Cynthia to wives: Help your husbands earn income

CEBU, Philippines - One of the secrets of a successful marriage is the husband and wife’s ability to earn an income for the family.

This was the message of senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar to women in Naga City where she joined a rally of the Alayon Party the other day.

“Kayong mga asawa, dapat tulungan ninyo ang inyong mga husbands sa paghahanap buhay… hindi yung puro na lang kayo tsismis, pag-bibingo, pangunguto… at kayong namang mga lalaki, dapat mahalin ninyo ang asawa ninyo,” Villar said to the amusement of the thousands of supporters who attended the rally.

Villar, dubbed as “Misis Hanepbuhay,” cited herself as an example to support her call. She said she and her husband, Senator Manuel Villar, were able to sustain their marriage for the past 38 years because they help each other.

But her exposure to wives helping their husbands came even before she married the Senator. She said she grew up seeing her widowed grandmother raise her nine children alone successfully because she herself was successful in her career.

This reportedly challenged her to open her  foundation to help provide livelihood programs to women. The foundation helps train women in hyacinth basket weaving, coconut weaving, plastic pulverizing, organic composting, handloom blanket weaving and citronella oil-making. The livelihood programs are geared towards  helping people gain the skills to start their own small businesses as even micro-enterprises can help boost the economy. 

The foundation serves at least a hundred cities and municipalities across the country, but it is still a long way to go because there are 1,600 municipalities and cities in the Philippines, Villar said.

 â€œI will continue promoting these livelihood programs because the benefits they provide to the people, especially the poor, are direct and fast. They do not need capital also because the raw materials are from wastes and our foundation provides the training and technology,” she said.

Go Negosyo recently recognized Villar as among “The Women Entrepreneur Icons and Filipina Entrepreneurs of 2013.” – (FREEMAN)