ABOUT THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR Raised in Davao City but trained in Manila and at New York Film Academy, the Program Director of Spotlight Workshop, VIRGILIND “Jill” VILLANUEVA-PALARCA, is a former MTV Asia Producer, Director, and Writer. She has also worked for Channel [v] Philippines, TV5, and QTV 11, as well as other production companies such Alta Productions and below- the-line advertising agencies and events production groups such as ThemeWorks, Stages International, Tagline, Strong Media Corp. Throughout her 10+ year career in TV production and live events, she has had the privilege of working under luminary directors such as Rowell Santiago, Audie Gemora, and Rich Ilustre, and alongside TV hosts such as Lucy Torres-Gomez, KC Concepcion, Derek Ramsay, Ryan Agoncillo, KC Montero, Donita Rose, and Sarah Meier to name a few. She has interviewed local and international celebrities such as Rob Thomas of MatchBox 20, Linkin Park, Mandy Moore, Michael Bublé, Jason Mraz, and more. While in MTV, she helped select and develop up and coming VJs during VJ Hunt season, and conceptualized on-air TV shows and on-ground events. She has also directed and produced music videos and concerts, and also managed the goth-rock band The Late Isabel. This Creative Writing Cum Laude Graduate from the University of the Philippines, Diliman was also selected among hundreds of applicants nationwide to be one of the 30 Young Filipino Ambassadors to the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program in 1999, where she represented the country and travelled to Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Presently, she’s a part-time College Instructor at the University of the Immaculate Conception, where she teaches Speech Communication, Theatre Arts, Literature, and Creative Writing. Growing up, Jill had to face prejudice and ridicule because of her short height and broken family background. But instead of shying away, Jill stood stall despite her small stature by focusing on her writing skills and other talents. Right before graduating from High School, she emerged as Davao City’s Best Debater and Best Speaker in the 1994 PopDev Inter-School Debate. Now, Jill is known as “Jillicious” to her peers and colleagues because of her tenacity and passion for her craft and hobbies. Indeed she’s one dynamic personality who aspires to inspire her students. Knowing that young people go through insecurities and awkwardness in adolescence, Jill designed the Personality Empowerment Workshop with the objective to develop future leaders and artists by giving them a platform where they can learn how to embrace themselves and in so doing learn how to effectively embrace the spotlight. This will be the 2nd year of the summer program. Jill is currently 33 years old and happily married for 4 years to Dr. Joseph John Palarca, a veterinarian. .