Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva (b. January 6, 1907 – d. June 13, 2000) was the eldest child of Leon de la Cruz Villanueva and Maria Isabel Trinidad of Malabon. He graduated from Malabon Elementary School in 1920. Undaunted by his family’s meager income and social status, he pursued his high school education at Philippine Normal School. To support himself, he worked as a barber in downtown Manila and as a farmhand in a bangus fish farm in Malabon on weekends. After finishing secondary and normal course at Philippine Normal School in 1926, he became an elementary teacher at Pasay Pilot School (1926) and San Rafael Elementary School (1927-1928). His teaching positions helped him fund his college education. He graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1933 with a bachelor’s degree in education major in English and Library Science. He pursued graduated studies in UP and completed his MA in English in 1937. Concurrently, he was the assistant librarian and an English teacher at Philippine Normal School and eventually became the librarian from 1932 to 1937.
Dr. Villanueva accepted a provincial teaching assignment in 1937 at the Camarines Sur High School in Naga. When World War II broke out 1941, he served as First Lieutenant in the Philippine Army and worked as an Intelligence Officer. He served as principal of Camarines Sur National High School in 1943 while serving as a Tagalog teacher for the Japanese Kempeitai (Special Police Force). He served valiantly as a lieutenant in the guerilla movement under Col. Agustin Marking’s Fil-American troops. For his courage and heroism, he was presented with the prestigious Presidential Gold Medal Award. After the war, he taught in Ateneo de Naga and Colegio de Sta. Isabel.
The post-war era brought along unique hardships in Naga. Education was particularly hard hit as teachers were scarce. Those who wanted to pursue a career in education were faced with the decision to leave their homes and travel to Manila. Consequently, a career in teaching was reserved for a select few. As a public-school teacher and a passionate educator, the establishment of Naga Teachers College was Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva’s answer to the growing need in Bicol for quality and affordable education. Using his own funds, and with the help of friends, the school doors were first opened in 1947 out of a rented house located along Peñafrancia Avenue. It began by offering a 2-year course in Education, with 114 enrollees, addressing the area’s great demand for teachers.
In 1951, Naga Teachers College became Naga College. The change in name was accompanied by the introduction of elementary and high school education. He pursued his doctoral studies as a Fullbright Scholar at the University of Iowa and Missouri State University in the United States of America where he earned the Degree of Doctor of Education in 1953. Subsequently, the school was registered as a non-profit organization in 1985, changing its name to its present Naga College Foundation.
Throughout the years, Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) has continued to grow, guided by the vision of its founder. It has been at the forefront of quality education advancement in the Bicol Region. Currently, it now offers pre-school, elementary, secondary, tertiary and post-graduate courses in the fields of science, technology, arts, hospitality, healthcare, law enforcement, public administration and business. More than 30,000 graduates consider Naga College Foundation as their alma mater.
Outside teaching, Dr. Villanueva loved music, played the violin and became a conductor of the Philippine Normal College Orchestra. In the field of sports, he was a boxer and weightlifter, lifting weights well into his nineties. His beloved wife was Lourdes Peckson of Calasiao, Pangasinan. They were blessed with eight children: Roland, Rizal, Melchor Jr., Carlo, Emerita, Benjamin, Albert, and Fortuno. He passed away on June 13, 2000 at the age of 93, leaving behind a lasting legacy of education and service in Naga City.
Sources: Naga College Foundation website; Paglalakbay: Ang Kasaysayan ng Buhay ni Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva (2007) by William M. Espejo.
V-Art Gallery Inauguration
Last January 28, 2023, NCF broke ground on its new facilities for basic education and sports. These shall serve to provide students with enhanced learning experience and a top-notch venue for sports events. The event also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Mario Villanueva, NCF President, to officially open the doors of the V-Art Gallery to “orASTIGon: A Bikolnon Art Exhibit,” a collaboration with the Kintab Artist Group. This exhibit showcases the works of Bikolnon artists and memorabilia of NCF’s humble beginnings. The event was graced by Bicolano historian Dr. Danny Gerona. During the month of March, V-Gallery will feature the Guramoy art show in collaboration with the Salingoy Art Group. (Facebook post courtesy of the Naga City government)