Senator-elect Mark Villar on Wednesday, May 18, urged the Filipino people to unite so that the country can move forward as one nation while facing various challenges, including the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Villar was proclaimed at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City as one of the 12 winning senators following the recently concluded national elections.
He is the sixth ranked candidate after obtaining 19,475,592 votes.
“Tapos na po ang eleksyon. Nanawagan po ako sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na lahat po tayo ay magkaisa, magsama-sama, magkapit bisig para sa ating bansa (The elections are concluded. I call on our citizenry to unite for our country),” he said in his speech.
The former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also vowed to bring to the Senate his brand of leadership in his previous Cabinet post.
“Natamaan na tayo ng pandemya (We were hit by the pandemic). Now is the time for us to really be unified, work together as one, and make sure that we ‘build, build, build’ the country and the Filipinos,” said Villar, apparently referring to the Duterte administration’s flagship infrastructure program which he used to lead prior to running for senator.
Villar was accompanied by his mother and soon-to-be colleague, Senator Cynthia Villar, father and former Senate President Manny Villar, wife Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, and daughter Emma.