Senator Cynthia A. Villar
Biography
Cynthia Aguilar Villar earned her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, which recognized her as the 2017 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna. She completed her Masters in Business Administration at the New York University. She practiced as a financial analyst and college professor until she married Former House Speaker and Senate President Manny Villar. She supported her husband in various entrepreneurial ventures that eventually led to making Vista Land the biggest homebuilder in the Philippines. She also managed a private development bank from 1989 to 1998.
In 2001, Cynthia Villar won as Representative of Las Piñas, where she completed three terms or nine years of service until 2010. She was Chairman of Committee on Higher and Technical Education during the 13th and 14th Congress. She was President of the Lady Legislators during the 12th, 13th& 14th Congress initiating Legislation benefitting women, children and family.
Cynthia Villar founded and chaired the Villar Foundation (now Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance or Villar SIPAG). Its various programs are assistance to OFWs including the yearly OFW & Family Summit; environment protection including the establishment of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park; agricultural training in four farm schools located in Cavite, Bulacan, Iloilo and Davao; andestablishment of various livelihood projects in over 3,000 locations nationwide.
In the 2013 Midterm Elections, Cynthia Villar run and won as senator. In the 2019 National Elections, Cynthia Villar run and won anew as senator.
She was proclaimed as the Number One Senator having garnered a total of 25,283,727 votes, which is unprecedented for a senatorial post in the country.
She chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources since 2013 until now. Besides pursuing and enacting relevant laws, she also led numerous initiatives to empower farmers, among which is the establishment of TESDA-accredited farm schools, which have so far reached over 2,367 all over the country.
Senator Villar was conferred the rank of honorary Auxiliary Commodore by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary for her commitment to environment protection. She is also an Honorary Member of the Philippine Horticultural Society and other socio-civic groups.
Amidst all her achievements and awards, she successfully raised three well-educated children: Paolo is the CEO of publicly listed Vista Land; Mark is the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and Camille is currently the Representative of the Lone District of Las Piñas.Camille is also the Vice Chairman of AllHome, President of AllValue and Director of Starmalls/Vista Malls.