Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. has been selling the public his formula for success over the past few months. He says that the future of the nation is hinged on “two things: hardwork and perseverance.”

And he does have these two things indeed, judging from the billion-peso empire he’s created in real estate.

That being said, Villar lacks two other things that might come in handy when you’re a president: big brass balls.

If you’ve been following the news lately, you may have heard of this thing called a Constituent Assembly that the House of Representatives wants to convene.

The aim, depending on which House leader is speaking, is to relax economic provisions that discourage foreign investment or to shift to a parliamentary system.

Also, some critics say,  to extend Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term in office.

This move has been widely opposed, especially in the Senate, which the House wants to bypass for the Con-Ass. Senators have passed two resolutions condemning the move and the halls of the upper house have been ringing with Anti Con-Ass rhetoric for weeks.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II, for example, has been giving away garlic against the “Con-Asswang.” Sen. Pilar Juliana Cayetano has threatened to boycott the joint session of Congress for the State of the Nation Adress in July. Even Senators Richard Gordon and Ramon Revilla,Jr., friends of Malacanang, have pledged to oppose Con-Ass.

Meanwhile, Villar had this to say while on vacation in Baguio:

“Charter change advocates still have enough time by our calculations and create a parliament… I will then run for Congress in Las Piñas so I may run for prime minister.”

"President? Prime Minister? Who Cares?"

Way to be a team player, guy.