Senate Seat or Family Reunion? Camille Villar’s Political Ambitions

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — October 5, 2024

BRACE yourselves, baroks—because the political scene is about to get a whole lot more… predictable. Camille Villar, heir to the Villar dynasty (because democracy is so last century), has graciously decided to gift the nation with yet another Villar in the Senate. Who needs fresh faces when you’ve got a family franchise?

Track Record of Public Service: An Impeccable Blank Canvas

Let’s start with Camille Villar’s public service record, or rather, let’s go on a treasure hunt for it. Her stint as the representative of Las Piñas has been marked by her unwavering commitment to pressing legislative priorities like, uh… boosting MSMEs, giving away house-and-lot packages, and hosting raffles for vaccinated residents. Nothing screams “Senate material” quite like turning a pandemic into a housing lottery. Who knew the cure for a national health crisis was a new condo in Las Piñas?

Villar has also supported women, children, and senior citizens. But before you start applauding, let’s not overlook the fact that “support” mainly involves making sure they have better access to the malls and subdivisions her family owns. You can see the empathy in her eyes when she realizes every new entrepreneur is a future tenant at one of their high-end retail spaces.

The Villar Business Empire: Politics Meets Property

The Villars don’t just dabble in politics—they treat it as another real estate development. What’s next? Turning the Senate into a branch of Vista Land? Perhaps she’s already eyeing the Senate floor for a future condominium project. The business empire that built a thousand homes (and shattered as many dreams of affordable housing) could really use a few more friends in Congress, and what better way to ensure that than by keeping it all in the family? Nepotism is just good business sense when you think about it.

Not only is Camille adept at playing the political game, she’s also CEO of AllValue, which is a little like saying, “Hey, let’s make sure we don’t confuse public service with personal interests—but just in case, we’ll monopolize both.” And why not? With enough Villars in office, who needs lobbyists when you can just hold a family reunion?

Political Dynasty? What Political Dynasty?

The Philippine Constitution explicitly prohibits political dynasties, but only in the same way that speed limits “prohibit” speeding: with a wink and a shrug. Section 26, Article II of the Constitution states: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Luckily for the Villars, no one ever bothered defining it in detail—an oversight they likely view as divine intervention.

Sure, critics might call it a political dynasty, but that’s just sour grapes. Why let a pesky thing like constitutional law get in the way of a family tradition? After all, what’s more Filipino than family, and what better way to support yours than by securing all the high-profile government positions?

Yesssss!!!! for Camille Villar’s Candidacy: Power, Prestige, and Precedent

On the pro side of Camille Villar’s candidacy, we have the Holy Trinity of political success: wealth, influence, and genetics. First, she’s rich. And let’s be honest, in Philippine politics, money doesn’t just talk—it campaigns, votes, and legislates. Next, she’s influential. As the daughter of former Senate President Manny Villar and current Senator Cynthia Villar, Camille doesn’t need to build connections; she was born into them. Plus, having a Villar in the Senate seems to be working well for the Senate cafeteria, which is probably enjoying some lucrative new contracts.

Her good looks don’t hurt either, and if the Philippine Senate is ever transformed into a beauty pageant (don’t rule it out), she’s a shoo-in for the top 10. Who needs political experience when you have cheekbones that could pass legislation on their own?

Noooooo!!! For Camille Villar’s Candidacy: The Voice of Dissent, If You Can Hear It

What about the naysayers? The critics will argue that Camille’s candidacy is nothing but an extension of the Villar family’s business and political empire. They’ll say her Senate bid is less about public service and more about solidifying their control over national policy. But here’s the thing: can anyone really prove that family loyalty and public interest are mutually exclusive? Just because the Villars stand to benefit financially from certain laws doesn’t mean they won’t occasionally pass a good one out of boredom.

The other argument against Camille’s candidacy is that her entry into the Senate is a blatant example of political nepotism. But since when has nepotism been a bad thing in Philippine politics? As long as the family name is synonymous with power, it’s practically a civic duty to pass it down like an heirloom.

Will She Win? Does Vista Land Build Subdivisions?

Camille Villar’s likelihood of winning is about as uncertain as sunrise. With the backing of the Marcos administration, her family’s deep pockets, and the sheer inertia of the political dynasty machine, her victory is almost guaranteed. Add to that her millennial charm, business acumen, and a healthy dose of Villar-branded charisma, and it’s clear the Senate is simply awaiting her arrival.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that Filipinos love dynasties almost as much as they love noontime shows. A Villar on the ballot is like having an old friend at your fiesta—just one who might buy your entire neighborhood and charge you rent later.

Recommendations: Because We Care

For Camille Villar: You’re doing great, sweetie. Keep holding up that family flag and waving it all the way to the Senate floor. Maybe propose legislation that involves naming a new housing complex after yourself—Villar Estates: Senate Edition.

For her political adversaries: Why bother? Unless you have a billion pesos and the ability to turn malls into votes, you might want to sit this one out. Instead, focus on building a small city or marrying into a political family. That’s your best bet.

For the Filipino baroks: Embrace the inevitable. Resistance is futile. If you’re tired of dynasties, just think of the Senate as a family-run business, which, incidentally, it already is.

So why mess with a system that works like a charm—if by ‘works,’ you mean seamlessly blending public office and private gains into one profitable venture? Public service, private interest, who’s counting? At this rate, we should just merge the Senate with the Villar Group and save everyone the trouble.