30 Facts About Joel Villanueva

Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva, nicknamed "Tesdaman", is a Filipino politician who previously served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2022 to 2024 and has been a Senator since 2016.

Joel Villanueva previously served as the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority from 2010 to 2015 in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Joel Villanueva started his political career in the House of Representatives, representing CIBAC party-list from 2002 to 2010; at the age of 26, he was the youngest member of the House when he assumed office.

Joel Villanueva is a son of evangelist and politician Bro.

Joel Villanueva played for the Philippine national team and the University of Santo Tomas.

Joel Villanueva was born on August 2,1975, in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Joel Villanueva is the second of four children of the Philippine Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva and Adoracion "Dory" Jose-Villanueva.

Joel Villanueva attended the University of Santo Tomas where he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree, with a Major in Economics.

Joel Villanueva attended Harvard University in the United States for a Master in Business Administration from 1996 to 1998.

Joel Villanueva was part of the Philippines national basketball team that competed in international basketball competitions such as the inaugural 1994 SEABA Championship.

Joel Villanueva returned to competitive basketball in 2013, playing for the Congress-LGU Legislators in the UNTV Cup.

Joel Villanueva was part of the Defenders' championship team that won the UNTV Cup Season 6 in 2018.

Joel Villanueva was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives in 2001 as a party-list representative of the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption.

At age 26, Joel Villanueva took his oath of office in February 2002, becoming the youngest member of the House of Representatives.

Joel Villanueva was a member of the 12th, 13th, and 14th Congresses spanning 2001 through 2010.

Joel Villanueva was among the principal sponsors of Republic Act No 9485.

Joel Villanueva was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as TESDA chief in 2010.

Joel Villanueva himself played as part of the basketball exhibition team, named "Team Trabaho".

Joel Villanueva's resignation became effective on October 13,2015, and President Benigno Aquino III named TESDA deputy director general Irene Isaac as his successor.

Joel Villanueva ran for senator under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid in the 2016 senatorial elections.

Joel Villanueva was a shared candidate in the 10-member senatorial slate of the late presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Joel Villanueva filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections on October 16,2015.

Joel Villanueva unexpectedly won the Senate race, landing in second place with 18,459,222 votes.

Joel Villanueva was successful, landing in the 9th place with 18,539,537 votes.

Joel Villanueva was later named Senate Majority Leader at the opening of the 19th Congress.

Joel Villanueva questioned the budget cut and treatment made by the House committee on the OVP.

Joel Villanueva cited some "inconsistency" and encourage that the committee must continue tradition of implementing the rules regardless of the officials involved.

Joel Villanueva was given the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi for Public Service Award by the Bulacan provincial government on September 15,2012.

Joel Villanueva was granted an Honoris Causa degree of Doctor of Humanities by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines on May 10,2013.

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