Manny: So I’m wealthy? I earned it
CALAMBA, Laguna. — Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar on Tuesday lashed back at his critics who tried to impute malice on his rise from poverty, saying his wealth is the fruit of his labor.
"Marami ang pilit (na) sumisira sa aking pangalan. Sabi nila’y ako ay masyado daw mayaman. Saan daw galing ang yaman ko? Pilit nilang nilalagyan ng malisya ang pag-ahon ko mula sa kahirapan. Magpapayaman pa daw ako pag nanalo. Babawiin ko daw ang ginagastos ko sa kampanya," Villar told supporters at the NP rally at the town plaza.
"Kaya kong ipaliwanag ang aking yaman. Pinagpawisan ko upang palaguin ang aming kumpanya sa matagal na panahon. Ngayo’y nangunguna ito sa indusriya ng murang pabahay. Isang matagumpay na kumpanya na ito bago pa ako pumasok sa serbisyo publiko," he said.
Villar said if only he wanted to enrich himself, he would not have joined politics. He said he would have instead pursued his career as a businessman.
"Mahirap bang isipin at sikmurain na ang isang dating mahirap ay naghahangad mangarap sa pagkapangulo? Di ba pwedeng umahon at mangarap ang tulad naming galling sa hirap? Dahil ba galling ako sa hirap kaya ako hinuhusgahan?" he said.
He said the people who are living in abject poverty are longing for someone who could help and lead them. "And this is my vision, together with our Nacionalista Party."
He said they chose to start their campaign in this city, birthplace of country’s national hero Jose Rizal, to remind the people that the freedom the heroes have fought for for decades is being obliterated by extreme poverty.
Present at the rally were Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Bongbong Marcos, Adel Tamano, Susan Ople, Gwen Pimentel, Liza Maza, Martin Querubin representing his detained father Col. Ariel, Satur Ocampo and Gilbert Remulla.
A motorcade kicked off the campaign that started in Biñan town, but without Villar and his running mate Loren Legarda.
Only eight of 12 NP senatorial bets joined the motorcade. Absent were guest candidates Santiago and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.
Laguna is a known NP bailiwick. It is claiming two candidates as its daughters – Legarda and Maza who both have roots in San Pablo.
Remulla, also the NP’s spokesman, said the party is not strong in Metro Manila and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) area, due to the "Cory euphoria" that he said was created by the media.
NP officials estimated at least 6,000 people at the plaza near Calamba City church.
It was also a colorful opening proclamation rally with hundreds of those who trooped to the venue wearing orange shirts, Villar’s color.
Among showbiz personalities present were talents from the noontime show Wowowee, Edgar Mortiz and Raymond Gutierrez.
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