The Chair Wrecker by William M. Esposo

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Was Manny Villar really ever poor?
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star 2010-02-07

“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 h... More..

	*Previous Columns:*
•	Was Manny Villar really ever poor? 2010-02-07
•	Can Manny Villar buy the 2010 presidential election? 2010-02-04
•	Maguindanao massacre haunts Gilbert Teodoro 2010-02-02
•	Why the Reds are Aquino phobes 2010-01-31
•	When bad situations get worse for Manny Villar 2010-01-28
•	[Click here for the Archive]

Advocacies

1. Community building and value formation

Community building through values formation is what will build a strong Filipino nation.

Read
"How Erap missed his moment of greatness" and
"Who can really solve our poverty problem"

2. Historical truth

Filipinos MUST know the HISTORICAL TRUTH about their country because ONLY then will Filipinos be able to solve their real core problem.

Read
"The National Problem: We only see the trees"
"Can Filipinos recognize their savior?" and
"The spin doctors of history and the Bible"

3. Bridge the Information Gap

Bridge the INFORMATION GAP: The Filipino MUST be empowered by being enlightened in order to promote real democracy.

Read
"Will you buy a brand without a real product?" and
"Why we can't expect salvation in 2010"

Landmarks [More]

	Billy organized and headed the Cory Aquino Media Bureau during the 1986 Snap Elections and is seen here in Malacanang Palace with Cory in the first few days after Cory assumed the presidency.
	Billy spearheads in this Malacanang Palace meeting the media campaign to ratify the 1987 Freedom Constitution.
	Billy served as Assistant Secretary in the Local Government Department and as Director-General of the PIA (Philippine Information Agency) during the Cory Aquino Administration.
	PIA (Philippine Information Agency) Director-General Billy M. Esposo conducts a staff meeting.
	Billy was a well-received speaker at Universal Studios before Universal International Television Marketing executives and clients.