Manny Villar was born in Moriones, Tondo, Manila. His father, Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., a government employee, and his mother Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer. He attended the University of the Philippines where he obtained his undergraduate and master's degree in business administration and accountancy. After graduation, he tried his hand as an accountant at the country's biggest accounting firm, Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co). He resigned shortly though to venture on his own seafood delivery business.

He made his political debut in 1992 where he won with the most overwhelming mandate among congressmen in Metro Manila. In 1995, Manny Villar ran for re-election and won an unprecedented 142,000 votes, the highest number of votes for a congressman in the entire country. During his second term, he was able to upgrade the Las PiÑas District Hospital with a new building and better facilities. In the national elections held last May 14, 2001, despite being a relative newcomer in national politics, Manny Villar posted one of the most impressive showings in the national polls on to becoming a Senator for the Republic of the Philippines.

"The main trust of our platform is emancipating the people from poverty and injustice. Self reliant and sustainable economic development program shall be pursued by implementing agrarian reform, increasing agriculture productivity and developing domestic industries. The problems of environmental destruction, climate change, and recurring calamities shall be comprehensively addressed. High priority shall be given to education, health, housing and other basic social services."

"Agriculture first. The rational of his campaign is his thrust to fight for the poor and solve injustice and create an atmosphere of self-reliance.

"On the rights of the working people", the Nationalista Party Platform says "government should provide for a stimulus package to immediately address the need of laborers and employees for a just and decent wage."

Topmost in Villar's presidential platform is the eradication of poverty in the Philippines. "Providing a lasting solution is a vow that I intend to keep. I want to end to the vicious cycle of the poor Filipinos getting poorer."