Mark and Em Villar: A story of faith, strength, love—and lupus
On the afternoon of May 27 at SM Aura, the Hope for Lupus exhibit opened not just its panels but a portal into the world of courage, chronic illness, and quiet love. As the exhibit drew curious passersby, supporters, and medical experts, its founder, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, stood calmly, composed and, in a rare moment, emotional.
“I thank my husband Mark,” she said with a warm glance at the man before her. “For everything he has been in my life. For the strength, the peace, and the unwavering support.”
It was a sincere and soft-spoken confession from someone who does not often dwell on the personal in public. Yet, in that moment, it was clear: This was a lived story—a love story shadowed by lupus but brightened by faith, knowledge, and something remarkably ordinary: dependable love.
“No reason to be scared of it. Understanding it helps you live a happy, normal life. It’s not a death sentence,” spoke Senator Mark Villar.
The great imitator
Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease often called “the great imitator”—its symptoms mimic many other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. For Em, as she is fondly called, the journey to diagnosis was years in the making. Her driven nature, shaped by a childhood with an autistic sister, made her resilient but also accustomed to putting others first and soldiering on. She excelled in school, entered law school with clear intent, and threw herself into social causes as early as her days at St. Scholastica’s College, De La Salle University, and UP College of Law.
Law school was punishing, but she endured. Congress was demanding, and she delivered. But her body, neglected and misread, eventually asked to be heard.
What she initially dismissed as exhaustion or stress became something undeniable. The diagnosis came: systemic lupus erythematosus.
Mark met Em during her congressional term in the 15th Congress. She wasn’t looking for love, and certainly not sympathy. But the connection was natural—rooted in shared convictions, strengthened by mutual respect. When he learned of her illness, there was no dramatic turning point, no romantic crisis. Instead, there was something more powerful: a decision to understand and walk with her.
Mark, son of one of the country’s most prominent political and business families, is no stranger to public pressure. As DPWH Secretary, his work ethic was not only measurable in kilometers of road paved but in also in problems quietly solved. In marriage, it’s the same. He doesn’t dramatize Em’s condition. He simply shows up—fully, steadily, lovingly.
Their daughter, nine-year-old Emma, is growing up with a clear understanding of her mother’s illness. Not as a threat, but as a fact of life to be embraced with grace. “Emma is incredibly sweet,” Em shares. “She knows and is very caring.” The disease, rather than straining their family, has become a teacher—of empathy, faith, and the art of living in the present.
A movement born from pain
It was from this place of deep personal experience that Hope for Lupus (HFL) was born. What began as a response to her own diagnostic journey evolved into an advocacy platform and support network for thousands of lupus warriors nationwide. With Dr. Geraldine Zamora and Melanie Cuevas, and through the generosity of benefactors and a growing community, HFL has become a beacon.
The exhibit at SM Aura is more than a visual installation. It’s a rallying cry—for earlier diagnoses, better understanding, and the collective empathy of a nation. Panels showcase real stories, expert advice, and messages of hope. Visitors leave informed, many for the first time realizing that vague symptoms they—or a loved one—endure may warrant a closer look.
Mark's support extends beyond the personal. In February 2023, he filed Senate Bill No. 1858, aimed at institutionalizing a national program to combat lupus. “The right to health is a fundamental right of every Filipino,” he said. “This bill is for my wife, and for all lupus warriors who inspire us with their resilience.”
The Villars do not claim they have it all figured out. Instead, they have chosen to figure things out—together. Their home radiates peace, not because it is without pain, but because the pain has found its place. Faith plays a critical role in that peace.
“Some things are beyond our control,” Em admits. “We like to help, to do, to fix. But lupus reminds us—not everything depends on human capacity. And that’s okay. There is hope. There is grace.”
Mark and Em have not allowed lupus to define their marriage, but it has undeniably deepened it. “If I could take it away from her, I would,” Mark once said.
What, then, are the lessons from the Villars’ story?
That knowledge is power. That preparedness softens the blow of uncertainty. That faith is more than a crutch—it is a compass. That hope is not vague or naïve, but the floater that keeps us alive when life’s sea becomes wild.
As the Villars celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary this September, their story continues—not as a glossy fairytale but as a deeply human example of partnership. Their advocacy, like their marriage, is built not on spectacle but on substance. One lupus warrior at a time, one policy change at a time, one exhibit at a time—they are building a legacy of hope.
