The University of Antique warmly welcomes 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐅. 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐳, 𝐒𝐔𝐂 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐕 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐖𝐕𝐒𝐔), as Commencement Speaker for the 75th Commencement Exercises of the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Accountancy, and College of Criminal Justice Education.

Exhibiting excellence since his early years, Dr. Villaruz is a consistent honor student since elementary. He graduated valedictorian in high school and salutatorian in Doctor of Medicine program. He took his BS Biology degree from University of the Philippines – Visayas (UPV) and decided to pursue and earn his MD degree from West Visayas State University (WVSU). He earned two post graduate degrees, Masters in Management degree from UPV and PhD in Educational Management from WVSU. He also completed a year-long certificate program at the Asian Institute of Management; the Global Academic Leadership Program.

Our Commencement Speaker also held various leadership positions including being Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the West Visayas State University Medical Center, and Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs at the WVSU College of Medicine (COM), where he later serves as the Dean. He was appointed as National President of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) for two consecutive terms, where he instituted reforms that benefited the medical students and schools in the country. He also sat as member of the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Medicine-Continuing Professional Development council (PRCBOM-CPDC) in Manila for 3 years and was appointed member of the Commission on Medical Education of Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).

With various leadership initiatives and invaluable contribution in research and development, he is a recipient of multiple awards from various distinguished associations and institutions, including the prestigious Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial award as an outstanding physician in the academe, and Civil Service Commission’s Regional Lingkod Bayan award last year.

Currently, Dr. Villaruz is on his second term as the SUC President IV of WVSU, continuously serving the “Taga-West” with passion and excellence.