Was Manny Villar really ever poor?
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star
“Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura? (Have you bathed in a sea of garbage?)” is the opening line of the jingle of Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar which is featured in a television commercial that attempts to project him as having been one of the poorest of the poor. But was Manny Villar really one of the poorest of the poor as what his advertising has been projecting?
A Chair Wrecker reader from Tondo who claimed to know the Villar family when they still resided there debunked that notion of Villar ever having been poor. This information was relayed to yours truly via our response email address.
The former Villar family Tondo neighbor cited reference points to support his assertion that Manny Villar was never really poor — including the claim that Villar’s father used to have a “nikaladong (stainless steel clad)” private Jeep. During the 1950s, a nikaladong private Jeep is a status symbol in Tondo, definitely not the hallmark of a poor household.
Considering how Manny Villar has been dodging the serious issues pertaining to his use of public office in order to add immense benefits and profits to his businesses, your Chair Wrecker decided to do some investigating. Guess what Manny Villar’s online bio revealed:
“Manuel Villar Jr. was born on December 13, 1949 in Tondo, a densely populated district of Manila. He was the second of nine children of Manuel Villar Sr., a government employee, and Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer. As a young boy, he helped his mother sell fish, crabs, and shrimp in Divisoria to help earn money to pay for his education.
Villar finished his education at Holy Child Catholic School in 1962, and finished his high school education at Mapua Institute of Technology in 1966. He attended the University of the Philippines-Diliman and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1970. He returned to the same school to earn his master’s degree in business administration in 1973.”
In the early 1950s, the rich lived in the big compounds in Ermita and Pasay and what was called New Manila in Quezon City. In Tondo, you found the middle class and the poor as well. Former president Joseph Estrada also claims roots in Tondo but his family was never poor. Based on his online bio, Villar cannot really justify calling himself poor.
The Villar Tondo home, as shown on his 2009 TV commercials, was made of sturdy materials. It has lasted to this day. His father was employed while his mother operated a fish, crab and shrimp dealership in lucrative Divisoria Market. It may not be Class AB household income but it is definitely not Class E.
Proof that the Villar children were never really wanting is the fact that Manny Villar studied in private schools. The indigent kids went to public school. Enrolling one’s child in a private school is a middle class value and option. The indigent kids who do manage to finish high school would tend to immediately learn a craft in order to be able to earn money right away. Aspiring for a business administration master’s degree is not the usual post high school move of indigent kids.
Villar narrated on his 2009 TV commercial, with Boy Abunda interviewing him, that as a young kid he thought that corned beef was soupy because that was how they used to prepare it at home. This, he claimed, was their way to ensure that everybody had a share.
But the fact is that there are really two ways to cook canned corned beef. One is the dry sautéed type while the other is the soupy type where you can add potatoes and cabbage. Both the rich and the middle class enjoy corned beef both ways.
Also, poor folks, especially a family of eleven, CANNOT AFFORD to eat canned corned beef. For a family of 11 to be eating corned beef confirms that the Villar family is anything but poor. That was the case then and more so now when the poor go hungry or manage to eat only one meal a day. Up to the 1980s, people from the provinces consider it a status symbol to be eating corned beef. That is why canned foodstuffs, especially corned beef, are being displayed in the sala by many households in the provinces for these to be seen by visitors.
For Manny Villar to don this facade of being “poor” once upon a time just to gain political advantage should make every Filipino voter ponder as to what else he would be willing to do just to attain his objective.
Wisdom from a cherished honest man
Tomorrow, our family will mark the death anniversaries of our Dad and Mom who both died on the same date, four years apart. Mom passed away on February 8, 1966 while Dad passed away on February 8, 1970.
Our Dad was the most honest person we knew. During the era of President Elpidio Quirino, a close friend and former classmate of Dad, an opportunity was given to Dad to make a cool P200,000 — a fortune then when Forbes Park lots cost a mere P50 per square meter.
