The Villar DNA

Camille Villar is proud of her Villar DNA, even as her critics continue to needle her with the label “nepo baby,” a term her father was not familiar with until she explained that the millennial label implies her success is based on her parents’ achievements. “Ah... child of owner,” he nods.

In a freewheeling lunch with business writers last week at the Villar family’s Brittany Hotel in BGC, Camille, along with her father Manny Villar, talked about her bid to be the millennial senatorial candidate in the upcoming May 12 national elections.

We all thought it would only be Camille who would meet with us, but we were pleasantly surprised when former House speaker Manny Villar decided to join us upon the invitation of his only daughter.

According to Camille, she is very close to her father. “My dad and I like to stick to each other. He’s my best friend, legitimately. My dad’s still one of the first people I call for anything... even lunch. Yeah, we’re always together.”

And indeed, the Villar patriarch was there to join us for a Lenten lunch and was quick to call out her detractors for labelling Camille a COO (child of owner). “It’s tough being a COO. There are many expectations. It’s a pity. To be fair, they will never be given credit for something – even if they were the ones who did it. People will always say they just inherited it... but it’s not fair... the credit is always given to the parents... it’s not fair to them,” he told us.

Camille is in no way affected by the nepo baby label. “I’ve always said that I’ve been very blessed to be a Villar – not just because of the guidance, the love and support from both my parents, but also from my brothers. My mom has her passion for agriculture, the environment and motherhood, and many, many things. My dad also has his vision and life experiences that he shared with me. Even my brother Paolo has really carved his way in business, and Mark has created a name for himself as an expert in infrastructure. I feel so blessed that they have all shared what they’ve learned with me.”

From her father, Camille says, “one of the things that he left with me was, because galing sa hirap pamilya namin, ‘you always have to help alleviate the people’s lives... you always have to help people.’” Her father, she points out, has a soft spot for entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises.”

She recalls him telling her, “You always have to protect them, you know? You have to look out for their welfare. You have to help them succeed because they bring so many jobs and contribute so much to the economy – just like OFWs, who make up 50 percent of Camella (Homes) buyers. We’ve had a lifetime relationship with them, so you have to take care of them.”

Likewise with her brothers. Eldest brother Paolo, according to Camille, is “one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. So he shares with me his insights about politics and business.” Mark, she continues, “shares with me what he’s done as Secretary of Public Works and what he still needs to do. Memorized niya ang mga infrastructure projects around the Philippines. He was like, ‘If we’re able to finish this, this is going to help these two areas.’ So I’ve actually learned so much from them.”

“So I never complain about being a Villar, but you’re correct – the most difficult thing about being a Villar is living up to everyone’s expectations.”

Camille, however, at 40, and with her own experience ably running the family’s retail business and serving as a two-term congresswoman, is a confident legislator ready to step up as a senatorial candidate in this year’s election.

“I’m just going to do my thing. I’ve always felt that if I just do my thing, in the end, the truth will come out. Kung magaling ka, if you just keep doing your thing. Kung hindi ka magaling, if you’re not worthy of it, that will also come out. And so, when I listen to them – yeah, there are a lot of people who doubt my capabilities. Of course, it’s a very long and big shadow to follow, right? And I always question myself if I will ever be good enough... you always wonder. It’s probably the greatest challenge. It’s like, will you ever be good enough? Are you doing enough?”

Camille reveals that she and her father are actually both introverts, but from her mother – Sen. Cynthia Villar and which Camille’s critics should watch out for – she admits to having inherited “my mom’s temper!”

She clarifies, though, that what she and her brothers have achieved was not served on a silver platter.

“You know, the thing about my parents is they really didn’t give it to us on a silver platter. My mom and my dad, from day one, ever since we were young, made us work hard for everything we had. They insisted that we study, and study hard, and get the best education we could possibly have. They would say, ‘Monetary wealth can go away, but if you have an education, no one can take that away from you. That’s yours. And what you do with it matters.’”

(To be continued)