OpinionsEcon 101To be, or not to be… Senate President

To be, or not to be… Senate President

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Under the Constitution, the Senate President is the presiding officer and the highest-ranking official of the Senate of the Philippines, the third highest and most powerful official in the government of our country, being second in line in succession for the Presidency, behind the Vice President of the Philippines, and ahead of the Speaker of the Congressional House of Representatives.

The current Senate President of the 17th Congress of the Philippines is Vicente “Tito “ Castelo Sotto III, who was elected Senator on May 21, 2018.

Now that a new composition of the Senate is looming after the recently-concluded 2019 elections, there is talk of a possible run for the Senate Presidency by Sen. Cynthia “Mrs. Hanapbuhay” Villar who topped the Senate elections.

Neophyte Sen. Imee Marcos earlier disclosed that some groups have been lobbying for Villar as Senate President.

Senator Villar, however, categorically stated she is not interested in the position as she plans to concentrate on her advocacy as chair of the Senate committees on agriculture & food and environment & natural resources.

When told that the top post as Senate President would also allow her to sit in any committee, she pointed out that the focus of the Senate leader should be to manage the Chamber. As of now, Sotto stays as Senate President.

A careful perusal of the background of Senator Villar reveal why her decision is measured and deliberate. Her family background shows that her father was Dr. Filemon Celestino Aguilar, medical doctor, builder, entrepreneur, mayor, congressman, public servant. He was among the first batch of graduates of the University of Philippines College of Medicine in 1939, and served as “barefoot doctor” in the then-remote barrios of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa through the tribulations of the Second World War. In the reconstruction period that marked its aftermath, Dr. Aguilar pioneered as developer in the 1940s, and by the 1980s, ushered Las Piñas into an era of progress and development.

Cynthia’s mother, Lydia Ampaya, was a pharmacist and at the same time, a public school teacher who partnered with her husband in public service.

Senator Cynthia earned her degree in BS Business Administration from UP, then practiced as financial analyst and college professor until she married Former House Speaker and Senate President Manny Villar in 1975. She also completed her MBA from New York University.

In 2017, the UP Alumni Association recognized her as Most Distinguished Alumna. In June 2018, she received a doctor of laws (honoris causa) from UPLB for her work in agricultural development, poverty alleviation, education, women’s and children’s welfare.

If Cynthia Villar becomes Senate President, she will be more than able to meet everyone’s expectations. As the saying goes, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Women power!

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Author’s email: [email protected]

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