MELCHOR TRINIDAD VILLANUEVA, EdD

January 6, 1907 – June 13, 2000

Hello, Tigers! Get acquainted with our dearest and most treasured “Lolo Mel” – the founder

Life

• born on January 6, 1907 at Malabon, Rizal
• eldest child of Leon de la Cruz Villanueva and Maria Isabel Trinidad
• married to Lourdes Peckson of Calasiao, Pangasinan on December 27, 1930 at Pasay City
• has eight children: Roland, Rizal, Melchor Jr., Carlo, Emerita, Benjamin, Albert, and Fortuno
• he liked sports, music, and performing arts

Education

• graduated elementary at Malabon Elementary School in 1920
• took his first-year high school at Pasig City Memorial High School
• pursued his high school education and graduated from Philippine Normal School in 1926
• graduated college at the University of the Philippines in 1933 with a bachelor’s degree in education major in English and Library Science
• finished Master of Arts in English at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1937
• graduated Doctor of Education at the University of Missouri and the State University of Iowa in 1953

Career

• became an elementary teacher at Pasay Pilot School (1926) and San Rafael Elementary School (1927-1928) after finishing secondary and normal course at Philippine Normal School in 1926
• called to serve as Assistant Librarian and English Teacher at Philippine Normal School and eventually became the Librarian from 1932 to 1937
• worked as Magazine Agent at Philippine Education Magazine
• became a Conductor of the Philippine Normal School Orchestra
• served as First Lieutenant of the Philippine Army in 1941 and worked as Intelligent Officer
• managed the Camarines Sur National High School as the Principal in 1943 while serving as a Teacher in Tagalog for Kempetai (Japanese Special Police Force, World War II)
• worked as teacher/instructor at Colegio de Sta. Isabel, Ateneo de Naga, and Southern Luzon College

Legacy

• established Naga Teachers College in 1947 aiming for a higher education institution that provides quality yet affordable education for Bicolanos
• Naga Teachers College became Naga College Foundation in 1986
• He dreamed of NCF offering medical courses, managing a hospital, gym, and concert hall, and of NCF becoming a university

Melchor Trinidad Villanueva died at Mother Seton Hospital on June 13, 2000, at age 93 due to colon cancer.

Source: Paglalakbay: Ang Kasaysayan ng Buhay ni Dr. Melchor T. Villanueva (2007) by William M. Espejo