, due to his perserverance and diligence. His credentials should be looked upon by people not the controversies hounding him. When you are popular in this country, expect to be maligned and dragged down. And regarding his overspending, i think it’s ok; besides it’s his own money from what he earns with his companies and i don’t think it will be an avenue for corruption. Why would he taint his name by means of corruption, when he can earn it honestly. He has been Speaker, Senate Pres., doesnt that speak of integrity, if thats the basis of choosing a candidate in the coming election. That’s just my opinion. Peace and more power.
ceblogger // Nov 12, 2009 at 11:03 pm
if i have to choose between Manny, Noynoy, Erap, Chiz and Gibo, I’d choose Manny. If the other manny (MVP) would run, I’d probably vote for him over MBV.
Rocky Garcia // Nov 15, 2009 at 4:27 am
Yup agree with that. Manny is a big name to beat.
PilipinoPoAko // Mar 6, 2010 at 1:22 pm
HOW, REALLY, DID MANUEL BAMBA VILLAR, JR. GET TO BE RICH? It may bear and serve the Filipino nation well to investigate and know that Manny Villar may actually have broken through from Tondo-ragged accountant to billionaire-rich presidentiable by allowing himself to be used as a foreign investor’s dummy in the Philippine real estate business. You see, the conduct of real estate business in the Philippines is made exclusive by law to Filipino citizens, necessarily because its affairs involve sensitive issues that affect civil rights, territory, sovereignty, patrimony, and national security. Wasn’t that a debonair American who was smilingly visible every day at the offices of Crown Asia Inc. way back before the Villars became political aspirants? Unfortunately, sighting American presence at the Crown Asia, Inc. organization deteriorates to zero visibility in hot election weather, especially nowadays! As Manny Villar embarked on a political career, it naturally became strategically imperative to avoid flaks of damaging controversy about being beholden to foreign influence, especially from nationalist camps of the likes of then Senator Teofisto Guingona Jr. who was one among legislators instrumental in passing general law limiting real estate business in the Philippines to Filipinos only. In fact, it was from 1997 to 1999 that the bespectacled, middle-aged, happy American investor (silent? fronted? non-express? implied?) of Crown Asia Inc. was last regularly observed at the 18th Floor of Cityland Herrera Tower. Apart from being born with a silver spoon, most of us often have “humble”, sometimes “rotten”, beginnings; yet being transparent about such beginnings can do more good than harm. The answer may go as far back as Villar’s auditing days at multinational-investor-patronized Sycip Gorres Velayo (SGV) or, perhaps, good Senator Manuel Villar would like to comment on this matter at this time?
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