The Honorable
Joel Villanueva
Official portrait, 2022
Senate Majority Leader
Assumed office
July 25, 2022
Preceded byJuan Miguel Zubiri
Senator of the Philippines
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
Chair of the Senate Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Committee
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byFrancis Escudero
Succeeded byFrancis Escudero
Chair of the Senate Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byJinggoy Estrada
Succeeded byJinggoy Estrada
Chair of the Senate Youth Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Preceded byBam Aquino
Succeeded bySonny Angara
Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
In office
June 30, 2010 – October 13, 2015
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byAugusto Syjuco, Jr.
Succeeded byIrene Isaac
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Citizens' Battle Against Corruption
In office
February 6, 2002 – June 30, 2010
Serving with Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales (2007–2010)
Succeeded bySherwin Tugna
Personal details
Born
Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva

(1975-08-02) August 2, 1975
Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines
Political partyIndependent (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (2013–2019)
Bangon (2004–2013)
CIBAC (2001–2021)
SpouseGladys Cruz
Children2
Parent(s)Eddie Villanueva
Adoracion Villanueva
Alma materUniversity of Santo Tomas (BS)
Harvard University (MBA)
WebsiteOfficial website
Basketball career
Career information
CollegeUniversity of Santo Tomas
Career history
2013Congress-LGU Legislators
c. 2014Malacañang Patriots
2016-presentSenate Defenders
Career highlights and awards

Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva[1] (/vɪljɑːnuːwɛbɑː/, born August 2, 1975), nicknamed "Tesdaman",[2] is a Filipino politician serving as the Senate Majority Leader since 2022 and has been a Senator since 2016. He previously served as the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from 2010 to 2015 in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. He started his political career in the House of Representatives, representing CIBAC party-list from 2002 to 2010; he was the youngest member of the House when he assumed office, aged 26. He is a son of evangelist and politician Bro. Eddie Villanueva, founder of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide.

Villanueva is also a basketball player currently playing for the Senate Defenders in the UNTV Cup. He also played for the Philippine national team and the University of Santo Tomas.

Early life

Joel Villanueva was born on August 2, 1975, in Bocaue, Bulacan. He is the second of four children of the Philippine Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva and Adoracion "Dory" Jose-Villanueva.[3] He attended the University of Santo Tomas where he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree, with a Major in Economics. He attended Harvard University in the United States for a Master in Business Administration from 1996 to 1998.[4]

Career

Sports

While he was a student of the University of Santo Tomas, Villanueva played with the UST Growling Tigers varsity basketball team, that won the UAAP Season 56 and 57 of 1994–1995.[5] Villanueva was part of the Philippines national basketball team that competed in international basketball competitions[6] such as the inaugural 1994 SEABA Championship (coached by Virgil Villavicencio).[7]

He returned to competitive basketball in 2013, playing for the Congress-LGU Legislators in the UNTV Cup. In 2014, he played for the Malacañang Patriots.[8] After winning a Senate seat, Villanueva joined the Senate Defenders basketball team, in preparations for the opening of Season 5 of the UNTV Cup.[9] He was part of the Defenders' championship team that won the UNTV Cup Season 6 in 2018.

Politics

CIBAC

Villanueva was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives in 2001 as a party-list representative of the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC).[10] However, his oath-taking was stalled for seven months following issues that CIBAC was an extension of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide, a Christian church founded by his father, Eddie Villanueva. At age 26, Villanueva took his oath of office in February 2002, becoming the youngest member of the House of Representatives (a distinction previously held by Felix William Fuentebella).[11]

Villanueva was a member of the 12th, 13th, and 14th Congresses spanning 2001 through 2010. At the 12th Congress, he became the first party-list representative, minority leader of the House's Commission on Appointments, and assistant majority leader in the House. He was also among the principal sponsors of Republic Act No. 9485 (the Anti Red-Tape Law of 2007). [10] In the 13th Congress, he served as a deputy minority leader in the House.[12][13]

TESDA

Villanueva playing for Team Trabaho as part of his "Shoot for your Dream" program.

He was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as TESDA chief in 2010.[6] Upon assuming his post as head of TESDA, Villanueva initiated an audit of the agency stemming from a ₱2.4 billion sponsorship debt related to undocumented TESDA scholarships. The audit reduced the agency's debt to ₱880 million after eliminating "ghost schools" and "ghost scholars".[14]

As TESDA chief, he initiated the "Shoot for your Dream" series, an aspirational program which involved exhibition games featuring Philippine Basketball Association legends.[5] Villanueva himself played as part of the basketball exhibition team, named "Team Trabaho".[6]

Under his watch, TESDA's central office, as well as 17 regional offices and 81 provincial offices, were granted ISO certifications. Among these certifications included the office at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the first TESDA office to receive such a certification in Mindanao.[15]

While in office as Director General of TESDA, he completed an extensive vocational course in Advanced Food and Beverage Services within the agency for training as a barista.[10]

Prior to launching a senatorial bid, he tendered his resignation from the post on October 9, 2015.[16] His resignation became effective on October 13, 2015, and President Benigno Aquino III named TESDA deputy director general Irene Isaac as his successor.[17]

Senate

Villanueva ran for senator under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid in the 2016 senatorial elections. He was also a shared candidate in the 10-member senatorial slate of the late presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago.[18] He filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections on October 16, 2015.[19] He unexpectedly won the Senate race, landing in second place with 18,459,222 votes.

