His 2 public companies, C&P Homes and now Vista Land, have successfully raised something like
from IPOs. C&P Homes went into trouble in the late 90's and Villar went into
with creditors.
Since then,
he chairs banking and finance in the senate which indirectly provides effective stalemate for any creditor bank's adverse actions, under cursory glance - as being congressman or senator already is. Goes with the territory and goes with everyone of them.
How big are his companies, both property developers? Let's just say that when any of his companies decide to do panic shopping for cement, the entire Metro Manila would have then suffer a temporary shortage. That is Villar's industry clout.
Why is he closely monitoring C5, a new circumferential ring of Metro Manila? Allegedly because C5 starts with his property in the South and ends with his property in the north [and in between], and these are huge properties with thousands of homes built by Villar. No wonder that these properties are being implicated in an unprecedented Senate-Inquiry-of-the-Whole now playing out at the Senate, just when he was Senate President?!
Of course, there is that back issue about his pre-IPO companies' alleged involvement in the National Home Mortgage's defaults (preempting the US current debacle by about 2 decades or more).
Whether true or not, he should have vindicated himself when he became major player in impeaching Joseph Estrada then. But lately, the two (and Estrada's son Senator Jinggoy) are now chummy chummy. Whew, politics do invite strange bed fellows.
Villar will be very credible in hyping that he is the only presidential contender with comprehensive corporate CEO experience, which is quite critical in making the Philippines prosper. But then, C&P Homes did fall, National Home Mortgage did fall and it's too early to say for Vista Land.
His role in impeaching Estrada then, was my strongest motivation in voting for him for the Senate (I would have voted for him for the house except that I am not from Las Pinas City) BUT have we paid him enough and is he on his own now for the Presidency?
The fall of C&P may have been out of circumstance as C&P is very well-run. In fact, it is my model company and I would take in any employees coming from C&P then (they are the most diligent and easy to manage people with HONESTY as their number 1 core value).
Could he be faulted for acquiring so much property in the north, in the south and everywhere if this came from the P6 Billion raised by C&P out of the IPO proceeds? Absolutely not.
Could he be faulted for the alleged National Home Mortgage's fall? That is another matter that is technically a hearsay for me.
Could he be faulted for his alliance with Estrada now which he helped oust then? That's politics - the art of compromise and persuasion. We really do not know the real circumstances and what devil the guy had to wrestle with. But, who could fault somebody for embracing compromises or renewing friendship?
As a businessman, am I in agreement with his running of his companies? Absolutely! As I said, I would take in any of his employees then, no questions asked, no interviews necessary. The guy is my idol! I am even signature number 1 in a fax campaign in his favor after he helped oust Estrada. And I said: "History will be kind to you."
Do I agree with him in saying that he had to snub the current senate inquiry against him because it is instigated by fellow presidential contenders in the senate? Yes. Besides, should we believe Lacson instead or Jamby Madrigal more? Is the hearing a sham? Probably not. Is the hearing a wrong venue? Maybe.
Therefore, will Villar make the Philippines prosper? Uhhm, yes, uhhm, I don't know. Maybe the Philippines will also default on its loans. Actually, if you ask me, he is the most qualified because of his strong corporate CEO experience. As an entrepreneur, you roll your own dice and enjoy all the benefits or suffer all the consequences.
The previous quip is just a friendly banter preempting him: "Don't even think about it!". The last statement is written without malice to welcome answer from Senator Villar, of course.
One thing is sure, even if he spends P1M a day in political ads, that is only P365M for a year that he can certainly afford out of pocket. This political ad spending will probably enable him to talk to the CDE market and ensure victory for the presidency, touting Estrada's claim that only he have the hold on the masses. In the Philippines, when you talk about elections, you literally talk about the CDE votes.
I believe he is the only candidate, who if worse comes to worse, can shell out of pocket P3Billion to finance the campaign without political contributions. Oh ok, but if I were him, I will take in the contributions. He is already a very strong contender and he is leading in the recent SWS survey, hence all these flaks against him.
The man could be President, by destiny, and it would be quite melodramatic, rising from a leaking shack in the slums of Tondo crammed with 11 other siblings and selling fish in the market. This does mean that he is the real Mr. Palengke. He has not said that yet and neither has he said on the ads (yet, although a non-topic for the CDE market) that from a pawned wedding band of P13,000, he was able to build his empire.
This is becoming an unpaid political ad!