The one-hectare government owned NAMARCO lot at the corner of what is now Claro M. Recto and Quezon Avenue in Quiapo, then considered prime property, was offered to Dad in a no strings attached and perfectly legal transaction by the cash strapped government. Dad could have easily bought and resold it to make P200,000.
But Dad turned down the offer because he sensed an impropriety owing to his closeness to President Quirino. Many of our family friends admired Dad for that but in the same breath they also felt that he was crazy not to grab it.
I can never forget two lessons about honesty which Dad taught me. Dad did warn me: “Be very wary of people who like to project that they are honest because they believe that honesty is the best policy. Honesty when used as a policy is the worst form of deceit. Be honest because you believe in the virtue of honesty and not because you need a policy for personal gain.”
Shifting to Filipino, Dad also said: “Ang MANLILINLANG ay kambal ng MAGNANAKAW (The deceiver is the twin of the thief).”
Dad was right. Our country’s biggest deceivers are also our biggest thieves.
* * *
Chair Wrecker e-mail and website: macesposo@yahoo.com and www.chairwrecker.com
THANK YOU FOR THE INSIGHT ON HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY..
In the case of Manny Villar, words and deeds are not compaztible.
We should sue this candidate who says things that never happened– all lies. Truth in advertising act prohibits anyone to misrepresent what he is trying to sell. manny villar is selling himself to us by saying things that never took place. Mari pang promises. Maraming lies when he refutes those who charges him on the C-5 manipulations.
Cita Garcia
(Sent by email)
Response to: Was Manny really poor! By Mark Alegre: View from a point Global Pinoy!!! Salamat Mr. Esposo,you gave an insight of what poor is all about in your view. With the information shared, I truly appreciate your effort and those that shared what they know about the man. As pictured in the featured article,”Is Villar really poor”? In the blog with 11 on a household eating corned beef is a luxury, or does it means Villar’s family not poor? Hmmmm. Pag-aari ng nikiladong(stainless) jeep status symbol!!! Wow, in the blog, it really share the glimpse of the life of the man who like to share his talent, expertise, scholastic education, schools which he attended [catholic parochial,Mapua Institute of Technology UP college of Business Administration and Graduate Studies Master's Degree ] Phenomenal!!! Hard work, he did it on his own despite being eldest in the family helped his family’s Fish vendor business. From graduation from High school to Master’s Degree it took 11 years, he did not stop, he got perseverance. This is a very admirable virtue of perseverance; a glimpse of the man who like to be president of the. Philippines. It’s really gives us hope, those of us who are poor in similar situation that everything is possible for anybody who like to succeed; given Villar’s educational and work experience. Villar is an epitome of character, strength and perseverance of an ordinary guy who wants to succeed. In a degree, this blog help us makes that discerning decision who to choose; considering all aspect of choosing the president who will serve the best interest of the people, the
dispossesed, and those that lack a voice and representation in the seat of power. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. If the common tao wakes up to this opportunity and reality, and not succumb to the wiles of selling their vote or confused by black propaganda but firmly hold on to the principle that their vote could change the lives of their children and their children’s children, the choice is Villar. Those of us born before 1946, remember that World War II devastated our country, we had been forced to war not of our making but America who was fighting the containment of Communism. The independence gain in the commonwealth gave Quezon the presidency. America’s occupation from 1903, gave us a glimpse of freedom, liberty and culture of openness, honesty and frugality. My Father who served the call of duty like others served well and share stories that the American regime were strict in discipline that if a municipal treasurer got audited and embezzled or found short, he would go to jail. It also enshrined Quezon’s message in the mind of the generation after that it’s better that the Philippine be governed by Pilipino like hell than like heaven by Americans. It was a curse that embedded to the minds of Pinoy generation after to this day. Subsequently, what are we in power Avelino’s rethoric gave credence of what power. and how such abuse of power could be used to punish political opponents, a tool of which gravitate business people go to politics to further