MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar has rejected claims that her family is a political dynasty particularly in Las Piñas City, calling it instead a legacy of her late father, former Mayor Filemon Aguilar.
In an ambush interview on Monday, after she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) as representative of Las Piñas’ lone legislative district, Villar was asked about accusations from possible opponents that her family is a dynasty.
“Hindi naman kami [dynasty]. Family kami but it has been done [by] my father since 1963, pinamana niya sa amin ang mahal naming Las Piñas, and I thought it’s for the memory of my father who really loved Las Piñas when he was alive,” Villar said.
(We’re not a dynasty. We’re a family but it has been done by my father since 1963, he passed on to us our beloved Las Piñas, and I thought it was for the memory of my father who really loved Las Piñas when he was alive.)
“He really loved Las Piñas, napaka-bait at hardworking, and my mom is really the one working to support him because he cannot just support us as a mayor because he’s a very honest mayor […] legacy, talagang pinamana niya eh,” she added.
(He really loved Las Piñas, he was so kind and hardworking, and my mom was the one working to support him because he cannot just support us as a mayor because he’s a very honest mayor […] it’s really a legacy, he really passed it on to us.)
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When asked about criticism from her possible opponents who also filed their COCs for the lone district of Las Piñas, Villar said it was okay.
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“Okay lang ‘yon. Hindi ko nga sila kilala eh (That’s okay, I don’t even know them),” she said.
As of this writing, three others have also filed their COC for Las Piñas’ congressional seat — professor Luisito Redoble, incumbent Councilor Mark Anthony Santos, and 28-year-old senior high school teacher John Barry Tayam.
All three have suggested that new names be elected into the congressional seat. Tayam in particular said that young people have to step up as the country’s politicians are getting older.
“I think this is for the youth too. I will represent the Gen-Z because they say the youth are just criticizing people. It’s true that rants do not do anything,” Tayam said in a previous interview.
“So I think someone from the younger generation has to step up. Because we are the future leaders. New age, new leaders,” he added.
Aside from the Aguilars running in local politics, the Villars have been prominent figures in the national scene. Villar’s children are Deputy Speaker Camille Villar who is running for senator in 2025 and incumbent Senator Mark Villar.
There is a growing call on social media for voters to choose new faces in the Senate and other elective posts as recent surveys, like one from Pulse Asia, indicated that old names would be in the Magic 12 if elections were held in September.
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