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Five things you didn’t know about Sen. Cynthia Villar
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Most people know Sen. Cynthia Villar just from her campaign materials and appearances in senate proceedings. For some, she may be just another rich politician.
But on her interview with Kara David in the GMA-7 program “Powerhouse”, she provided the viewers with some facts that a lot of people may not know about her yet, or may find it hard to believe.
1. She never saw herself as a politician
At a young age, Cynthia Villar was already familiar with the ins and outs of politics. Her dad served as mayor of Las Piñas for 22 years, and she was there to help him along the way. But Villar never thought of running for a position herself. “My vision then was father ko lang ang politician, so [politics] is for the boys,” she said.
Instead, she dreamt of and worked her way into becoming a businesswoman like her mom. “May tindahan ang mother ko sa harap ng bahay namin,” she said. “May mga freezer siya, nagtitinda siya ng chicken.” Using her mom’s freezer, she sold ice candies not only to earn extra money but also to satisfy her business-minded self.
Pursuing her childhood dream, Villar took up Business Administration, with a major in Finance, at the University of the Philippines. After graduating, she started a business in gravel and sand with her husband Manny Villar, who was her classmate in college.
2. She has her own salon and gym in her condo
Sen. Villar’s schedule is so busy that it is sometimes a hassle to run errands and go to different places around the metro, especially with the notorious traffic. That’s why she decided to just have a personal salon in her own condo unit. “Imbis na pumunta sa salon, ang salon ang pumupunta sa akin,” she jokingly said.
She also has her own personal gym for Sen. Manny Villar to use and frequent.
3. There’s a flower named after her
In 2013, the University of the Philippines - Los Baños named a new hybrid of the gumamela flower after Sen. Cynthia Villar.
The “Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Cynthia A. Villar” was named after the senator to recognize her advocacies for environmental protection during her nine-year term as congresswoman for Las Piñas.
4. Manny Villar wasn’t her type of guy – at first
Cynthia and Manny were in the same circle of friends in college, and they have known each other for a long time. But it wasn’t love at first sight, according to the senator.
“Hindi yata ako mahilig sa guwapo, mahilig ako sa pangit. Nagkataon lang,” she said. Besides, being in a relationship wasn’t her priority that time. “We have our dreams that hindi mo na agad maiisip ‘yung mga ganoon,” she added.
It wasn’t until after they graduated that they took their friendship to a romantic level. “We just like each other,” she said. “Ang corny naman kung magliligawan pa.”
Asked what she liked about her husband, Cynthia said it’s his dependability and serious outlook on things that mattered. “My father said, ‘you should marry someone like him, he’ll take care of you all your life,’” she said.
5. She calls herself ‘kuripot’
Despite being one of the richest senators in the country, Sen. Villar still regards herself as “kuripot”. In fact, when asked what she would consider her luxury in life, she couldn’t think of any. “I don’t buy expensive things,” she said. “Even in clothes, I consider them as an investment. Ayoko ng clothes na binili mo tapos once mo lang isusuot. Lugi ka dun.”
She also tries to teach her children the same virtue by not spoiling them with extravagant things. “Walang masyadong magastos except for education, ‘yun ang isang policy namin,” she said.
But if there’s one thing that the Villars spend a little too much for, it’s politics. “For us, [being in politics] is a pride of the family. You don’t spare money protecting the pride of the family,” she said.—Isabelle Laureta/CM, GMA News
Other web-exclusives from "Powerhouse":
Convenience and style meet in Liz Uy’s condo
Five Kenneth Cobonpue pieces you’ll find in his own home
INFOGRAPHIC: The world of Andre and Kobe Paras
_______________________________________________________________________________
Most people know Sen. Cynthia Villar just from her campaign materials and appearances in senate proceedings. For some, she may be just another rich politician.
But on her interview with Kara David in the GMA-7 program
1. She never saw herself as a politician
At a young age, Cynthia Villar was already familiar with the ins and outs of politics. Her dad served as mayor of Las Piñas for 22 years, and she was there to help him along the way. But Villar never thought of running for a position herself. “My vision then was father ko lang ang politician, so [politics] is for the boys,” she said.
Instead, she dreamt of and worked her way into becoming a businesswoman like her mom. “May tindahan ang mother ko sa harap ng bahay namin,” she said. “May mga freezer siya, nagtitinda siya ng chicken.” Using her mom’s freezer, she sold ice candies not only to earn extra money but also to satisfy her business-minded self.
Pursuing her childhood dream, Villar took up Business Administration, with a major in Finance, at the University of the Philippines. After graduating, she started a business in gravel and sand with her husband Manny Villar, who was her classmate in college.
2. She has her own salon and gym in her condo
Sen. Villar’s schedule is so busy that it is sometimes a hassle to run errands and go to different places around the metro, especially with the notorious traffic. That’s why she decided to just have a personal salon in her own condo unit. “Imbis na pumunta sa salon, ang salon ang pumupunta sa akin,” she jokingly said.
She also has her own personal gym for Sen. Manny Villar to use and frequent.
3. There’s a flower named after her
In 2013, the University of the Philippines - Los Baños named a new hybrid of the gumamela flower after Sen. Cynthia Villar.
The “Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Cynthia A. Villar” was named after the senator to recognize her advocacies for environmental protection during her nine-year term as congresswoman for Las Piñas.
4. Manny Villar wasn’t her type of guy – at first
Cynthia and Manny were in the same circle of friends in college, and they have known each other for a long time. But it wasn’t love at first sight, according to the senator.
“Hindi yata ako mahilig sa guwapo, mahilig ako sa pangit. Nagkataon lang,” she said. Besides, being in a relationship wasn’t her priority that time. “We have our dreams that hindi mo na agad maiisip ‘yung mga ganoon,” she added.
It wasn’t until after they graduated that they took their friendship to a romantic level. “We just like each other,” she said. “Ang corny naman kung magliligawan pa.”
Asked what she liked about her husband, Cynthia said it’s his dependability and serious outlook on things that mattered. “My father said, ‘you should marry someone like him, he’ll take care of you all your life,’” she said.
5. She calls herself ‘kuripot’
Despite being one of the richest senators in the country, Sen. Villar still regards herself as “kuripot”. In fact, when asked what she would consider her luxury in life, she couldn’t think of any. “I don’t buy expensive things,” she said. “Even in clothes, I consider them as an investment. Ayoko ng clothes na binili mo tapos once mo lang isusuot. Lugi ka dun.”
She also tries to teach her children the same virtue by not spoiling them with extravagant things. “Walang masyadong magastos except for education, ‘yun ang isang policy namin,” she said.
But if there’s one thing that the Villars spend a little too much for, it’s politics. “For us, [being in politics] is a pride of the family. You don’t spare money protecting the pride of the family,” she said.—Isabelle Laureta/CM, GMA News
Other web-exclusives from "Powerhouse":
Convenience and style meet in Liz Uy’s condo
Five Kenneth Cobonpue pieces you’ll find in his own home
INFOGRAPHIC: The world of Andre and Kobe Paras
