Courtesy of Probe Profiles
The Philippines’ richest senator, billionaire Manuel “ Manny” Villar, is giving his all to capture the presidency in 2010. His infomercials and television ads invade the airwaves during prime time, outnumbering advertisements with similar themes three to one. According to Nielsen Media Research, the Villar media campaign from October 2008 to May 2009 cost almost P325 million, making the senator Mr. Biggest Spender among the presidential wannabes.
In an interview last year, Villar was quoted as saying that only candidates with deep pockets have a real fighting chance in 2010. The surveys on presidentiables show where he is coming from. Despite accusations of corruption and an investigation by his own peers on his alleged schemes to defraud the government, the former Senate president enjoys high popularity ratings.
In a recent interview with Probe Profiles, Villar shares his rags to riches life story, his thoughts about Philippine politics, his positions on controversial issues, his answers to allegations against him, and his plans for the country if elected president.
Probe Profiles shared the interview with VERA Files. Click here for the rest of the article.
The Philippines’ richest senator, billionaire Manuel “ Manny” Villar, is giving his all to capture the presidency in 2010. His infomercials and television ads invade the airwaves during prime time, outnumbering advertisements with similar themes three to one.
More than that, his ‘infomercials’ are also being aired here in the Middle East through TFC. No Philippine advertisements have so far penetrated TFC except Villar’s. Even product endorsements during normal programmings are blocked off, pero yung kay Villar, nakakalusot- mas mahal siguro ang bayad? And the common perception is that ABS-CBN is unabashedly pro-Noynoy.
Manny Villar:
Please explain your official position on Con Ass in the context of your now famous declaration at the height of the Con -Ass controversy:
“Charter change advocates still have enough time by our calculations and create a parliament… I will then run for Congress in Las Piñas so I may run for prime minister.” Senator Manny Villar
Ellen, I think your tagline is misleading. I read the entire Vera Files about Manny Villar. It seems it’s a story of rags to riches.
I don’t think he has a high chance to win.
Romyman, I was not the one who did the title but that captures Villar’s philosophy in this campaign for the presidency.
Here:
Makabagbag damdamin pala ang gustong ilahad na kuwento ni Money. Pero yung nag-aral sa Catholic school ay hindi mahirap.
Iisa ang selling point ng mga ibig mag-pangulo. Si Salonga at Pimentel noon, lumaban daw kay Macoy. Si Chiz, bata; si Noynoy, anak ni Cory, si Money, rags to riches. Sapat na ba yan upang timbangin ang kakayahan ng isang tao para magsilbing pangulo?
Bibigyan ko kayo ng ibang mga rags-to-riches stories:
Meyer Lansky (mafia)
Pablo Escobar (drug lord)
Richard M. Nixon
Rod Blagojevich
Meron ding
John Major
Patrick Hewson (Bono) at
Soichiro Honda
Ngayon saang hanay niyo ilalagay si Villar?
Ellen that is one small portion of the complete interview of Cheche Lazaro and that summarizes the entire gist of the interview?
Villar is spending his own money what is wrong with that?
No traditional politician will spend his own money. That is why we call them trapos. Camella Homes will continue to pay high utilities because Villar owns the water company that services them. This is the very man who claims to feel for the people.
Villar admits that he is a businessman. This is very scary especially when he has several interests to protect.
I like how Jamby described Mr Money money! No leadership, transactional politics, corrupt, and using his power to enrich himself. Ewan, baka kung bubusisiin ng husto, hindi pala pera niya ang ginagastos niya after all.
What are our choices? Do we have any particular presidentiable who is “clean”? At least with Villar, since he is using his own money to run, he will not be forced to “pay back” anybody. The fact that he made his business grow should be an indication that he knows how to organize and has people skills. If he will not perform when elected, impeach him! I would rather vote for either Erap or Villar as they can stand on their own. Nobody can dictate on them-no Danding Cojuangco, no elite, no church or even Kris (the show biz) for that matter.
I have doubts though that Erap will be allowed to run again. Our judicial system (mostly appointed by the boobuwit) will not let him run. Even if Erap wins, his term will be spent in battling his ability to serve his term. Wala na namang mangyayari.
Si Gibo at Noynoy ba eh nakaapak sa maruming palengke? I doubt so. Naranasan ba nila ang hindi kumain? I doubt so.
As for Escudero, he may be promising but I would prefer him to run in 2016. Magsama sila ni Sonny Trillianes. Magiging patok na patok ang tambalan nila. By then, we would have seen more of what these two men can do. They will be a tandem to change the Philippines. Huwag pilitin ni Chiz magpahinog ngayon. He will be blowing his real chance to win later.
