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The Villar family led by Senate President Manny and Senator Cynthia Villar celebrated their annual Christmas gift-giving get-together with some 150 kids from barangay Baseco in Tondo and barangay Iruhin in Tagaytay at the Christmas Village in Crosswinds, Tagaytay. Joined by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and wife Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Villar, Camille Villar and grandchildren Emma Therese and Tristan, the family sang and played with the kids in the annual gift-giving affair hosted by the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance). “We are very happy to have spent this special time with the kids,” Senate President Villar said as he watched kids, aged 2 to 13 years old, enjoy the Christmas Village set up at the 100-hectare Crosswinds community in Tagaytay. The Villars, especially grandkids Emma Therese and Tristan, joined the Baseco kids in watching a magician show and playing parlor games. In the end, they ...

Financial literacy, especially on investments and business start-ups, are important factors in ensuring that hard-earned incomes and savings of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are put to good use, Sen. Cynthia Villar said at the 8th OFW and Family Summit last Nov. 21. Villar, in her capacity as director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), made the remark as she urged OFWs who attended the event to be financially-smart to ensure a better future for their families. “I hope that you will practice all the lessons, tips and suggestions that you learned today from our finance experts. Use your incomes and savings wisely,” Villar said at the end of the Summit, which had as its theme, “OFW: Perang Pinaghirapan, Palaguin.” EMPOWERING OUR OFWS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony that ushers the opening of the 8th OFW and Family Summit at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The summit, with the theme, OFW: Pe...

The Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Foundation has again acknowledged the important role of the youth sector in significantly reducing poverty in the country and improving the lives of many poor families. An the 2nd Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge, the Foundation gave due recognition to 10 outstanding youth organizations for their unique and innovative solutions and undertakings to address poverty in impoverished communities. 2ND VILLAR SIPAG YOUTH AWARDS - Senator Cynthia Villar poses with the winners of the 2nd Villar SIPAG Youth awards held in Las Pinas City last July 27. The 10 outstanding youth groups (seated from left): Rayjand Gellamucho - Youth first initiative Philippines Inc., Ma. Arlene P. Toledo - Tigbao 4th Club 3, Rafael Dionisio - The circle hostels tribes and treks and the plastic solution, Reymark P. Marcos- Monteverde 4-H Club, Kyle Isaac Tan Kua - Adopt A Barangay, Metodia B. Maraguinot- Youthlead Philip...

Sen. Cynthia Villar was awarded an honorary doctorate by the country’s premiere school in agricultural studies during the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) 46th Commencement Exercises held at D.L. Umali Freedom Park, UPLB. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Food and on Environment and Natural Resources, was recognized by the UP Board of Regents for her achievements in the fields of agricultural development, poverty alleviation, education and upholding the welfare of women and children. Dr. Fernando Sanchez, Chancellor of UPLB, said Villar is being recognized “for her commitment to public service and dedication to the welfare of the Filipino people.” In receiving the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Villar said “it is truly an honor and privilege that you all deem me worthy of this recognition.” From left: Dr. J. Prospero De Vera III – OIC, CHED / Chairman of the Board of Regents, Paolo Villar - Vista Land Chief Executive O...

Senator Cynthia Villar led the inauguration of the 4th phase of the Zapote River Drive road project, which is projected to cut the travel time to and from the city of Las Pinas by 60 percent, and at the same time address flooding concerns plaguing the city government. Villar was joined by DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, Mayor Imelda Aguilar, other local government and barangay officials, and homeowners of different subdivisions in Las Pinas. “We would like to thank the DPWH for swiftly addressing our concerns of traffic and constant flooding in Las Pinas through this project. Through this new road, we are certain of a shorter and a more convenient travel time for the people of Las Pinas and for all those who travel to and from our city. More importantly, this new road and other road infrastructure developments will make Las Pinas more attractive to investors,” the senator said. She likewise expressed confidence the road project will reduce, if not totally stop, incidents of floodin...

WITH only a few days left before Christmas, Las Pinas residents once again showcased their creative whiz with their amazing giant lanterns for the 12th Parol Festival, now an annual event in the city and eagerly participated in by Las Pineros. Participating parols in the festival were made with recycled materials and followed the required 8 ft x 8 ft size. The Parol Festival was a brainchild of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar when she was still Las Piñas congresswoman in a bid to boost the city's parol-making industry by organizing the “Samahang Magpaparol ng Las Pinas" and the Las Pinas Parol Center which has since served as the training area for lantern makers. “It felt right at that time to help my constituents to provide them with the venue not only to showcase their talents but to also encourage residents, especially promising entrepreneurs, to venture into parol making which is a highly lucrative industry. And 12 years today, we have given birth to hundreds of creati...

TWENTY-ONE outstanding cooperatives nationwide were recognized by the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, former Senate President Manny Villar and DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, for their exemplary poverty reduction strategies. Each of the cooperatives received P250,000 as seed money to start a new business or expand their existing projects and customized Villar SIPAG bamboo trophy specially made by the Samahan ng mga Mang-uukit ng Paete. The awarding ceremony was held at the VIillar SIPAG hall at C5 Extension Road, Brgy. Pulanglupa Uno, Las Pinas City. More than 220 cooperatives joined the search for the 2017 Villar SIPAG Awards, of which, 21 cooperatives were selected based on their projects’ effectiveness, significance, financial viability, sustainability and adaptability. "We take our hats off to these cooperatives for the wonderful jobs that they do and for all their efforts in helping reduce poverty in our ...

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who succeeded in their ventures in agriculture take center stage during the 7th OFW and Family Summit held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and director of the organization behind the annual holding of the summit, Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), said summit attendees were inspired by the experiences shared by agriculture entrepreneurs or agri-preneurs. “Our ultimate dream is to see the day when our kababayans are no longer compelled by lack of local opportunities to work abroad and leave their loved ones behind. With various opportunities sprouting from agriculture, that dream could become a reality sooner than we all think,” Villar said. OFW agri-preneurs featured in the summit were Gigi Morris, president and school director of Moca Family Farm Learning Center in Padre Garcia, Batangas; Joel Frago, owner of For...