Nacionalista grooming Villar for 2010

The Nacionalista Party celebrated its 100th anniversary in a grand show of force last night at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to gear up for the candidacy of Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. in the 2010 presidential elections.

In his prepared speech, Villar extolled the virtues of the NP leaders, stressing that they should be emulated by those engaged in public service.

He also encouraged future leaders to follow the lead of the NP leaders, keeping in mind their responsibility as public servants and practitioners of change.

“As public servants, we should keep in mind our motto – Ang Bayan Higit Sa Lahat (The Nation Above All Else) as we go along with our responsibility to provide a better future for our people,” he said.

The NP event came three days after the Liberal Party virtually endorsed the presidential bid of Sen. Manuel Roxas II when he was appointed as party president in grand ceremonies in San Juan.

“We are the new breed of Nacionalistas - young, dynamic and vibrant. Guided by the wisdom and virtues of our forefathers, we will continue to move forward towards the realization of our goal to provide a better future for the Filipino people,” Villar said.

NP’s centennial anniversary likewise marks the launching of “Pondo sa Sipag-Puhunan sa Tiyaga,” a nationwide project spearheaded by Villar aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and providing Filipinos livelihood opportunities that would help them better their lives.

Through the Sipag at Tiyaga Livelihood Caravan, Filipinos from all over the archipelago will be provided with livelihood and skills training. Those who excel in their respective fields will then be provided with a gift of P100,000 to help them in their own businesses.

A successful businessman who rose from poverty prior to his entry to politics, Villar hopes that the project will produce the next breed of entrepreneurs who would lead the country to economic recovery.

“A nation of entrepreneurs will have a winning chance in the economic arena of the world,” he said.

Villar hopes that the event will inspire leaders to always put the welfare of the country at the forefront. He assured that the Nacionalista Party will continue to actively pursue measures that would provide lasting solutions to poverty and steer the country to sustainable development.

In the same event, Villar also formally unveiled the book, “Building the Nation: First 100 Years, Nacionalista Party 1907-2007,” to mark NP’s centennial.

The book, which explores the early days of the organization to the present, details how the party flourished and struggled through the days of glory and trials of the Filipino people in building the nation in the last century.

“It tells us a story of how the past party presidents —Sergio Osmeña, Manuel L. Quezon, Jose Yulo, Eulogio ‘Amang’ Rodriguez Sr., Gil J. Puyat, Jose B. Laurel Jr. and Salvador ‘Doy’ Laurel navigated through the colonial, neo-colonial, and independent stages of the country producing, in the process, six Philippine presidents,” Villar said.