their influence that gave rise to behest loans for the few that were influencial and big wigs in the arena of politics.The nation’s colonial past weaned from 333 years of colonial Spain,43 years of American tutorship, 3 years Japanese occupation until July 4, 1946 began to seek its identity. The Pilipino nation had gone to a lot. Imagine, 333 years of Spanish occupation and Pilipinos didn’t learn spanish language? On the other hand; America shared their language, built Gabaldon schools and sent missionaries of protestant christian faith that enriched our culture, and yet activist today gloat on the idea that the Americans are imperialist forgetting the Americans gave us independence and a taste of the American way of life and open its door for immigration. Going back to Villar, as painted in the blog; he was raised in the era of difficult times, not a squatters or payatas kid, but of industrious parents who want the best for their family and work hard to educate their children. That was a noble fete. I was six years old when Villar was born; my recollection of the hardship of the times lumps everybody were in the boat, we ate mantikang baboy”,saluyot, malungay, isda, talbos ng sitao, kalabasa at paminsan minsay corned beef with sotanghon parang makakain ng(5) lima sa pamilia. That was a rare food and truly that corn beef would be reserved for important visitors or occasions. Maybe, we might be considered rich (ancestry) because my grandfather a six grade drop out was abe to send his daughter to Philippine Womens University and got college education for (6) children four school teacher and I lawyer, my dad. But the point I want to emphasize is and always is Villar epitomize possibilities and role modeling fora family and the youth today. Your dad’s story of honesty seems to me a fairy tale or misplaced delicadeza. I am sure that had he taken the opportunity maybe life would have been better for you today.. In contrast, your dad’s story give me a glance of what opportunist the Aquino-Cojuangco familylies are; The Donya Luisita Hacienda was bought for 6 million from the government during the Magsaysay presidency on instalment if my memory serve me right. I would add that it is certainly foolhardy not to use wise judgment when given the opportunity, thus would it be too bad if Villar took the same opportunity of getting rich not at the expense of Juan de la Cruz but the opportunity arises and grabbed it? The issue which refuse ro go away address impropriety and moral conflict which any businessman that have common sense would grab if given the same opportunity. I would add that for the sake of argument, the senator and congresspeople reneged in their responbility if there were laws that they were aware that with due deligence could had prevented the consumation of the issue of impropriety. Which is why I for one like to know the names of those who approved the law that created the C-5 and the issue it entail.Those involved must be censured and voted out of office. Access was granted to the welfare of 6 million resident that benefited in C-5) extension without tool payment, such beneficiaries will vote for Villar election time. The neophyte senator, Gamby Madrigal running for president herself is exposing herself as graftbuster but her scheme is shallow, thinking maybe that she can picture herself as such but we the people will not be fooled. I would like to know if Gamby voted for the approval of the law that approved C-5 extention, if so exposes her lack of due deligence in her obligation with others who pursue the issue after the fact. Obviously such grandstanding is passe` and their motives suspicious. Email:Rajah1211@aolm.com. Mark Alegre Advocate for good government and citizen awareness.
Mark Alegre
(Sent by email)
For Manny Villar to claim that his family is poor is like saying that all government employees were poor. Villar’s father was a government employee and his mother owns a seafood wholesale business. I don’t think that would qualify his family to be “poor” by any Philippine standard.
Villar also claimed that he’s born in Tondo, therefore “poor.” Tondo is an old town and used to have its own ruler before the Spaniards arrived. There are notable Filipionos who were born in Tondo and they’re not poor by any means.
Villar passes himself as poor boy who became rich and concocting a “rags to riches” story. He is a charlatan and should stop spreading all these lies about himself. He is not “pro-poor” as he claims to be. On the contrary, his wealth was built on allegations of land-grabbing and questionable actions using his government positions as Congressman, Speaker, Senator, and Senate President in the past 17 years.
Villar should be exposed for what he really is.
Best,
Perry
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