With wife Lourdes Peckson

The Naga College Foundation will mark the 100th birth anniversary of its founder, Dr. Melchor Trinidad Villanueva, with a whole-day celebration on January 6, 2007 highlighted by the conferment of awards to alumni and exemplary community leaders.

Dr. Villanueva who died on June 13, 2000 was born on January 6, 1907 in barangay Niugan in Malabon, Rizal. Born to poor parents, Dr. Villanueva finished his high school at the Philippine Normal College in 1924 while working as barber in downtown Manila and as farmhand in Malabon fishponds during weekends. Thereafter, he started to teach to finance his studies enabling him to finish is masteral degree at the University of the Philippines.

He completed his doctoral studies as Fulbright Scholar at the University of Iowa and Missouri State University in the United States. Still, from 1965 to 1967 he pursued post-doctoral studies at the UP, characterizing his own philosophy in life that education is a continuing, endless process.

One of the last pictures of Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva before he died on June 13, 2000 at the age of 93.

Dr. Villanueva’s first stint in Bicol was as a teacher in 1937 at the Camarines Sur National High School. He later also taught at the Ateneo de Naga and Colegio de Sta. Isabel.

Described as a dreamer who envisioned a school for the less privileged members of the society, he founded the Naga College in 1947 which now has become one of the leading collegiate institutions in the Bicol region with an overall student population of more than 6,000.

Dr. Villanueva married Lourdes Peckson, only daughter of Hon. Jose Peckson, a member of the Second Philippine Assembly. Their union was blessed with eight children, 36 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Their children include Roland, a retired international airline pilot; Rizal, also an airline pilot; Melchor, Jr., an architect living in the US; Carlo, a veterinary doctor who is present NCF president; Emerita, a businesswoman and NCF vice president for finance; Benjamin, NCF vice president for student and external affairs; Albert, NCF the school plant superintendent; and Fortuno who is with DepEd.

Aside from being a topnotch educator, Dr. Villanueva was a sports enthusiast and was a boxer and weightlifter himself. He played the violin and was conductor of the Philippine Normal College orchestra. He also served with distinction with the military and was a recognized USAFFE World War II veteran under Col. Agustin Marking.

Meanwhile, Dr. Carlo Villanueva, NCF president, said that a seven –storey building to be named after his father is how rising at the NCF campus.

One of the most impressive edifices for an educational institution anywhere in the country today, the proposed MTV Building will have 20 classrooms, faculty rooms and student pavilion and will also house the executive offices at the top floor with the board room and a rooftop garden. Amenities will include a basement parking and an elevator.

It will be form-finished with minimal painting and will be in concrete, wood and glass. The façade will be covered with aluminum perforated panels which will act as sun, rain and noise barrier. (NCF COMDEV OFFICE)