On Politics: Cynthia Villar Joins Senatorial Slate Coalition

 

It was during the 25th EDSA People Power Anniversary the last time I visited Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan. The Freedom Tour featured four significant venues during the People Power -EDSA Shrine, the People Power Monument, La Salle Greenhills & Club Filipino. (You may want to read my post here)

Club Filipino has been part of the Philippine history. It served as an inaugural venue for President Corazon Aquino during People Power Revolution in 1986. The same venue that our President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III announced his bid for presidency in 2010 Phil. Presidential Election. I believe it was then followed by many significant events.

 

On October 1, Monday I was at Club Filipino to witness the proclamation of the current administration’s Senatorial Slate. It was a different experience compared to the usual press conferences I attended.

I am fond of joining social activities, the 25th EDSA People Power Anniversary I attended was a great experience. Remembering and understanding significant events happened long time ago is truly worthwhile. One of the highlights was the signing on the FREEDOM WALL, a solemn commitment to live, seek and work for freedom and being proactive and ready for positive change. Suddenly, things changed. I am one of the thousands who reacted with the implementation of the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 commonly known as the Anti-Cybercrime Law. You might want to read a fellow blogger’s post about Cybercrime Law entitled “A Sad Day About Internet Freedom in the Philippines”. Being in effect, I guess we just need to be vigilant and ensure it will be implemented fairly.

Senatorial slate of the NP-LP-NPC-PDP-Akbayan coalition:

1. Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV
2. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
3. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
4. Aurora Lone District Representative Juan Edgardo Angara
5. Former National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
6. Former Akbayan Partylist Representative Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel
7. Former Senators Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
8. Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal
9. Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares
10. Senator Loren Legarda
11. Senator Aquilino Martin “Koko” dela Llana Pimentel III
12. Former Las Piñas City Representative Cynthia Villar

Senatorial slate of the NP-LP-NPC-PDP-Akbayan coalition

From the above candidates, I am fortunate to personally meet Mrs. Cynthia Villar. Few months ago, they invited us to visit Las Pinas for the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Villar Foundation. From Las Pinas Arts & Crafts, Las Pinas Weaving Center to their Solid Waste Management, I was impressed with the foundation’s advocacy and how it changes one’s life by providing livelihood projects.

The Villar Foundation, known for providing support to distressed women especially OFWs is headed by its Managing Director, Mrs. Cynthia Villar.

I can’t say I know her very well but I still believe in the old saying “first impressions last”. On our few meetings with her, I noticed her being straight forward and sincere maybe that’s also the reason why our President called her “affectionately Ma’am Cynthia”. This was how President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III described Mrs. Cynthia Villar in his speech:

"At siyempre po, si Cynthia Villar, siyam na taon na ring kongresista ng Las Piñas, at siguradong ipagpapatuloy ang mga programang pangkabuhayan sa pambansang antas. Alam po n’yo, ang tawag ko ho sa kanya affectionately “Ma’am Cynthia.” Hindi ko naman ho pinagdidiinan na may agwat kami sa edad, pero tanda po ng galang, at sa totoo lang ho, noong amin pong Speaker sa House, si Manny Villar, siya po’y nagmistulang ina lalo na sa aming mga baguhang miyembro ng kongreso. Talaga pong naasahan namin ang kalinga niya. At saka sa lahat ho ng pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa kanya ay ni minsan po ay hindi ko masasabing hindi sinsero siyang kausap at maliwanag kausap."

Aside from Mrs. Villar, I am considering Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Former National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV. 

I would like to end this post with a simple question, “If you were given a chance to ask a question from the Senatorial Slate, who would you choose and what one question would you like to ask?”