This election is a fight between Noynoy, the elite and Villar, the poor man who made decisions along the way to get to the top (married a politically connected woman and relatively richer than him). Sabi nga ni Romyman, “what is wrong with that?”. I still believe that the C5 ethics case on him is politically motivated. When the case was started, Lacson and Jamby were eyeing at the presidency and they wanted to eliminate Villar. Today, lacson backed out (the Dacer and Corbito case must have chained both of his feet down) and Jamby may not even be able to gather the same votes at Bayani Fernando.
His peers will now judge him in the c5 at taga issue. Baka binibili na niya na sila ngayon, o baka nga bayad na sila kaya ang lakas ng loob niya na hindi sagutin ang issue sa senate. Ngayon, sino ang mga senador na boboto pabor sa kanya, people should know.
Mabuti nga at nakita natin yung C5 extension. Yung ibang politiko eh pinaghatihatian na yang 200 million na yan at deretso sa mga bulsa nila ang pera. I wonder if there will be a study as to hown many people living in the area are benefitted by this road.
Yung ngang super highway na papunta sa Clark na ginastusan ng billiones na nadaanan ko na ng dalawang beses, walang gumagamit dahil mahal ang toll. Yun project na yun na maraming “tongpats”, may nagrereklamo ba? Sus, this 200 million is not even a percent of the expenditure of the super highway. Pwede ba, tigilan na yan!
I wonder kung yung daang daang kilometro na pinonduhan din ng gobierno na duamaan sa Hacienda Luisita eh nasita man lang.
The reason the Philippines is in such a mess is, we have our eyes on the singko singko lang na problema. While the crooks are looting our trillions supposedly spent on projects, our senate is stuck on this 200 million (hindi billion o trillion). Si JPE nagpayaman yan sa logging. Meron bang nagreklamo? He denuded the Cagayan Valley forests. Ngayon eh Senate prsident na siya! So again, who is “clean”?
Politically motivated or not, may sense ang issue against him sa ‘sipag (c5) at tiyaga (taga). Hindi ba nga may ghost lots pa nga he was selling.
Ang yaman niya ay practically galing din sa kaban ng bayan. Mahilig din siyang mameke, katulad ng fake borowers na ang mga loans proceeds ay naibulsa niya. Marami pang iba, na nabasa ko sa mga previous column ni Mr Banayo.
Villar is spending his own money what is wrong with that?
Please see Article XI of the Omnibus Election Code.
This election is a fight between Noynoy, the elite and Villar, the poor man…
Ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng ‘elite’?
I still believe that the C5 ethics case on him is politically motivated.
Siguro nga. Pero, aaminin kaya ni Villar na politically motivated din yung label sa relief goods na pinamigay nila ni WawaWe? Aaminin kaya ni Villar na politically motivated din yung Show nila sa Dasmarinas, Cavite?
Hindi pala hinarap nitong si Villar yong mga kasamahan niya doon sa C5 isyu. Matindi rin ano? Papano na kung siya ang magiging Pangulo …. pag may katiwalian na ibinibintang sa kanya … hindi rin ito sasagot? Parehas pala sila nitong si Glorya …. parehong tuso.
Katapat lang talaga niya ay si Willie Revillame. Parehong tukmol.
Sax, isn’t everyone doing the same thing like Villar on the political gimmicks? Si Lacson nga eh di ba may ads sa isang ala “belo” plastic surgeon and soap tv ad? That was in the news not too long ago. Si Bayani Fernando eh may mga billboards noong nakaraang taon pa? Lahat ng mga kandidato ni boobuwit eh may billboards sa mga projects nila. Akala mo naman sila talaga ang nagpagawa ng project. It is the money of the people making those projects. Si Loren naman is having all her senate hearings on the environment(risks) covered by the media as much as possible for mileage. Kanya kanyang gimmick. Villame (I really do not like him too) is one of Villar’s business partners. They have known each other for years. If he makes a gimmick with him why is that so much of a big deal? Noynoy is using his mom’s death as a reason to be a candidate? Kanya kanya silang spin. Why single out Villar? Di ba Mar had his “padyak” ad for almost a year but it did not give him the mileage. Mukhang hindi nakarating sa paroroonan yung trycycle niya. Kaya ngayon, he just decided to be a vice.
Our political system had always been for those backed by the business interests. Kaya nga ang mga Cojuangcos, Ayalas, Aboitiz et al ay palaging may “manok”. Once their candidate wins, they continue to dictate on the business policies of the country. US loves these people because her interest is likewise protected.
