Villar saddened by ferry mishap

Sen. Manny Villar today said he is saddened by the ferry mishap in Zamboanga that resulted in four deaths and more than 90 missing. He also offered assistance to the victims.

Villar was in Zamboanga City for a speaking engagement at the Western Mindanao State University when he learned that Superferry 9 sank. Coast guard authorities updated Villar and Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat on the status of the rescue operations at the Zamboanga port area.

Transcript of interview in DZRH with Joe Taruc With Senator Manny Villar

3 September 2009

Q. Mukhang tuloy-tuloy ang pagtulong na ginagawa ng OFW Helpline nyo at may grupo na naman na 80 OFWs na dumating nung isang araw?

Villar: Oo nga, natutuwa nga akong ibalita nitong nakaraang araw lang binigyan ko ng salo-salo sa bahay ko ang mga pinauwi ko na 82 na ofws na kadarating lang mula sa middle east, iba’t ibang kaso ito, may pinahirapan, may di pinasusuweldo, may inabuso, may biktima ng illegal recruitement at talaga namang nakakataba ng puso na makita silang kapiling na ulit ang kani-kanilang pamilya. Sinagot ko yung kanilang mga pamasahe, penalty at iba pang gastusin, maging yung pag-aasikaso ng mga papeles nila. Marami tayong kasamang ahensya ng gobyerno subalit wala silang budget dito kaya ako na lang ang nagbayad, pero matutuwa ka naman kapag nakita mo yung kaligayahan ng pamilya nila nung sila ay nakita.
Q. Very emotional yung pagkikita nung mga magulang at OFWs

Villar opens his home to returning OFWs

At least 80 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with horrible stories to tell eventually stepped on Philippine soil with a sigh of relief, tearfully acknowledging their sponsor, Nacionalista Party (NP) President Manny Villar, who gave them a warm welcome right at his home.

The OFWs disembarked today at noon from flight GF 154 of Gulf Air, which singularly collected them in Bahrain, where they stopped over from Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, respectively. Exactly 50 migrant workers and two children arrived from Amman, Jordan (via Gulf Air flight GF 972); 10 from Damascus, Syria (via flight GF 902); 16 from Dammam and one from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (via flight GF 102); and three from Muscat, Oman (via flight GF 551).

Villar again tops new SWS survey

INQUIRER.net, 08/24/2009 – Senator Manny Villar has again emerged as the top choice for president next year in a survey by the Social Weather Station which he himself commissioned.

The nationwide survey of 1,500 respondents was made June 19 to 22, a few weeks before the death of the late president Corazon Aquino which is believed to have changed the political landscape for the 2010 elections.

In the survey, Villar posted a 22-percent approval, followed by former president Joseph Estrada with 19 percent and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero with 18 percent.

More than 100K turn up to watch Willie and Villar’s Kadayawan show

24 August 2009 – More than 120K people gathered last night at the Agro Football Field to watch the concert of popular TV host Willie Revillame, which was sponsored by Sen. Manny Villar as a gift to Davaoenos as they celebrate the Kadayawan Festival.

Villar sponsors concert, billiards competition for Kadayawan Festival

The Wowowili special was Revillame’s first public appearance since he went on-leave from the high-rating noontime show Wowowee two weeks ago.

The duo took Davao by storm, literally, dancing non-stop in the rain to the delight of the crowd. The football field has a 50,000 capacity.