Villar named Most Outstanding UP Alumnus

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. was named the 2004 Most Distinguished Alumnus, the highest recognition given in this year’s University of the Philippines Alumni Awards.

Villar, along with this year’s Most Distinguished UP Alumna Dolores Hernandez and other awardees from various fields, will be honored at a dinner hosted by the UP Alumni Association tonight at the UP Diliman Executive House.

The Most Distinguished UP Alumnus and Alumni Awards are distinctly awarded to alumni who have attained national or international prestige and brought honor and distinction to up and the country.

Villar, who was also named Most Outstanding UP Alumnus in 1991, was cited for his exemplary public service and achievements.

As senator, he has authored 44 laws and filed the highest number of bills and resolutions among the 13 senators elected in 2001. He is currently the chairman of the Senate committee on finance and the Senate committee on foreign relations.

Prior to that, he was voted overwhelmingly as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1998 during his third consecutive term as congressman of Las Piñas.

Villar rose to prominence when he established one of the most successful low-cost property development firms in Asia, earning him the titles "Dean of the Philippine Housing Industry" by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and "The Brown Taipan." His success was featured in several prestigious international magazines.

Villar was born to humble beginnings in Tondo, Manila and started selling seafood at the Divisoria market at an early age. He was able to put himself to school finishing his studies at UP where he earned his bachelor’s degree and Masters degree in Business Administration.