The Luisita Swindle

The Hacienda Luisita case is a continuing swindle — the word seems appropriate — of the Filipino people. It began when the Cojuangco family used the people’s money to acquire the hacienda, but then turned its back on a loan covenant to distribute the land to farm workers after 10 years. It continues with the use of the people’s money to build an interchange and overpay the Cojuangco family for the right-of-way to connect the Subic-Clark expressway to Luisita, although this connection was for their private benefit. Will it end if family member Noynoy Cojuangco-Aquino becomes president?

Real Stories by Real People about Manny Villar

Hypocrisy at its grandest – LP biggest sanctuary of Gloria allies, ex-cabinet, hacienderos

Nothing could be more hypocritical than the Liberal Party’s (LP’s) motto, “noon at ngayon marangal.”

There is nothing “marangal” about being the biggest sanctuary of hardcore Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allies-turned-critics and former cabinet apologists-turned-traitors. There is nothing “marangal” when the Liberals made GMA bashing a national hobby yet at the same time welcome with open arms GMA loyalists who want to ride the Noynoy bandwagon.

History would show this.

Group urges OFWs to Guard Votes

Members and supporters of a multisectoral group today urges overseas Filipino workers in various Filipino communities abroad to help guard OFW votes to ensure the sanctity of their votes as the overseas absentee voting is set to start on April 10, a Saturday.

The Movement for Better Values (MBV), a multisectoral group of small entrepreneurs, students and urban poor, said Filipinos in various communities have an important and crucial role to play by actively participating in the periodic elections through the overseas absentee voting by electing principled and responsible officials whom they think capable of effecting the desired change in governance and to society in general.

Manny Villar on DZXL

Click here to listen to Manny Villar’s Interview on DZXL on April 8, 2010 in response to the mudslinging / smearing being cultivated by the opposition party regarding his family roots, businesses, and his rags-to-riches story.

Crossing Lines

When lines get crossed, things change. hen these lines involve norms of conduct, society mutates. The truth-distorting, viciously personal, hate-filled attacks on once-poor presidential candidate Manny Villar by attack dogs of to-the-hacienda-born political opponent Noynoy Cojuangco-Aquino are of such a line-crossing variety. Lines of decency, civility, and morality are being violated willy-nilly in an all-out attempt by an elitist group to prevent a “presumptuous interloper and outsider” from succeeding to the presidency.

Tom Alcantara’s Impressions/Notable Experiences with MBV

Villar dares Aquino to name funders: ‘He has connections to GMA, not me’

Where is Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Benigno Aquino III getting his campaign funds?

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar yesterday challenged his rival Benigno Aquino III to name the people or groups funding his campaign to see who really has the backing of the Arroyo administration.

“Where is he getting his money? Is this the fruit of their Gloriaquino collusion?” Villar said.

Villar said records will show that Aquino has already spent close to P500 million for his ads alone, urging the LP presidential bet to lay down his cards this early and do a proper accounting.

Usapang de Kampanilya with Manny Villar on March 30, 2010

Q: Hindi ka naman daw totoong mahirap, ginagamit mo lang daw yung mahihirap para sa iyong kampanya?

Villar: uulitin ko, ako ipinganak sa 500 moriones Street Santa Maria, lahat kami magkakapatid ay ipinanganak doon at kami doon ay isang banig, isang kulambo lang natutulog. At dun sa kabilang banig at kulambo, ang nanay at tatay ko. Yong bahay na yun hindi amin. Two years ago more or less ay binili namin yung lupa; squatter kami nung araw at ako’y nagtitinda ng hipon kasama ang nanay. Hindi kami wholesaler, hindi kami dealer, kami nagtitingi.  Naglalakad kami pag gabi papuntang divisoria at doon eh bumibili kami ng ilang banyerang hipon, tinitinda naming. Natutulog ako sa bangkong maliit dun sa likod ng puwesto. Pag umaga dumarating na ang mga customer at dun na nagbebenta na kami. At yung lahat ng mga kinukwento ko noon, ito’y mga 50s, ipinanganak ako 1949, mga 50s yan. Lahat ng mga naranasan ko, yung naligo sa dagat ng basura, doon lahat yan.

The Dark Side of Genes

Oftentimes, it just doesn’t pay to be a sanctimonious person, or better still, a national candidate portraying himself as cleaner than clean and an anti-corruption presidential bet.

It doesn’t pay because for one, no matter the campaign spiel of no corruption and good governance, the reality is that it is impossible to eliminate corruption in government — no matter how well intentioned one is. In the end, even if one gets to sit in Malacañang, he will fail miserably in delivering on his promise, and he will leave Malacañang an utter failure.