DR. DIOSDADO P. VILLAFLORES

In 1922 he finished his elementary education in what was then the only elementary school in Tanjay which is now the Opao Elementary School. His high school education was completed in the Oriental Negros High School at Dumaguete in 1926. Taught in the public schools for two years after graduation, then resigned to pursue higher studies in Silliman Institute, now Silliman University, where he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in English with minor in Political Science in 1932.

Serves as Principal of Jolo Central School in Jolo, Sulu, from 1932-1934. Inspite of offer of promotion, he left  for Manila to pursue a career in Law in the University of the Philippines and at the same time worked with Professor Vicente G. Sinco of the College of Law who later became the Dean and then President of the University of the Philippines before he established in Dumaguete what is now known as the Foundation University.

Just before World War II broke out, he was teaching Literature and English in the Division of City Schools in Manila assigned at the Mapa High School. Finished Law in the Manila Law College before the war and passed the bar with a general average rating of 89.1% and obtained 99%in Mercantile Law and 90% in Civil Law. Practiced Law for a few years in Manila but had to abandon it for his greater love – teaching. He enjoys working with teachers.

In 1947 he organized with his wife, Emerenciana, the Legarda Memorial College in Manila. After running this college for over ten years, the call for home came and he founded in his hometown the Tanjay Institute in 1952 which became the Villaflore College. He and his most persevering and hardworking wife, Emerenciana,  hpe to build the college into a university as their most important and everlasting gift to the people of Tanjay, particularly the poor and the less fortunate who can place their in this college.

He is a Notary Public for the Sate of California , U.S.A. and was once appointed as a Paralegal Counselor for the National Council on the Aging at Los Angeles, California, assigned to work with the Mexican-American United, Inc. in Canyon Country, Los Angeles.

Lately , he organized and headed the Philippine International University Foundation Inc., with offices in the mission city of San Fernando, California, This is a nonprofit and a tax exempt Foundation established to help build an international university in the Philippines. With all indications pointing towards industrialization and advanced agricultural development he envisions a university up on the hill in Tanjay where Villaflores College stands.

MRS. EMERENCIANA F. VILLAFLORES

She hails from Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur and finished her elementary education in the town of her birt as the valedictorian of her class. Coming from a poor family and left as an orphan girl in her early years when her father Valentin, died she had to learn the hardest lessons life is heir to. The little town was not her place and so she left for Manila with her brother, Piniong, to finish her high school education in the University of Manila in Sampaloc. She had to accept all kinds of useful undertaking and was never ashamed to do any kind of job. In fact, she went to the extent of washing clothes for a fee to help her in her studies. She lived with brother in old Intramuros during her student days.

In 1931 , she finished her studies at the Philippine Normal School where most teacher pensionados were sent to become better teachers and administrators. Many outstanding educators come from the Philippines Normal School which has been lately converted by the government into a college offering the bachelors degree and M.A. degree

After graduation from the Philippine Normal School, she was assigned as a teacher in the Jolo Central School where she met for the first time her husband who was assigned in 1932 as Principal of the same school by Superintendent King  W. Chapman.

In 1937 upon her marriage with Atty D.P. Villaflores and upon recommendation of Deputy Insular Auditor Pio Joven, a relative , she was transferred from Jolo to Manila with teaching assignment in the Legarda Elementary School. War broke out on December 8, 1941 and when the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Manila, she and Atty. Villaflores and little four months old Nora and young Jesus escaped to Mindoro jungle to avoid contact with the Japanese. One night baby Nora had to cry in her arms when they slept with another couple from Iloilo, Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Gison, under the trees in San Isidro near Port Galera in Mindoro.

Liberation came and in 1946 she returned to the service. In 1947 she resigned to open with her husband a private school in Sampaloc named Legarda Memorial College. She took up courses in Education and finally earned her B.S.E. degree which serves her best her private school responsibility.

She is registrar, Treasurer and acts as president of the Villaflores College for her husband who stays most of the time in the United States to make the college grown with the help of American friends interested in Education.

A very tireless executive, she personally looks into every detail of the work in the college in order to save time, money and other unnecessary expenses. She used to say: If the college fail my husband will also fail in Tanjay and I will have to face and bear the blame. “No. we shall not fail. We will succeed. The birthmark of determination is written on her face.