• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription Print+Digital (Bundle)
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Print+Digital (Bundle)
Trending
UAE holidays 2022 Golf in UAE Gratuity Calculator Mind Your Migraine
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
      • Sheikh Khalifa passes away
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Play Games
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • Discounts
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Special Reports
    • Games
    • Corrections
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Motorsport
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Eagle Eye
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • Newsletters
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    From fish-monger to top Filipino billionaire

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Saturday, May 21, 2022
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    From fish-monger to top Filipino billionaire

    Manuel Villar was a slum dweller who sold fish and shrimps as a boy; now worth $7 billion


    Published:  October 25, 2021 18:56 Jay Hilotin, Senior Assistant Editor

    1 of 18
    Manny Villar Tondo
    HE GREW UP IN THE SLUMS: Manuel “Manny” Bamba Villar Jr., 71, currently chairs the Villar Group, a conglomerate involved in property development, retail and mining. He came from rather humble beginnings. As a boy growing up in Tondo, he sold fish and shrimps in Manila's Divisoria wholesale market. Tondo is a sea-side slum on the western edge of Manila, fronting the bay. Today, he’s the richest Filipino, with assets estimated by Forbes at $7 billion. File photo shows one of Tondo's garbage-filled “estero” (brook), literally an open sewer, that then washes into Pasig River, then out to the Manila Bay. Image Credit: Twitter
    2 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    TONDO BOY: Tondo is the subject of many Filipino movies. Known for being one of the poorest and most crime-ridden and underdeveloped areas of the country, it’s where many of the city's slums are found. It is the birthplace of Philippine national hero Andres Bonifacio and former president Joseph Estrada, and it is also the location of the notorious but-now-closed landfill, the so-called “Smokey Mountain”. A scene in Manila’s Divisoria district taken in December 2020. Image Credit: Twitter
    3 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    MURKY TONDO ESTERO: This 2018 photo shows government workers doing a cleanup drive at the Estero de Magdalena in Tondo, Manila, where flooding occurs due to the build up of litter which clogs the metro’s waterways. Image Credit: Twitter
    4 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    DIVISORIA MARKET: At a very young age, Villar was already helping his mother sell shrimps and fish in Manila’s crowded Divisoria public market. Armed with a burning desire to improve his family’s lot, Villar worked hard at the fish market in between school. Photo shows a scene at the Divisoria night market taken in 2020. Image Credit: Twitter
    5 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    SECOND CHILD IN A BROOD OF 9: Villar’s rise to the pinnacle of wealth is a fascinating story of grit. He was born on December 13, 1949 in Moriones, Tondo, Manila to a simple family. His father, Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., originally came from Iloilo (in central Philippines), who worked as an ordinary government employee. His mother Curita, who originally came from Pampanga and Bataan, was a seafood vendor. Manny is the second child in a brood of nine.  Image Credit: Twitter
    6 of 18
    Manny Villar with Cynthia
    SWEETHEARTS: Manny met his wife Cynthia Aguilar-Villar during their university years, while she was also earning her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She started her career as a financial analyst, before becoming college professor until she married Manny. Cynthia supported her husband in various entrepreneurial ventures that eventually led to making Vista Land the biggest homebuilder in the Philippines. Image Credit: Twitter
    7 of 18
    First truck of Manny Villar
    Php10,000 CAPITAL: Villar finished high school from the Mapúa Institute of Technology in Santa Cruz, near Tondo. He attended the University of the Philippines Diliman and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1970. After completing his business degree, Villar began his professional career working as an accountant for Sycip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV) & Co. In 1975, with an initial capital of Php10,000 (about $1,422 at $1=Php7.030 exchange rate in 1975), Villar purchased a reconditioned truck and started a business delivering gravel and sand for construction companies in Las Piñas. Photo shows the Villars posing next to their restored truck (above), and a Camella mid-range housing project in Bulacan, north of Manila. Image Credit: Facebook
    8 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    FAMILY: From 1989 to 1998, Cynthia Villar also managed a private development bank. In 2001, Cynthia ran and won as Representative of Las Piñas (Manila), completing three terms (nine years) until 2010. She also won the Senate race twice, in 2013 and 2019. Manny and Cynthia have three children: Manuel Paolo, Mark and Camille. Image Credit: Twitter
    9 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    MASS HOUSING, REIMAGINING REAL ESTATE: Today, Villar’s biggest asset is his stake in Golden MV Holdings (formerly Golden Bria), a developer of mass housing projects and condominiums. Villar also chairs mall operator Vistamalls. In October 2019, he took his home improvement chain AllHome public. Today, the Villar-controlled Vista Land property developer has built more than 300,00 homes across 90 cities in 35 provinces. It has also boasts 23 masterplanned city developments. Pine Suites Tagaytay, a property development south of Manila, by Camella, a Vista Land company. Image Credit: Twitter