Ang ayaw ko lang kay Villar ay yung pagka “bamboo” niya. He can sway so easily but maybe that was brought about by the positions he held. Being a House Speaker and a Senate President, one must be able to cross party lines. He should improve on this otherwise he can just fall when he swings too much to one side. He can be diplomatic but decisive.
As for the comment of Jamby on Villar’s style of leadership, I would say why was she not elected to the Senate Presidential position if she indeed has a “good” leadership? Sa totoo lang, mahirap maging leader sa Pilipinas. Lahat tayo ay magaling at may masasabi.
Ka Enchong, “elite” to me means the upper 1 to 5 to 10% of the population who had enjoyed more business, clout in the prior administrations and the one we have now. These are people who do not have experiences first hand of hunger, under education and exploitation yet they call themselves “leaders” and para sa “masa”.
Sorry Sax, I meant to address my comment to Ka Enchong.
If Erap wins, Binay takes the reins of the country, not the second placer. Why, because the president is the one who obtains the highest votes, not the second highest votes. But because Erap will be disqualified, the VP takes over, for a full six year term.
I just said Binay, because he is Erap’s partner. But it may be some other VP. So, like I posted earlier, bantayan ang VP. Either Erap pulls Binay, or Kabayad becomes president.
Gabi ng lagim, bayan.
Sax, kaya pala si Chiz was very open to be Erap’s VP and Loren may even want to be a vice too. Halos lahat sila gustong maging VP ni Erap.
Ang bagong VP ni Many Villar ay si Efren Bata Reyes… kasi magaling si Efren sa Bilyar.
“I like how Jamby described Mr Money money! No leadership, transactional politics, corrupt, and using his power to enrich himself. Ewan, baka kung bubusisiin ng husto, hindi pala pera niya ang ginagastos niya after all.”
From Jamby? Ha ha, the one who cried infront of tv camera over the inheritance of her Auntie. You can do better than that.
What ghost lots? Do you really know how private lots are appropriated by the government. Jamby’s expert is a corrupt DPWH official. I will believe her if she brought LRC/LRC/Bureau of Lands , Register of Deeds and the Expropriation Committee of the DPWH. Jamby is from the landed gentry and owns a lot of prime real estate. She knows how to prove whether a land title is fake or not. Shesh..
Romyman, umiyak din si Jamby noong sinabi ni Enrile na huwag siyang magmalinis linisan dahil yung mga magulang niya (Jamby) eh nakiki-party kina Marcos.
Honestly I admire Jamby when she gave money to Trillanes for his 2007 election campaign.
But lately she is acting strange bordering on the absurd. There is no conviction when she declared her intent to run as president on 2010 it more like of an afterthought.
With all dirt being thrown at Villar and i’m sure Noynoy later. The puppetmaster living along the Pasig river has started pulling the strings.
Wala namang binatbat yang si Villar sira na daw ang pangalan niya sabi ng relative ko na kilala si Villar.
“Wala namang binatbat yang si Villar sira na daw ang pangalan niya sabi ng relative ko na kilala si Villar.”
Nakzzz sino relative mo si Jamby.
Ka Enchong, “elite” to me means the upper 1 to 5 to 10% of the population who had enjoyed more business, clout in the prior administrations and the one we have now. These are people who do not have experiences first hand of hunger, under education and exploitation yet they call themselves “leaders” and para sa “masa”.
Thanks for the clarification, PSB. Using your definition, ‘di kaya, kasama rin si Villar d’yan?
I admit that as per his infomercials, nagdaan siya sa panahon ng taggutom, pero, look at his ‘clout’ in prior dispensations.
Honestly, I don’t want to see the upcoming electoral exercise as a clash of socio-economic classes, elitista vs masa episode. I don’t think we have to frame it that way.
I want to look at 2010 as the Pinoy’s attempt at reclaiming what rightfully belongs to him- a government that embodies his ideals, promotes his welfare, and develops his patrimony for his own interest. 2010 is a battle the Pinoy must win. Mapamahirap, mapamayaman, mapamasa, mapaelitista.
Sa bandang huli, iisa lang naman siguro ang gusto nating lahat, e. Nagkakaiba lang tayo sa napupusuang pamamaraan. Saan man humantong ang pakikibakang ito, tinitiyak kong magkikita rin tayo sa dulo, at doon, magkakapatid pa ring magyayakap-yakap: maaaring sa pagdidriwang ng tagumpay, maaari rin namang sa pagluluksa ng muling pagkatalo.
