This morning, I had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Manny Villar and get to know him up close together with four other bloggers over a a cup of coffee at Bo’s Coffee in Bonifacio High Street. He was joined by his sons Paolo and Mark and daughter Camille along with the rest of the Team Villar.
I happen to reside in the very first community that he built in Las Pinas City. Learning about it, he shared the story behind Camella Homes, which was named Mahogany and was later changed to Camella to appeal to the wives of OFWs, the target market of his housing development when he was just starting back in the late 70s.
As you all know, the Nacionalista Party President is one of the Presidentiables in the 2010 elections. The informal session made us know the Senator better. He shared with us his journey into entrepreneurship, his vision for the country, his advocacies to alleviate poverty, help out OFWs, start an entreprenuerial revolution in the country, and make a culture of competitive society – these are what I like about him. He seems to express genuine concern for the Filipinos through his programs and his desire to help his fellowmen. I guess his can-do attitude is a big factor that makes him more popular than other presidentiables – even topping recent survey as the most bankable presidentiable to lead the country and steer the economy.
For Villar, he regards presidency as a means to propel the country to progress. He sees it as an opportunity to reverse poverty. “To me the biggest challenge is ikaw ba ang makaka-reverse niyan [poverty]“. ”The presidency is the means, but the dream is to uplift the lives of my countrymen [iangat ang buhay ng kababayan mo]. Imagine the honor and satisfaction of being that one,” he said.
He believes that a good leader should have the following: 1) leadership, 2) decent level of popularity, 3) and someone who exhibits quantifiable results.
What really struck me during the informal session was his character as a person and his attributes as a family man whom his daughter Camille shared with fondness. She said that to them (her siblings), Senator Villar is just like a typical dad, who looks for her when she’s not home past her curfew. “He’s always been supportive, he’s really a dad. He tells me that even if life is complicated, try to simplify it. He tells us to always be there for each other. My dad is such a family man.” She added that he never missed celebrating Christmas with the family. Mark on the other hand, said that his dad never made them feel guilty by constantly reminging them how lucky they are. He added that he tells them to always be a gentleman.
Q&A with Sen. Manny Villar
1. On OFW and migration? Ans: We have to provide safety net for OFWs until such time that we have a solution for them. We have to address livelihood.
2. His challenge to other candidates? Ans: To me, the question is may karanasan ka ba? Naging leader ka na ba? If you haven’t been elected by your peers, how can you lead 90million people.
3. What kind of President will you be? Ans: I want to be the President who get the things done.”
4. On his attendance to leadership forums. Ans: He said that he’ll join leadership forums after the filing of candicacy.
5. How soon will you make an impact on the gov’t. and the country when you get elected? Ans: “Pag wala kang karanasan, mag-aaral ka pa? Dapat multi-tasker ka. Lahat ng agensya ng gobyerno, nangangailangan ng atensyon.
6. On C-5 issue? Ans: He says that nothing has been proven. It’s been over a year and they don’t even want to apologize. There was no double insertion. He says it was 2 projects – the Coastal flyover and the Sucat flyover.
7. Programs in Las Pinas that you would want to replicate in the national level? River rehabilitation, tree planting (of which he had planted a million trees already but doesn’t call himself an environmentalist), health services to the people such as the hospital that services Las Pinas, Paranaque, and Cavite; free education from day care to college; housing program
8. Vision for the Philippines? (Reminds us that there is already an existing project plan, but lacks implentation on infrastructure projects) Ans: I intend to connect SCTEX to Baguio; Connect NLEX to SLEX; Accelerate SLEX to Star Tollway; Connect Lucena to fast track Bicol’s goods;
9. On curbing corruption in government? Ans: The strategy is to address the most corrupt government agency, once identified, focus on the Top 10 and solve it.
10. If you become President in 2010, will you direct the Ombudsman to file charges against Pres. Arroyo? Ans: Hayaan mo ang judiciary. The moment you interfere, you’re violating its division as separate entities. Judiciary must be independent.
11. How do you recover the money that you’re going to spend for the elections? Ans: I’m proud that i finance myself, how do you value a dream? The presidency is the means, but the dream is to [iangat ang buhay ng kababayan mo] uplift the lives of your countrymen.”
12. Reaction to RH Bill? Ans: It’s a fact that we are now 90 million. Accept this as a fact and consider this as a stronger phase. Instead of controlling population, let’s use it to our advantage. Look at this as an opportunity, rethink our strategy to optimise our people, with proper govt program, we can turn this into an asset. Invest in education and health.
[...] bloggers event here: Coffee with Senator Manny Villar, by: Carlo Ople of New Media Philippines Up Close and Personal with Sen. Manny Villar, by: Jo Diana-Diga of Jo’s [...]
Mas pipiliin ko naman si Manny as the next president kesa sa mga tao dyan na papadyak-padyak, di naman galing sa mahirap.
I agree on # 9. As a statistician myself, I am a great fan of the Pareto Principle(80-20 rule). If we focus on Top 20% of the root causes of the problem, we solve 80% of the corruption.
Turning 90 million people in to assests. You have my full support Mr. Villar. This indeed will be turn our nation to a productive and more attracting to investors, both foreign and local.
Magaling si manny villar dahil marami sya natutulungan na mga ofw na gusto ng bumalik dito sa pilipinas.
oh wow this is very interesting, I guess this was the 2nd Blogger’s day of MBV? right?! wow how exciting, bianca was there
) by the way interesting up upclose and personal interview with MBV! ako nga super kinabahan, pero later on- I feel home na with him! (MBV 3rd Batch of Blogger’s day) nax 
) He is one of a kind tlaga.
Go Manny!
I’ll vote for you! Isa kang inspirasyon sa maraming Pilipino!