Pocholo was able to set an appointment with Paolo Villar, the son of President Manny Villar. Before 2009 ended, we knew this will come. We sat down and talked about his father’s campaign.
We left our office at around 9 am and arrived at Paolo’s office in Shaw Blvd at around 10:30. The purpose of our meeting is to introduce our team formally, to discuss who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
LLOYDLUNA with President Manny Villar
It was almost five years ago when our team got deeply involved in making a president of a country elected—too deeply yet too young to understand better the political dynamics in a highly political environment. We were technical assistants in the Office of the President of the Philippines who cascaded the president’s Strong Republic vision.
I think selling that vision to the youth made her number one in the sector at based on surveys prior to 2004 elections where she said she’s not running.
We were too young to understand however too passionate with what we were doing—motivating, inspiring, and involving the sector in a democratic process. We certainly didn’t have the power to decide nor to choose what we do but we simply love what we do and we do it by heart. Perhaps that made our team an effective political machinery that the President has had at the time.
Today is a special day. We were called to present what we can do for President Villar through his son, Paolo, 34, and very much dynamic entrepreneurs like us. And yes, we are almost on the same age bracket.
LLOYDLUNA with Paolo Villar (and my book The Obvious)
But this is just a very small step to coming back to what was once our passion in politics and governance. We’re just exploring some possibilities of working together. Not bad for our team, which has been constantly connected with the youth.
But we appeared because we believe in something. This time though, we were no longer the kids who just loved what they do. We are grown ups who are thinking deeper and certainly now standing on our own, can’t be dictated upon by bosses. We own our own businesses and we’re able to make not just a company but brands that people love and support.
I wasn’t surprise when I saw Paolo in a polo shirt (just like what I was wearing) although a friend of mine said he was expecting him to be in a long sleeves, coat, and tie. Well, it really doesn’t matter. My experiences with “the rich and powerful” in the past showed me that most of them really dress up so simply that you can’t recognize who they are.
LLOYDLUNA and Paolo Villar: Be the Best you Can "V"
We sat down. I did the introduction of the team using a Keynote (Mac only) that I only did before we left the office. Pocholo asked me to prepare something at around 8 a.m. and it’s a miracle coming up with a 12-slide comprehensive presentation.
The introduction was very light and we had laughs in between points and slides. I hate boring presentations so every time I have the time and opportunity to break the ice, I really break it. So I did this morning.
Paolo is a bright thinker. He’s logical and analytic, too. I’d add that he’s humble, open, and pretty much cool. If he doesn’t know, he wouldn’t pretend he knows. He asks questions and he makes sure that he knows where people are coming from. He know what he’s saying and knows exactly what he wants from you. He’s in it.
That’s exactly the kind of guy we’d love to work with. We pretty much share the same wavelength (I hope I’m right) although his string is way, way longer than any of us in the room. But he precise and focus.
The meeting lasted for an hour or so. And I’m sure we’re able to present what we can offer to him (and his assistant Brian Edang, who is very kind and accommodating, too!).
Then Jing Serrano came in. She joined our meeting. When I gave her my card, I was surprised when she said, “Lloyd Luna? I’m one of your newsletter subscribers.” And then we continued our discussion.
After the meeting, Jing gave us a very, very good news. President Villar is in Starbucks. She asked us if we want to have a photo with him. So we said, “Of course.”
We went back to Conference Room B, got our bags, and pause for lunch and then coffee before we headed back to our office for a supposed meeting with aspiring senator Gilbert Remulla. Due to some valid reason, our meeting with Gilbert was reset for tomorrow morning in a breakfast.
On the side: Got a call from an American company, his name is Judah and he set a meeting with me regarding a survey thing. He was looking for Political Consultant in the Philippines and I think my website ranked first or at least in the front page of Google that’s why he got my number. That’s another meeting for tomorrow.
So this is it. We’ve finished our proposal and sent it to Paolo for his reference.
How lucky are you see my favorite candidate for President. Manny Villar is the best leader that we can have now. If Villar will win I believe to him that he can do a lot more to our country.