The official campaign period has not even started, and this early, we are already witnessing an onslaught of campaign propaganda left and right, from the top down.
Ellenville, being inhabited by politically conscious netizens, cannot escape being polarized along political lines depending on which candidate one favors.
We are politically conscious and politically concerned, kahit na tahasan naman nating inaaming marumi ang pulitika. Lalo lang lalatag ang duming ito sa sandaling nagbatuhan na ng putik ang magkakatunggaling panig.
I wish we can spare Ellenville of the muddy mudslinging episodes normally attendant to election seasons. None of us are candidates, anyway. Let us leave the mudslinging to them.
We may have different views but when the day ends, we all are friends, di ba?
All of us want a better Philippines. Kahit na sino ang manalo, hopefully he or she will not be as corrupt as this current illegal president.
Personally I do not like to categorize the candidates but the truth is, we still have a feudal system of electing our officers plus a lot of cheating to benefit those in power. I do not know when we will ever mature in this exercise.
This is what I like in Ellenville, magkakaiba man ang ating mga pananaw, magkakapareho tayo ng mga minimithi para sa ating bayan. We all love to see our country prosper.
…but the truth is, we still have a feudal system of electing our officers plus a lot of cheating to benefit those in power
Very true, indeed. For this reason, I think, a shift to parliamentary form at this time will be disastrous.
Sax,Money has contracted a deadly virus of “KLEPTOSPIROSIS” when he’s been elected as a public official of the republic now he was seeking the highest post,he will be place on NO.1 in HALL of SHAME surpassing the LADY midget,if he could swindle the GMA ADMIN.what else he got more brain to swindle the entire nations.
Wala naman talagang ibinatbat yang Villar na yan. Ni hindi nga niya alam kung papano lulusutan ang ibinibintang C5 sa kanya. Ni ayaw nga niyang humarap sa mga kasama niya sa Senado …. dahil wala siyang kakayanang ipagtanggol o makipagdebate. Pinapagana niya lang yong pera niyang bilyon bilyon daw. Kasi alam niya na ang Pinoy ay nakukuha sa pera-pera lang. Pero palagay ko ang mga tao ay gising na … kunin ang perang ibinibigay at boboto sila kung sino talaga ang nararapat.
Parang Revillame style na ipinapain niya lang ang pera sa mahihirap kaya akala niya sikat na siya …. tignan ko lang kung may show siya na walang perahan …. may manonood kaya sa kanya?
Elite is another word for Intellectuals. That was then.
When the rich were able to buy Knowledge, they assumed the title. And it stuck with them ever since.
PSB: Sax, kaya pala si Chiz was very open to be Erap’s VP and Loren may even want to be a vice too. Halos lahat sila gustong maging VP ni Erap.
PSB, I just want to correct your premise. Chiz never was open to being Erap’s VP. As I told you before it was a case of misreporting.
I don’t think “Halos lahat sila gustong maging VP ni Erap.”. Far from the truth.
E ano kung naging mahirap si Villar, sya naman ang pinaka-rich ngayon. Ngayon ang issue, hindi kahapon.
I never believed for a moment that Chiz considered to be Erap’s VP. In the first place, he’s a lawyer and knew very well that Erap’s running is/would be under Constitutional scrutiny.
Ellen, eto na naman tayo. I read the comment that Chiz would be “open” to be a vice to Erap in one of the articles about him turning down the VP to Villar. It was in the Inquirer. Sabagay, ngayon nga si Loren naman ang pilit nilang ipinapares kay Gibo. Magulo di ba? Di natin alam kung sino ang lilinya kung kanino. Dahil sa totoo lang, halos lahat ng mga gustong magpresidente, merong mga kapintasan. Well, may the best man win. Kung sinoman ang gusto ng Pilipinas, the Filipinos will be the one to live with him/her for the next six years. Huwag lang produkto ng pandaraya ulit, ok lang ako.
Chi, yun nga ang issue dun. Kung madidisqualify si Erap, di ang VP ang magiging presidente. So, if Chiz knows this, he really does not even have to aspire for the presidency. He can just win a VP, not even with Erap, Basta manalo lang na VP, yun ang susunod kay Erap granting that Erap wins. I doubt he wins again this time. Maraming balakid, mostly legal issues. Ngayon, yung mga anak ni Dacer eh isinasabit na rin si Erap sa kaso ng ama nila.
PSB, Chiz never intended to run for VP, that’s what I understood from his statements. It was Erap who was making ligaw to them…Chiz, Loren, Mar even Noynoy to be his VP that’s why his reconciliation effort failed because it was really for his interest, not for the opposition’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if Erap offered Villar to be his second the first times they held talks.
