OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar The assassination of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former Prime Minister, was a shock to all of us. His death was horrific not only because of its suddenness and the fact that it was caught on video but also because Abe was a dear friend to the...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar On a gloomy day, noon of June 30, 2022, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. became president of the Republic of the Philippines. In simple but refined ceremonies, Bongbong Marcos took his oath of office before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar The Philippine Vice President has traditionally been viewed as a mere backup, a spare tire, to the President. Unlike in the United States where the VP serves as the president of the Senate and presides over the Senate's daily proceedings, the...
Senator Sonny Angara said he is leaving it up to the upcoming members of the majority to decide who would be the next Senate leader, but is vouching for Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri to be the next Senate president. Angara issued the statement in an interview saying that...
Former Senate President Manny Villar OF TREES AND FOREST Today, June 15, is the birthday of my friend, the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. She would have been 77 years old and I imagine still as feisty and loving as I remember her. In my mind, Miriam occupies a place in the pantheon of great...
Outgoing Senate President Vicente C. Sotto on Monday, June 13 said Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is the best choice to be the next Senate President in the coming 19th Congress. Sotto cited Zubiri’s long experience as Majority Floor Leader and has learned the ropes from his closeness to...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar I spent all my years as a public servant in the legislature. From 1992 to 2001, I represented Las Piñas in the House of Representatives where I was fortunate enough to be chosen as Speaker by my peers. Then from 2001 to 2013, I served as...
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, June 5 said he is confident that Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri is already sure to be the next Senate President when the 19th Congress opens in July 25. As far as he is concerned, Gatchalian said Zubiri already has secured majority of the...
Senator Cynthia A. Villar is no longer interested in the race for the presidency in the 24-member Senate in the upcoming 19th Congress. "Ayaw ko na . I want a simple life," Villar told reporters today (June 1) after her rival Majority Leader Juan Miguel ‘’Migz’’ Zubiri, 53, rejected a...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Congress, the body Constitutionally mandated to canvass the votes for President and Vice President, has officially proclaimed Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte as the victors of the recently concluded May 2022 national elections. The...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar The votes that have been reflected in the COMELEC Transparency Servers and reported in real time by various media outfits and citizen watchdogs seem to show one thing—a landslide victory for the tandem of former Senator Ferdinand...
So. who will be the Senate President in the forthcoming 19th Congress? There are still no clues on who will replace outgoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III, chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Sotto lost in the May 9, 2022 vice presidential race. By June 30, he will have...
