by Margaret Anjelie P. Llorico
“YOUR circumstances today will not determine what is possible tomorrow,” former senator and Vista Land founder Manny Villar said to the 940 graduates of University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), relating what he considers to be an important life lesson he has learned.
The former Senate President and Speaker of the House was the commencement speaker during the 39th Commencement Exercises on June 22 at UPV’s main campus in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Amidst thousands of guests and graduates, Villar shared an inspirational talk filled with personal experiences, talked about the influence of his Alma Mater, and encouraged the graduates to “dream big”.
Courage in Trying Time
Villar recalled the struggles he faced before getting where he is right now. He retold how his “world was limited to Tondo and Divisoria” as he started working at a young age by helping his mother sell shrimp and fish at the market. Sometimes it would require him to wake up as early as one in the morning.
“Naaalala ko din noon na ang palagi kong baon ay dalawang piraso ng pandesal na may palamang mantikilya na may halong asukal,” he shared upon reminiscing his school days.
He reminisced how he wasn’t able to attend their Junior-Senior Prom in high school because they couldn’t afford to buy a barong tagalog.
Despite the trying times, Villar said, “I never pitied myself. I was a simple student but I was proud.”
He added, “Even at a young age, I would tell myself that with hard work and persistence, I can make my life, and that of my family, better. This was what my mother taught me, which was reinforced by the UP brand of education.”
Long and Lasting Impacts
As an alumnus of UP himself, Villar also shared how his Alma Mater had influenced his success.
Upon spending his college years in UP Diliman, Villar admired the vastness of the campus and the greeneries that surrounded him every day.
The campus’ ambiance and green scenery played a huge part in his business. He said, “Believe it or not, when I started building Camella Homes, I insisted that all communities must have lots of trees and sufficient greeneries. Looking back, that was the very first time I truly appreciated the beauty of the environment.”
Aside from UP’s impact on Villar’s success as an entrepreneur, the University also played a huge part on him pursuing a career in politics.
He said, “When I was growing up, my dreams were simple: A better life, a bright future. But it was not big. I had no interest in politics and government… That all changed when I entered UP in 1966. The years I spent in UP was a turning point in my life as it gave me the opportunity to dream big.”
He further stated, “Sure, I still wanted to give my family a better life but I realized that as I work on this I can also fight for better lives for my neighbors, my community, my country.”
Be Entrepreneurs
“Many graduates complain that it is difficult to get a job these days despite having a diploma. The solution is to create your own job and create job for others. Be an entrepreneur,” Villar addressed a common dilemma of fresh graduates.
Being the chairman of the board of Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., he noted how millennials are a perfect fit to the entrepreneurial world.
“Entrepreneurs are individuals who possess innovative and creative minds. They are hardworking, optimistic, independent, and achievement-oriented. They have vision and capability to create new ventures… I know it because I work with a lot of millennials.”
Villar further emphasized to the graduates that one’s dream gets bigger when it involves the betterment of the lives of others.
Success, he defined, “is when you help build something from the ground up with your blood, sweat, and tears. When you can put up something that can provide you profit, give other people jobs, and help in building our nation.”
The new graduates of UPV get to hear the words of encouragement coming from a man whose resiliency paved the way for his life to change.
Villar encourages the new graduates, “Embrace challenges and erase the idea of giving up in your DNA.”/PN
