Lorli gets 'outstanding educator' award in America

Veteran film and stage actress Lorli Villanueva, who is now based in New York City, has just added another feather on her resplendent cap  as an outstanding educator.

Yes, the Pinoy pop culture icon “Maxima Labandera” was honored recently by the influential Association of Filipino Teachers of America (AFTA) with the Ulirang Guro Award during its 12th anniversary ball at the elegant Astoria World Manor in Queens, New York, with Consul General Cecilia Rebong as guest of honor.

Currently deputy chair of the Graduate School of Education and Special Education of Touro College in Manhattan, where she’s better known as Prof. Dima-ala, Lorli led this year’s honorees. 

She was picked for the higher level education category.

This piece of good news came from Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter).

Other Ulirang Guro recipients were Lynne Cioco, Romelito de Vera Panga, and Rosemarie Parreno for elementary level; Rowena Adalla, Arwin Alitagtag, Rubilyn Gitgano, and Luz Dara Valconcha for secondary level; and Chito Atienza and Victor Edrosolan for business school.

“Our image of a teacher is one in a classroom with chalk boards or lecturing or teaching with some device as aid,” Edmund quoted Lorli in her acceptance speech on behalf of all the honorees. “But there is a teacher in all of us. We are all teachers. We are the foundation in the home and we teach our children the basics in life that will determine their future. All lolas, uncles, aunties, lolos, relatives, touch the life of a child and so we are all teachers.

“As an artist, I have always believed that there are no small roles just a small actor. We have to do our jobs with dignity and as we set an example to young actors, we are the teachers! In the workplace we set the tone as leaders, as supervisors or as peers on how we regard each other. We therefore teach each other and learn from each other.  

“And as teachers in the classroom, we must teach the importance of recognizing the best qualities of our Filipino culture and teach our youth to respect and preserve it...and enrich themselves by recognizing the best in what our adopted country America can teach us. It is when we are able to merge the best of both cultures and respect it and keep the dignity of both that we have truly done our task as teachers in the new world that we are now in.” 

Formerly a UP broadcasting professor, Lorli was the first Asian commercial actress to have been granted a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to study at Northern Illinois University, where she obtained her master’s in communications (major in radio, TV and films) in the ’80s. A founding member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), she was also chairman of the board of judges of the prestigious Palanca Literary Awards for several years. She also served as dean of Student Affairs at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay (City University of Pasay).

Edmund said that Lumen Castañeda, a former president of AFTA, described Lorli as simply the best of what a Filipino teacher in America embodies.

“Lorli is an accomplished educator, who is well-loved and well-respected in the profession,” said Castañeda. “She’s an inspiration to all the students and to all her colleagues. Many of her non-Filipino colleagues and friends got surprised when they learned that Lorli is an award-winning character actress in the Philippines.”

An accomplished comic and dramatic performer, who was a fixture on TV, theater and movies from the ‘70s to the ‘90s, Lorli has worked with Philippine tinseltown’s acting heavyweights in numerous classic films like Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang; Oro, Plata, Mata; Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim; Ina Ka ng Anak Mo; Ang Tatay Kong Nanay; Tahan Na, Empoy, Tahan; Tag-Ulan sa Tag Araw; Annie Batungbakal; Tisoy; Bituing Walang Ningning; Sana Maulit Muli; and Ang Kriminal ng Barrio Concepcion.

Added Edmund, “Although Lorli concentrated on teaching after settling down in the Big Apple, she never abandoned the performing arts. A member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American theater’s Actor’s Equity, she continued producing, directing and acting for stage, film and commercials until about two years ago when she was sidelined by a knee replacement surgery.”

But Lorli continued to endure back and knee pains until doctors discovered the real culprit.

Edmund said that last June 9, two weeks after the Ulirang Guro awards night, Lorli again went under the knife at the New York Presbyterian Hospital for spinal fusion to eliminate severe back and leg pains caused by abnormal motion of her vertebrae. 

“There were many Filipino nurses there who took care of me...they gave me excellent care,” she said. “Many of them, the old-timers especially, still remember me. I am really touched by their nice gestures. I’m doing well. I’m going back to work soon. Nakakainip pag sa bahay ka lang...just pray for my speedy recovery.”

Lorli is one of the guests of honor at the upcoming one-man show Masskara of renowned artist Tito Estrada at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan this September.

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