    10 of 18
    Manny Villar Vistaland
    SUBSIDIARIES: Vista Land operates through its five distinct subsidiaries and is one of the leading integrated homebuilders in the Philippines. Vista Land hits all income segments through Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines, and Vista Residences. Brittany caters to the high-end market in greater Manila, offering luxury houses in master-planned communities, priced from Php12 ($596,000). Crown Asia caters to the middle-income housing segment in Manila. Image Credit: Supplied
    11 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    PUBLIC LIFE: The public life of Manny Villar straddles both the worlds of business and politics. He managed to excel in both. In 1992, Villar made his political debut, and won with the most overwhelming mandate among Manila’s congressmen. He was the very first person to head both the Congress and the Senate of the Philippines. As a key member of the House’s economic team, Villar helped steer the economic reform measures of Former president Fidel Ramos (1992 to 1998), including the New Foreign Investments Act and the restructuring of the Philippine central Bank (BSP). Image Credit: Twitter
    12 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    INFRASTRUCTURE: As part of former President Fidel V. Ramos’s team, Villar helped negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1992. ’Manny Villar also oversaw various infrastructure projects in his districts, as well as the “Friendship Route” to ease the traffic problems in southern Manila by persuading subdivision homeowners to open up their roads to the general public. It worked. Image Credit: Twitter
    13 of 18
    1.588711-2968900714
    2010 PRESIDENTIAL RUN: Villar ran for president in 2010, and placed third, with 5.5 million votes, behind Joseph Estrata (who placed second, with 9.5 million votes) and Benigno Aquino III (who became president, with 15.2 million). Photo shows Villar speaking to supporters during a campaign rally in Sarangani province in southern Philippines. Image Credit: AP
    14 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    CHILDREN: Manuel Paolo Villar (above, left) graduated from the Wharton School with a degree Economics and Bachelor of Applied Science in 1999, worked for McKinsey & Co. from 1999 to 2001, before joining Crown Asia in 2001 as Head of Corporate Planning. He became President and CEO of the Company in July 2011. Manuel Pool has two current jobs: as President & CEO at Vista Land & Lifescapes, and President and CEO of St. Augustine Gold and Copper Limited.  Image Credit: Twitter
    15 of 18
    Mark Villar
    BUILDER: Mark Villar, 43, a Harvard-educated economist, was handpicked by President Rodrigo Duterte as his Secretary at the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2016, and overseas a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of infrastructure projects under the “Build-Build-Build” programme, including the on-going Manila Subway project. Mark has recently filed his candidacy to run for Senator. Camille Villar, 36, is the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. Camille is also the Vice Chairman of AllHome, President of AllValue and Director of Starmalls/Vista Malls. Mark quit his post recently to focus on his Senatorial run. Image Credit: Twitter
    16 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    PRAGMATIC MAGNATE: Villar is seen as pragmatic businessman. Today, housing and construction businesses — from which the Villar's vast and multi-billion-dollar current wealth came from, remains their favourite. But they have also set sights on retail. Image Credit: Twitter
    17 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    CRISES COME AND GO: Villar recently joined an online business forum in which he said: “Crises come and go. This crisis is about to end. It’s almost over.” Here’s one "fearless forecast" from the Filipino tycoon: brick-and-mortar retail outlets won’t go away. They’re here to stay — thriving alongside online business. It will co-exist with e-commerce, which has greatly expanded during the pandemic. Physical stores, he said, meet specific needs, and won’t go away in a post-pandemic scenario. He also said that after the May 2022 elections, the situation will be far different from now, thanks mostly to the flood of vaccines to beat COVID. Image Credit: Twitter
    18 of 18
    Villar Filipino Billionaire
    PINNACLE OF WEALTH: Villar has certainly come a long way from his Tondo roots to the pinnacle of his career as a business builder. He's currently listed as the richest Filipino in the 2021 Forbes World's Billionaires List, among among the 17 Filipinos in the international publication's list, up from15 in 2020. Image Credit: Twitter

    Trending

    • Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out

      Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out


    • Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes looks have people talking

      Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes looks have people talking


    • Cannes 2022: Top looks from Deepika, Aishwarya and more

      Cannes 2022: Top looks from Deepika, Aishwarya and more

    Latest In

    • US, S Korea open to expanded war games to deter North

      4 minutes ago

    • Child prodigies blaze a trail at Sharjah reading fest

      11 minutes ago

    • Feels like a million dollars, says finisher Ashwin

      11 minutes ago

    • No need to panic, expert says amid monkeypox scare

      19 minutes ago

    • Abu Dhabi International Book Fair opens on Monday

      29 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or