And if Chiz wanted to run with Erap, sana he would have decided earlier. My guess is that Chiz decided to distance himself from Erap due to the formers conviction and reputation. Hindi naman siguro lahat ay puro political victory and nasa isip ni Chiz to the point of not minding the other aspects of his being. Lalo ngayon, it’s not wise for Chiz to run with Erap, mas malakas si Mar sa kanya kung VP ang usapan, that’s if the surveys are reliable.
An imagined interview with Noynoy.
Interviewer: What would you consider is your greatest contribution in Philippine Politics.
Noynoy : I am the son of Ninoy Aquino?
Interviewer: Whatelse
Noynoy : Im am the son of Cory Aquino?
Interviewr: Is there anything more
Noynoy : I am also the elder brother of Kris Aquino.
Interviewer : You were with the private sector before joining Philippine politics, what is your greatest contribution in the private sector. I worked with my family’s businesses.
Interviewer : What do you mean by that.
Noynoy : Its my family none of your business.
Interviewer : Lets move to another topic, how would you address the root cause of poverty.
Noynoy : (his economist side showing)You see Poverty is a function of wage not keeping up with inflation blah blah blah (begins to draw graphs, you see economists likes to draw graphs ). Noynoy after noticing he is talking to himself stopped and said by the way I will recover all the Marcose’s wealth, they are worth of billions of dollars.
Interviewer: Is your election/campaign team able to match the resources and finances of your nearest rival.
Noynoy : Yes I have a perfect plan for that. I will beg the Ayala’s, the Cojuangco’s, the Tan’s, the Sy’s, the Gokongweis and whatever Spanish and 4 letter surnames for financial support. If that is not enough I will asked the Administrators of Ateneo, La Salle, Assumption and all the elite schools for support. Oh by the way I will ask Kris to make a movie where I will make a cameo appearance as Super Noynoy.
An imagined interview with Noynoy(2nd Part).
Interviewer: If another deluge similar to Ondoy befalls MetroManila how are you going to alleviate the suffering of the victims:
Noynoy: First I will ask Kris and the staff of Abs-Cbn foundation/Sagip Kapamilya to wear Yellow. Then I will ask Abs-Cbn to cover all the relief missions of Kris. Then I will ask Kris to launch a telethon campaign to raise 1 billion pesoses.
Interviewer: Where would be you on all the things you mentioned.
Noynoy: Oh just behind Kris.
Interviewer: Lets move on, when you are going to get married and have a family.
Noynoy: Soon I hope. You know Korina is my Ex and I have this lady who is my EX also. But you know I really wanted to have a baby with them but I have no luck.
Interviewer: Why do you say you have no luck.
Noynoy: You know I kiss and hug them (my EX-GF) a lot. I should have a lot of babies I give them tons of kisses and hugs.
Interviewer: What do you mean kisses and hugs? Arent you supposed to do something extra when you want to have a baby?
Interviewer: Yes I do something extra, like I brush my teeth before I kissed them. Oh there is something more extra, I borrow and apply my ex-Gf’s night cream.
I hope everybody enjoys my forays to use satire.
Ang hindi ko alam kung totoo ay yung sinasabi ni Villar na galing siya sa mahirap. Sabihin nating masipag siya dahil tumutulong siya sa pagtitinda sa palengke. Ibig sabihin noon ay negosyante ang nanay niya. Negosyanteng malakas kumita.
Bakit? Paano naman silang pag-aaraling pitong magkakapatid sa Mapua High School kung mahina kumita ang nanay niya. Despuez, hindi sila mahirap, pwede ba?
Kesyo siyam silang natutulog sa iisang kulambo, nakupo naman, pwede bang pakitaan ninyo ako ng kulambong kasya ang siyam na tao?
Nagulat lang ako sa interview ni Cheche Lazaro nung sabihin ni Villar na panganay siya sa limang lalaki pero patay na yung tatlo. Di ko tuloy alam kung alin ang delikado, yung kumain ng hipon o yung tumira sa Tondo!
Ang alam ko hindi lang sa sipag at tiyaga niya nakuha ang kayamanan niya. Ang una niyang negosyo ay hardware. Na nagsu-supply ng materyales para sa mga project ng mga in-laws niya na mga politiko sa Las Piñas. Mula kina Aguilar, Casimiro, Riguera at ngayon ay Aguilar muli ay kamag-anak lahat ng asawa niya. Isama na yung mga mga Manuela Malls na pag-aari ng korporasyon ng pamilya ni Cynthia.