Manny Villar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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2006–incumbent |
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2001–incumbent |
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of the Philippines 1998–2001 |
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Las Piñas City 1992–2001 |
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| Political Party: | Nacionalista Party (2004- ) LAMP (1998-2001) Lakas-NUCD (1992-1998) |
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| Born: | December 13, 1949 Tondo, Manila |
| Spouse: | Rep. Cynthia A. Villar |
Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. (born December 13, 1949) is a Filipino businessman and politician, currently the President of the Senate — the third highest ranking official of the Philippines. He has also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998–2001, where he presided over the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada. He is also the current president of the Nacionalista Party.
He assumed the senate presidency at the beginning of the Third Regular Session of the 13th Congress, as part of a power-sharing agreement with his predecessor Sen. Franklin Drilon.
[edit] Biography
He was born to a simple family on December 13, 1949 in Moriones, Tondo, Manila. His father, Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., a government employee, hailed from Cabatuan, Iloilo and his mother Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer, came from Pampanga and Bataan. The second of nine children, Manny started selling sea food at the Divisoria Market at an early age. As a working student, he was able to put himself through school by finishing his studies at the University of the Philippines where he earned his Bachelor of arts and Master of Arts degrees in Business Administration.
Manny Villar was a working student, where he was also putting in long hours as a fish and shrimp trader, where the action starts during the wee hours of the morning, when the freshly caught seafood arrives at market grounds.
After graduation, he tried his hand as an accountant at the country’s biggest accounting firm, Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.). He resigned shortly though to venture on his own seafood delivery business.
When a restaurant he was delivering stocks to did not pay him, he printed out “meal tickets” which he persuaded the restaurant owners to honor. He then sold these tickets at a discounted price to office workers. It took him one year to liquidate his receivables.
He worked briefly as a financial analyst at the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines. His job was to sell World Bank loans, despite the attractive rates of which there were no takers. Convinced that he could make it on his own again, he quit his job and promptly availed of one of the loans.
So with an initial capital of P10,000 in 1975, Villar purchased two reconditioned trucks and started his sand-and-gravel business in Las Piñas.
He started a gravel and sand business and then went on to establish one of the largest development firms in the Southeast Asian region, The Camela & Palmera Homes. He has been featured in international publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asiaweek, Asiamoney, and the Asian Business Review.
He has been recognized by being cited as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1986, the Agora Award for Marketing Management in 1989, Most Outstanding CPA by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1990, and Most Outstanding Alumnus in 1991.
As a successful businessman, he ventured in the political arena in 1992 and was elected as Congressman representing Las Pinas posting landslide victories. On his third term, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. On November 13, 2000, he became the first House Speaker in Philippine history to impeach a President, paving the way for the elevation of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
In the national elections held last May 14, 2001, despite being a relative newcomer in national politics, Manny Villar posted one of the most impressive showings in the national polls. On his first day in office, he was selected as Senate President Pro Tempore, the position he held until 2003.
He has also spearheaded the building of schools, sending out medical missions and setting up relief operations whenever or wherever needed. He led the inauguration of the Las Piñas-Muntinlupa-Laguna-Cavite (LPMLC) link road, more popularly known as Daang Hari, as part of his road improvement program aimed at easing traffic in the south of Metro Manila. According to him, an efficient and rationalized road network is one of the fundamental requirements in improving commerce and spurring economic progress.
In February 2004, he was elected as President of the Nacionalista Party — the country’s oldest and grandest political party. He was also named the Most Distinguished UP Alumnus—the highest recognition given by the UP Alumni Association—for his exemplary public service and achievements.
After the 2004 elections, he initially planned to run for the Senate presidency but agreed to let the incumbent, Franklin Drilon to finish his turn as Senate President until June 2006. Honoring the said agreement he was unanimously elected as Senate President on July 24, 2006.
He is recognized as the richest legislator in Philippine history where he was consistently being the richest congressman from 1992 to 2001 and richest senator from 2001 until today.
Senator Manny Villar, despite his numerous accomplishments and heroism, has remained simple and unaffected. A true family man, he is a devoted husband to Rep. Cynthia A. Villar (Lone District of Las Piñas), and a loving father to sons Paolo and Mark and daughter Camille.
[edit] References
- Biography of Senator Villar. URL accessed on June 21, 2006.
- Nacionalista Party Leader Profiles: Manny Villar. URL accessed on June 21, 2006.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Filemon C. Aguilar |
Representative, Lone District of Las Piñas City 1992 – 2001 Prior to 1998, Lone District of Las Piñas-Muntinlupa |
Succeeded by Cynthia A. Villar |
| Preceded by Jose De Venecia |
Speaker of the House of Representatives 1998 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Arnulfo Fuentebella |
| Preceded by Franklin M. Drilon |
President of the Senate of the Philippines 2006 – present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Senators of the 13th Congress of the Philippines |
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Angara | Arroyo | Biazon | Cayetano | Drilon | L. Estrada | J. Estrada | Enrile | Flavier | Gordon | Lacson | Lapid |
