Joel Villanueva

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisJoseand the surname or paternal family name isVillanueva.

Joel Villanueva
Villanueva in 2015
Senate Majority Leader
In office July 25, 2022 – May 20, 2024
Deputy	JV Ejercito Mark Villar
Preceded by	Migz Zubiri
Succeeded by	Francis Tolentino
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2016
Chair of theSenate Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Committee
In office July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Francis Escudero
Succeeded by	Francis Escudero
Chair of theSenate Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development Committee
In office July 25, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Jinggoy Estrada
Succeeded by	Jinggoy Estrada
Chair of theSenate Youth Committee
In office July 25, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Bam Aquino
Succeeded by	Sonny Angara
Director Generalof theTechnical Education and Skills Development Authority
In office June 30, 2010 – October 13, 2015
President	Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by	Augusto Syjuco, Jr.
Succeeded by	Irene Isaac
Member of thePhilippine House of RepresentativesforCitizens' Battle Against Corruption
In office February 6, 2002 – June 30, 2010 Serving with Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales(2007–2010)
Succeeded by	Sherwin Tugna
Personal details
Born	Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva (1975-08-02)August 2, 1975 Bocaue, Bulacan,Philippines
Political party	Independent(2021–present)
Other political affiliations	Liberal(2013–2019) Bangon(2004–2013) CIBAC(2001–2021)
Spouse	Gladys Cruz
Children	2
Parent(s)	Eddie Villanueva Adoracion Villanueva
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas(BS) Harvard University(MBA)
Website	Official website
Basketball career
Career information
College	UST
Career history
2013	Congress-LGU Legislators
c. 2014	Malacañang Patriots
2016-present	Senate Defenders
Career highlights and awards
UNTV CupSeason 6champion UAAP champion(1994)

Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva(/vɪljɑːnuːwɛbɑː/,born August 2, 1975), nicknamed "Tesdaman",is a Filipino politician who previously served as theSenate Majority Leaderfrom 2022 to 2024 and has been aSenatorsince 2016. He previously served as the Director General of theTechnical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA) from 2010 to 2015 in theadministrationof PresidentBenigno Aquino III.He started his political career in theHouse of Representatives,representingCIBACparty-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 ofJesus Is Lord Church Worldwide.

Villanueva is also abasketballplayer currently playing for the Senate Defenders in theUNTV Cup.He also played for thePhilippine national teamand theUniversity of Santo Tomas.

Early life

Joel Villanueva was born on August 2, 1975, inBocaue,Bulacan.He is the second of four children of thePhilippineChristian evangelistEddie Villanuevaand Adoracion "Dory" Jose-Villanueva.He attended theUniversity of Santo Tomaswhere he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree, with a Major in Economics. He attendedHarvard Universityin the United States for aMaster in Business Administrationfrom 1996 to 1998.

Career

Sports

While he was a student of the University of Santo Tomas, Villanueva played with theUST Growling Tigersvarsity basketball team, that won theUAAP Season 56and57of 1994–1995.Villanueva was part of thePhilippines national basketball teamthat competed in international basketball competitionssuch as the inaugural 1994SEABA Championship(coached byVirgil Villavicencio).

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

Politics

CIBAC

Villanueva was elected to the PhilippineHouse of Representativesin 2001 as aparty-list representativeof theCitizens' Battle Against Corruption(CIBAC).However, his oath-taking was stalled for seven months following issues that CIBAC was an extension of theJesus 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).

Villanueva was a member of the12th,13th,and14th Congressesspanning 2001 through 2010. At the 12th Congress, he became the first party-list representative, minority leader of the House'sCommission 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).In the 13th Congress, he served as a deputy minority leader in the House.

TESDA

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

He was appointed by PresidentBenigno Aquino IIIas TESDA chief in 2010.Upon assuming his post as head of TESDA, Villanueva initiated an audit of the agency stemming from a₱2.4 billionsponsorship debt related to undocumented TESDA scholarships. The audit reduced the agency's debt to₱880 millionafter eliminating "ghost schools" and "ghost scholars".

As TESDA chief, he initiated the "Shoot for your Dream" series, an aspirational program which involved exhibition games featuringPhilippine Basketball Associationlegends.Villanueva himself played as part of the basketball exhibition team, named "Team Trabaho".

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

While in office as Director General ofTESDA,he completed an extensive vocational course in Advanced Food and Beverage Services within the agency for training as abarista.

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

Senate

Villanueva ran for senator under theKoalisyon ng Daang Matuwidin the2016 senatorial elections.He was also a shared candidate in the 10-member senatorial slate of the late presidential candidateMiriam Defensor Santiago.He filed his certificate of candidacy at theCommission on Electionson October 16, 2015.He unexpectedly won the Senate race, landing in second place with 18,459,222 votes.

Campaigning under the moniker "TESDA Man"(alternatively spelled asTESDAMAN) 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 forTrabaho, Edukasyon, Serbisyo, Dignidad and Asenso(Employment, Education, Service, Dignity and Progress).

On November 14, 2016, OmbudsmanConchita Carpio Moralesordered Villanueva's dismissal from public service for "grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service" over alleged misuse of hisPriority Development Assistance Fundduring his tenure as a congressman. Villanueva alleged that the incriminating documents were forged.Senate PresidentAquilino Pimentel IIIwas directed by the Ombudsman to implement the order imposed against Villanueva.

Villanueva ran for re-election in the2022 senatorial elections.Running as an independent candidate, he was named as a guest candidate of theLacson–Sotto,MP3 Alliance,andTRoPaslates.He was successful, landing in the 9th place with 18,539,537 votes. He was later namedSenate Majority Leaderat the opening of the19th Congress.

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. He was granted anHonoris Causadegree of Doctor of Humanities by thePolytechnic University of the Philippineson May 10, 2013.

Villanueva has two children, Jaden and Gwyn.As a basketball enthusiast, Villanueva is reportedly a fan of theBoston Celticsof theNational Basketball Association.

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

External links

• Official website