How did Manny Villar get the break to grow rich?

Answer 1

It seems Manny Villar may have allowed himself to be the dummy of an American investor. You see, conducting real estate business in the Philippines is lawfully exclusive to Filipino citizens only, necessarily because such business affects matters of territory, patrimony, and national security. That debonaire American used to be smilingly visible at the offices of Crown Asia, Inc., on the 14th floor of Cityland Herrera Tower, every day. When Manny Villar's political career became established, visibility for the American investor may have become zero, to avoid controversy especially from the Guingona camp which was instrumental in passing the law limiting Philippine real estate business to Filipinos.