Campaigning under the moniker "TESDA Man"[20] (alternatively spelled as TESDAMAN) alluding to his previous experience as head of TESDA, Villanueva's platform is focused on employment. His platform is likewise abbreviated into TESDA – which stands for Trabaho, Edukasyon, Serbisyo, Dignidad and Asenso (Employment, Education, Service, Dignity and Progress).[21]

On November 14, 2016, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered Villanueva's dismissal from public service for "grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service" over alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund during his tenure as a congressman. Villanueva alleged that the incriminating documents were forged.[22] Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III was directed by the Ombudsman to implement the order imposed against Villanueva.[23]

Villanueva ran for re-election in the 2022 senatorial elections. Running as an independent candidate, he was named as a guest candidate of the Lacson–Sotto, MP3 Alliance, and TRoPa slates.[24] He was successful, landing in the 9th place with 18,539,537 votes. He was later named Senate Majority Leader at the opening of the 19th Congress.[12][13]

Personal life

He was given the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi for Public Service Award by the Bulacan provincial government on September 15, 2012. The Development Executive Group (DevEx) an organization based in the United States gave him the DEVEX Manila 40 Under 40 International Development Leaders Award on February 19, 2013. A former student of the University of Santo Tomas, he was named as Most Outstanding Alumni Award by the university.[4] He was granted an Honoris Causa degree of Doctor of Humanities by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines on May 10, 2013.[10]

Villanueva has two children, Jaden and Gwyn.[6] As a basketball enthusiast, Villanueva is reportedly a fan of the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association.[14]

Villanueva formerly hosted the television program, Adyenda, and leads the Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan Movement, a youth organization.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Adel, Rosette (February 16, 2016). "LIST: Official candidates for national posts in May 9 polls". Philippine Star.
  2. ↑ "'Tesdaman' Villanueva gets People of the Year award". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 5, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Who is Bro. Eddie Villanueva?". Bro. Eddie Villanueva. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Profile". Joel Villanueva Official Website. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Caluag, Randy (August 13, 2015). "Team Trabaho a hit among Filipino youth". The Standard. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Shooting for Joel 'Tesdaman' Villanueva's dreams". The Standard. February 12, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  7. ↑ Henson, Joaquin (May 18, 2017). "Coach recalls beating Pinoys". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Malacañang, PNP eye lead". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 12, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  9. ↑ "VILLANUEVA JOINS SENATE DEFENDERS". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Director General's Profile". TESDA. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  11. ↑ Labog-Javellena, Juliet (February 7, 2002). "New Solon takes office with much fanfare". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Bacelonia, Wilnard (July 25, 2022). "Villanueva to lead Senate majority; Pimentel for minority". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Sen. Joel Villanueva's Acceptance Speech as Senate Majority Leader". Senate of the Philippines (Press release). July 25, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Love for basketball unites Dato Arroyo, Joel Villanueva". ABS-CBN News. July 26, 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  15. ↑ Chu, Patricia Denise (April 13, 2015). "Aquino lionizes Joel Villanueva in speech marking TESDA's ISO certification". GMA News.
  16. ↑ Alvarez, Kathrina Charmaine (October 9, 2015). "TESDA chief Joel Villanueva resigns ahead of 2016 senatorial run". GMA News. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  17. ↑ Bacani, Louis (October 15, 2015). "PNoy accepts Villanueva's resignation, names new TESDA head". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (February 13, 2016). "Shared candidates comprise Santiago-Marcos Senate slate". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  19. ↑ Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (October 16, 2015). "Ex-Tesda chief Villanueva 'applies' for Senate job, willing to campaign with De Lima". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Joel Villanueva adopts 'TESDA Man' nickname, says, 'TESDA owes me for promotions'". Coconuts Manila. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  21. ↑ "'TESDAMAN' Villanueva: Boost workforce training through budget reforms". Manila Bulletin. February 29, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Sen. Villanueva ordered dismissed from public service over 'pork'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Ombudsman: Senator Joel Villanueva liable for P10M PDAF scam". Ombudsman of the Philippines. November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Villanueva admits initial dilemma in joining campaign sorties of rival parties". CNN Philippines. February 24, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
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