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"Naging Mahirap" (lit. 'Became Poor'), also referred to by its opening line "Nakaligo Ka Na Ba sa Dagat ng Basura", is a Filipino-language campaign jingle of Senator Manny Villar's campaign for the 2010 Philippine presidential election. Written by Merlee Jayme, the jingle was released with its accompanying television advertisement in late 2009, sung by the Baseco Kids. Jayme cited Villar's speech at the Manila Overseas Press Club on October 29, 2009 as the primary inspiration for the lyrics of the song, which emphasizes the impoverished background of the presidential candidate. It was later sung by Sarah Geronimo in February 2010 upon her endorsement of Villar at the launching of the political youth group Katropa, established by Villar's daughter Camille.

Upon its release, "Naging Mahirap" became highly popular among Filipino citizens, especially among the youth. It also attracted criticism for its allegedly inaccurate portrayal of his early life in Tondo, Manila. In a February 2010 press release, Villar expressed surprise at people doubting the song's accuracy, explaining that the first two lines come from actual events in his life and stating that people do not truly comprehend what it means to be poor, adding that the point of the song is to question whether the other presidential candidates experienced poverty as some of them claimed. By April, however, journalist Howie Severino and GMA News TV investigated the poverty claims of Villar through interviews and archival research, and concluded that he was from a middle-class family. A Facebook page against Villar parodied the song with its page name, "sige MANNY VILLAR ikaw na ang MAHIRAP..." (transl. Okay Manny Villar you are the poor one...); by May 2010, the page had amassed over 120,000 members.

In 2019, Villar became the richest person in the Philippines, mainly due to valuation of the mainly illiquid publicly-listed stock of one of his companies, "Golden MV Holdings, Inc." (PSE:HVN)

Notes

1. English: "Have You Ever Bathed in a Sea of Garbage"

See also

• Manny Villar 2010 presidential campaign

References

1. Mejia, Gab (October 18, 2019). "Environmentalism is a right, not a privilege". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Corp. Retrieved October 8, 2020. ... Manuel 'Manny' Villar, who ran for president in 2010 with his infamous political jingle: 'Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?'
2. ^ Pe, Roger (April 9, 2010). "Which political ad lines strike you the most?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Group of Companies. p. B2-1. Retrieved October 8, 2020. Kids are singing Manny Villar's anthem song, "Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura" with gusto and, alas, surprisingly remembering the lyrics.
3. ^ Gabinete, Jojo (January 3, 2010). "Mayor Lim, winalang-hiya ng aktor" [Mayor Lim, shameless-ed by an actor]. Abante Online (in Filipino). Monica Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Si Merlee ang composer ng Naging Mahirap, ang popular Senator Manny Villar song na paboritong kantahin ngayon ng mga bata.
4. "ELECTION WATCH: Nacionalista Party goes back to Vitas, Tondo, where they started campaign". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. May 8, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2020. Ang Baseco Kids ay ang mga batang lumabas sa kanyang dalawang campaign commercials.
5. "Editorial: The candidates, in their own words". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Corp. November 5, 2009. p. A4. Retrieved October 8, 2020. In his October 29 speech before the Manila Overseas Press Club, the Nacionalista Party president said his life changed... as a poor man from Tondo.
6. ABS-CBN News (February 7, 2010). "Sarah Geronimo endorses Manny Villar". ABS-CBN News. Manila, Philippines: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
7. Lapeña, Carmela G. (February 3, 2010). "Politicians power up with jingles". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved October 8, 2020. If the next Philippine president were chosen based on the strength of his campaign jingle's Last Song Syndrome infiltration, Villar would be the undisputed winner.
8. "Manny's Nanay Curing knows best". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. April 25, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2020. Manny used to swim in the floodwaters. Nanay Curing might not be aware of it, but that episode in Manny's life now serves as the backdrop of her son's immensely popular campaign jingle...
9. Sisante, Jam; Dedace, Sophie (May 10, 2010). "First nationwide automated polls to test RP democracy". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved October 8, 2020. For months, "Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?" was the question on everyone's minds, thanks to Villar's ubiquitous political ads depicting his supposed rise from poverty
10. Esposo, William M. (February 7, 2010). "Was Manny Villar really ever poor?". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
11. Dacanay, Barbara Mae (May 5, 2010). "Villar now the villain as song goes wrong". Gulf News. Manila: GN Media. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
12. "Villar: Ad jingle from the heart". Senate of the Philippines. February 13, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
13. Severino, Howie; Faustino, Pia (April 24, 2010). "Villar's Tondo roots were 'definitely middle class'". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
14. De Asis, Camille; Lim, Ivan; Tare, Mark; Poe, Angela (May 17, 2010). "Joke the vote, pun the bets". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved October 8, 2020. On Facebook, fan pages poked fun at the presidential candidates. One of the most popular was the anti-Villar fan page called 'Sige MANNY VILLAR ikaw na ang MAHIRAP.' It has enrolled 126,082 members.
15. ABS-CBN News (March 5, 2019). "Manny Villar is now PH's richest man". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved October 11, 2020. Villar has a net worth of $5.5 billion, up from last year's $5 billion, and ranked 317th worldwide...

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