Striking the perfect balance
June 18, 2006 | 12:00am
Sen. Manny Villar
Every once in a while in life you come across a person who is genuinely good at every single thing that he endeavors to do. Naturally that’s a rare occurrence, but every now and then, that person comes along.
Sen. Manny Villar is one such person. Indeed, this well-loved political figure has managed to succeed in every aspect of his life, whether it be in fulfilling his political goals and visions, expanding his entrepreneurial projects or maintaining a healthy and happy family life with his equally successful wife Rep. Cynthia Villar and their three doting children Paolo, Mark and Camille.
"My family is very important to me," the Senate President-in-waiting confides earnestly. "They are vital in helping me maintain a balance. With such a complicated political and business life, my family helps me to get back to the basics and simplify things. They remind me to slow down and breathe. They make it all worthwhile."
It is indeed quite evident that the Senator puts immense importance on his family and makes sure to have quality time with them no matter how busy he becomes. "I think that may have been something I learned from my own parents," he shares. "We were such a big family and everyone was busy doing their own things and working. But no matter what, no matter how busy my parents were, they still made sure to spend time with us. That strong family unit really helped me when I was starting to make it on my own and I wanted my children to have that as well."
That is a goal he has achieved with ease. His closeness with his children is apparent as he laughs and jokes with his two sons Mark and Paolo and as his lovely daughter Camille happily smiles and leans on his shoulder as she watches them. It’s a bond that can only be forged through a lot of time spent together. "It’s a common theory that when you’re in politics or business," the Senator says, "you don’t have any time for your family. I don’t believe in that. I believe you have to make the time. Even when my sons studied abroad, we spent every summer together. I made sure to be a part of their lives."
And what values did he hope to impart to them over the years? "When raising my children, I had a very simple goal in mind," he answers. "I wanted them to be good people. I didn’t want them to be this or that; I wanted them to be able to decide that for themselves. What was important to me was that they had good social and moral values, that they studied and worked hard, and that they grew to be responsible. I tried to teach them through example, but more than anything, I wanted them to be able to be strong enough and secure enough in themselves to live their own lives and I’m proud to say I believe my children have grown to do just that."
To be sure, it is evident that Villar’s children have grown into successful and responsible adults who would indeed make any parent proud. But even though they have all grown up and are in the process of forging their own paths in life, they all still have a special soft spot for their dad.
"I have nothing bad to say about my dad," Camille says. "I’m a self-confessed daddy’s girl. He’s wonderful. He’s always there for us and he’s always been about unconditional love." Her brothers quickly agree while Mark sums it all up nicely by simply adding, "My dad is truly a genuinely nice guy!"
Every once in a while in life you come across a person who is genuinely good at every single thing that he endeavors to do. Naturally that’s a rare occurrence, but every now and then, that person comes along.
Sen. Manny Villar is one such person. Indeed, this well-loved political figure has managed to succeed in every aspect of his life, whether it be in fulfilling his political goals and visions, expanding his entrepreneurial projects or maintaining a healthy and happy family life with his equally successful wife Rep. Cynthia Villar and their three doting children Paolo, Mark and Camille.
"My family is very important to me," the Senate President-in-waiting confides earnestly. "They are vital in helping me maintain a balance. With such a complicated political and business life, my family helps me to get back to the basics and simplify things. They remind me to slow down and breathe. They make it all worthwhile."
It is indeed quite evident that the Senator puts immense importance on his family and makes sure to have quality time with them no matter how busy he becomes. "I think that may have been something I learned from my own parents," he shares. "We were such a big family and everyone was busy doing their own things and working. But no matter what, no matter how busy my parents were, they still made sure to spend time with us. That strong family unit really helped me when I was starting to make it on my own and I wanted my children to have that as well."
That is a goal he has achieved with ease. His closeness with his children is apparent as he laughs and jokes with his two sons Mark and Paolo and as his lovely daughter Camille happily smiles and leans on his shoulder as she watches them. It’s a bond that can only be forged through a lot of time spent together. "It’s a common theory that when you’re in politics or business," the Senator says, "you don’t have any time for your family. I don’t believe in that. I believe you have to make the time. Even when my sons studied abroad, we spent every summer together. I made sure to be a part of their lives."
And what values did he hope to impart to them over the years? "When raising my children, I had a very simple goal in mind," he answers. "I wanted them to be good people. I didn’t want them to be this or that; I wanted them to be able to decide that for themselves. What was important to me was that they had good social and moral values, that they studied and worked hard, and that they grew to be responsible. I tried to teach them through example, but more than anything, I wanted them to be able to be strong enough and secure enough in themselves to live their own lives and I’m proud to say I believe my children have grown to do just that."
To be sure, it is evident that Villar’s children have grown into successful and responsible adults who would indeed make any parent proud. But even though they have all grown up and are in the process of forging their own paths in life, they all still have a special soft spot for their dad.
"I have nothing bad to say about my dad," Camille says. "I’m a self-confessed daddy’s girl. He’s wonderful. He’s always there for us and he’s always been about unconditional love." Her brothers quickly agree while Mark sums it all up nicely by simply adding, "My dad is truly a genuinely nice guy!"
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