Aguilar: Who’s Cynthia?
"CINICYNTHIA kita di ka kumikibo akala mo yata ako’y nagbibiro, saksi ko ang langit pati na kanduro. Kundi kita Cynthia puputok ang puso.” Who’s Cynthia? Let me answer my own question. Cynthia was the woman of value that started from rags to riches. Her parents were both poor although well educated. Her father was a veterinarian and her mother was a school teacher.
in spite of poverty however, her poor parents struggled and persevered in paving Cynthia’s way to school until she graduated the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration’s Degree. In 2004, UP recognized her as one of the distinguished alumni even as she pursued her studies at the New York University to earn her Masters in Business Administration.
Henceforth, Cynthia went on practicing her profession as a college professor and financial analyst until she vowed her love and “I do” to an equally successful businessman-turned-politician in 1975. With him, she ventured in different business undertakings. Eventually the couple put up the biggest homebuilder in the country known as the “Vista land.” Likewise, she managed a private development bank from 1889 t0 1998.
In her noble intention to alleviate the sufferings of the people from all walks of life, she went into politics. In the 2001 election, Cynthia choke up a landslide victory as the representative of the Las Pinas people in Congress and served in that capacity for three 3-year terms or nine years. In the 13th and 14th Congress, she acted as the Chairperson of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education. She was also the President of the Lady Legislators during her terms.
Yes, she is Cynthia Aguilar Villar, the social and civic leader who, in 1992. Established and chaired the Villar Foundation known as SIPAG, which stands for “Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance.” And whose programs include providing assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs, environment protection and livelihood projects in almost 800 locations all over the country.
In the 2013 election, Cynthia ran for Senator and won a seat in the Senate. Since then she stayed as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food as well as the Committee on Committee on Corporations and Public Enterprises.
The husband of Cynthia is businessman Manny Villar, a former House Speaker and former Senate President as well. The couple have three children: namely: Paolo, the President of Vista Land; Mark, a Congressman and soon-to-be Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways; and; and, Camille, an officer of Starmills.
Moreover, as honorary member of the Philippine Horticultural Society, Cynthia was invited as the Guest Speaker of the Philippine Association of Agriculturists in Central Luzon in their first PAA-CL International Agricultural Technology Conference held in the Xenia Hotel inside the Clark Freeport Zone recently.
Cynthia graced the occasion with her Bosom Friend Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Mayor Jun Tetangco of Apalit, a good friend of her husband Manny. And in highlighting of Climate Resiliency to achieve goals for Agriculture and Food Production, she said partly i n the native tongue:
“Napakaimportante para sa atin na gawing prayoridad ang paksang yan at maging bahagi ng mga diskusyon na rin. At natutuwa ako na ang ating mga agriculturists ay binbigyan ng impotansya ang mg iya. The conference theme, “Agriculturists Accountability towards Agriculture Sustainability and Resiliency, is a clear indication of your commitment and involvement in matters that are very relevant to the agriculture sector.”
Cynthia proceeded with her speech asking for more discussion about food security and sustainable agriculture delighting her audience no end. Summing it up, she said, “Let us continue to work together and combine our efforts towards our collective goal and shared vision to bring back the glory days of the agriculture sector.” And ended with an encouraging note, “More Power to PAA-CL. Mabuhay ang agrikulturang Pilipino!”