Senators Manny and Cynthia Villar. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—After serving 12 years in the Senate, Senator Manny Villar bid goodbye Wednesday but said he was not retiring yet from politics.
Aty the same time, he welcomed the newly-elected members of the upper chamber of Congress, including his wife Cynthia, who he said “have the task of making sure that our democracy bring about equitable progress to our people.”
“I hesitate to call this a farewell speech because I know that the fight against poverty continues,” Villar said in his speech.
“I hesitate to call this a valedictory address because I know that the struggle against poverty does not only exist in the field of public service. The struggle goes on even in one’s private capacity.”
“This is not a retirement from politics as some have suggested. Because, really, can one retire from politics?” he asked.
Villar, who was first elected in the Senate in 2001, once served as Senate President until he was ousted by now resigned Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile.
When his term ended in 2007, he joined the Senate race again and was re-elected for another six years. His second term officially ends when the 16th Congress opens in July.
He mounted an unsuccessful presidential bid during the May 2010 general election.
Villar’s first entry into politics was when he ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1992. He also became the House Speaker even before completing his three terms or nine years in the lower chamber.
“I stand here today both proud and humbled. Proud because in my more than two decades of public service I can confidently proclaim that I have exerted all efforts toward this ideal: that the life path I took from poverty to progress may be experienced by our countrymen, too,” he said.
“I am humbled because the enormity of our problem on poverty is such that despite our small victories and humble gains, many Filipinos still cannot put food on their table. The challenges remain. The tasks unfinished,” he added.
Villar then thanked his colleagues in the Senate, who he said have gone through the “best of times and the worst of times.”
“But this democratic institution has survived because of individuals like you who have the interest of the nation at heart,” he said.
At the same time, he welcomed the new batch of senators, which included his wife, Cynthia, who will officially assume their posts in July.
“Together with my colleagues who will remain in this chamber, you now have the task of making sure that our democracy brings about equitable progress to our people,” said Villar.
“Even as the administration of President Benigno Aquino III has been successful in achieving spectacular economic growth, your job now is to ensure that this growth becomes sustainable and would benefit the poor.”
“I do not envy you for the task ahead. But this is why the people voted for you,” Villar added.
Even if he is no longer a senator, Villar promised to continue to work for the people.
“I will do this through our enterprise of providing low cost housing to our people. I will do this through the Villar Foundation, which has done extraordinary work on the environment, entrepreneurship and livelihood. I will do this through our continuous work helping Filipinos overseas,” he said.