Manny Villar

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Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. (born December 13, 1949) is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is the President of the Nacionalista Party and a member of the Senate of the Philippines. Villar was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2000—in which capacity he presided over the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada—as well as President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008.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. On November 17, 2008, he resigned his senate presidency due to lack of support in the Senate.

Villar was the richest senator in the Philippines as of 2008 with a net worth of P 1,041,383,9246.^[1]

[edit] Biography

Born on December 13, 1949 in Tondo, a densely populated district of Manila to Manuel Villar, Sr., a government employee and Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer.

Manuel Villar and Cynthia A. Villar, bought and took over, on July 12, 2008, "Villa Pacencia," the 3-story 51-year-old white-and-green Laurel mansion, now a historic site, built by Jose P. Laurel, on 6,000 square meters prime Mandaluyong lot. The mansion has 2 historical markers - the 1957 note of its first creation, and the visit of Indonesian President Sukarno, who twice slept at the mansion (in 1963 visit, and again, later, with Filipino movie star, Amelia de la Rama). Jose P. Laurel built the house on No. 515 Shaw Blvd., several years after he stepped down as President. The mansion is the biggest of the 3 residences that Laurel built (in Tanauan, and in Paco, Manila, called the Villa Peñafrancia). The Villars refurbished the mansion and formally presented it to the Laurel clan, NP leaders, inter alia, for the June 10, 2008 blessing.^[2]

[edit] Politics

Villar entered politics in 1992, and was elected to the House of Representatives, representing the district of Las Piñas-Muntinlupa (and later the district of Las Piñas City).^[3] In 1998, he was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives.^[3]

Villar was elected to the Senate in 2001. At the start of legislative sessions, he was chosen as Senate President Pro Tempore, a position he held until 2003.

Villar won reelection to the Senate in 2007. At the start of legislative sessions he was chosen Senate President, defeating Aquilino Pimentel by a vote of 15–7.^[4] However, in November 2008, he resigned the position due to a lack of support in the Senate, and was succeeded by Juan Ponce Enrile.^[5]

Villar Jr., on June 6, 2008 announced that he is 99% joining the Philippine general election, 2010 (one percent, is on the possibility of no election), amid his nomination of the Nacionalista Party (NP), chaired by him. Villar stated that: "We are prepared to have alliance with other political parties."^[6][7] On September 4, 2008, Villar formally declared and confirmed his presidential candidacy.^[8][9]

[edit] Pocket billiards promoter

Besides being an entrepreneur and a politician, Villar became a promoter for pool tournaments. He held the first Manny Villar Cup on May 5, 2008.^[10] The staging of this event became somewhat controversial because it took place at the same date of a tournament under the Philippine Pool Tour.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Senator Manny Villar Official Website