We feature in this special section for UC/BCF alumni, the notable attainments of Professor Lorli Villanueva, Bachelor of Arts in English, 1968. The following is an account of her professional journey since leaving the Halls of BCF:

    “In 1968, when I graduated from the Baguio Colleges Foundation, those years in college were the most formative phase of my life. The BCF degree, the BCF academic experience, which included representing BCF at a workshop of the Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA), opened many doors and vistas for me in the years that followed.

    I have always been proud of my Alma Mater, as it placed me on a career trajectory in Education and in the Theatre Arts. PETA opened for me, a discovered passion for acting in theatre. And this opening blossomed and led to the full spectrum of roles for me in cinema, in TV, including varied experiences on the production side of the entertainment industry. Thus, the opening and the discovery into this passion was what catapulted me to who I am today.

    However, as I progressed at each phase of my theatre and entertainment industry career, I was continuously teaching at the Philippine Science High School, as Dean for the Undergraduate at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay, and as faculty at UP; all of which sustained my artistic career. Teaching and the academe was my day job that sustained the pursuit of and passion for theatre, which I was able to maintain, after my teaching duties in academic institutions. I then decided to apply for graduate studies abroad to attain more prestigious credentials in education. Thus, I became the first working actor to receive a Fullbright Hays Scholarship; and also, I believed then, that I was the first graduate from Baguio Colleges to be a Fullbright Scholar. The scholarship grant allowed me to go to school at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois.

    In the U.S., I was able to use, in my teaching jobs at various levels, the communication and creative theatre arts skills of my experience, to enhance my teaching performance in the classroom. The exposure to drama that I incorporated in my class sessions, added new dimensions in my students’ class experience; and duly inspired these students to consider new directions in their lives. At the same time, this capability fully impressed school administrators.

    After many years in the intermediate levels of teaching, I moved up the U.S. academic ladder until I reached the prime post of Deputy Chair of the Graduate Program in Education and Special Education and International Student Advisor, at the Touro College and University System, located in New York City. Under my watch as Deputy Chair, the enrollment in the Touro graduate education program became the largest in New York City, the majority of which were foreign students. I occupied the position for fifteen years before I retired.

    All these achievements, I humbly dedicate to my alma mater, the Baguio Colleges Foundation, where all these started and of which I am very proud of.”

Through the years, Prof. Lorli Villanueva received these notable awards and recognition in PH and abroad:

2019

• “Lifetime Achievement Award in Education”, from the United Federation of Filipino Educators (UNIFFIED), a recognized federation for teachers in Education and Special Education in the United States and the Philippines;

• “EDDYS ICON Award” from the entertainment editors of the Philippines. The Entertainment Editors’ Choice (EDDYS) is an annual film event that honors craftsmen, actors, writers, directors, workers, and producers in the Philippine film industry.

• “Legends and Luminaries Recognition in Film”, from the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

2017

• “Lifetime Achievement Award” from OZA, an organization that recognizes the humanitarian contributions of artists in New York.

2015

• “Gawad Akay Award” as one of the Most Influential Filipino American Teachers from UNIFFIED, New York.

2012

• “Outstanding Women in History” by the Pan American Concerned Citizen Action League (PACCAL), New Jersey Concerned Citizens Action League;

2012

• Nominated “100 Most Outstanding Fil-Am Women Behind the Scene Leaders” in California, U.S.A.;

2011

• LEADS Award, “Outstanding Leadership Award” and “Outstanding Filipino American Teacher in Higher Education” by the American Filipino Teachers Association (AFTA), New York.

2000

• “Best Theater Actress”, Young Critics Award in the Philippines.

1972

• “Best Supporting Actress” at the 1972 Manila International Film Festival.

It should also be noted that digital platforms of the Arts and Entertainment industry, has postings about Prof. Villanueva, abbreviated as follows:

    “Lorli Villanueva has been in Philippine theater, television and films for more than three decades. Aside from the acting awards listed above, Lorli Villanueva directed the longest running daily soap opera in Philippine television, Flor de Luna. She is credited with 60 films during her career in Philippine cinema. She also appeared in at least six television shows. She then directed TV movies of historical and educational themes for commercial channels; and also for the Department of Education, Philippines. She also established her own production company where she was the President and CEO of Tri-Media Productions; (later renamed Emmaus Productions), which was regarded as an active public relations, advertising and talent agency in the 90’s. Emmaus produced theater productions including educational print materials for schools; and training programs for beginning theater companies in the Philippines. These were subsequently utilized in Australia, Japan and Korea; — under the sponsorship of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA). As a founding member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). she underwent an Integrated Arts Program with UNESCO. Thus, Lorli Villanueva trained with European and Western directors in 1972. This established her as a figure in the Philippine entertainment industry. She co-founded the Visual Artists Cooperative of the Philippines with Dean Jose Joya and the “Kalinangan ng Lahi” Theater at the Araneta Center. Lorli Villanueva also, served for two years as Chairman of the Board of Judges (of the Committee on Scripts for Plays and Theatre Productions) of the Palanca Literary Awards, the prestigious literary award giving body in the Philippines.”

In the U.S., Lorli Villanueva was inducted as a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the mainstream American Union representing over 160,000 film actors, television actors, journalists, radio personalities, recording artists, singers and other media personalities. SAG-AFTRA is a member of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the U.S.

Ultimately, Professor Villanueva notes that managing the full education and consequent professional development of her children; whom she single handedly navigated through widowhood (as a single parent breadwinner); — has stood out, just as significant & meaningful as the rest of her professional attainments.