University of the East graduate Dexter A. Villanueva, who is the Campus Organizations Coordinator of the UE Student Affairs Office-Manila (SAO COC), was given a Special Award of Recognition by YMCA of the Philippines in ceremonies held last November 9, 2024, at the YMCA of Manila Auditorium, Ermita, Manila. This coincided with YMCA of the Philippines’ 53rd National Council Meeting and 113th Anniversary.
YMCA of the Philippines cited him for his outstanding contribution to the YMCA movement, most notably in youth and student development, reflecting his long and illustrious service to the YMCA.
Mr. Villanueva served as UE Manila’s University Student Council (USC) President in his senior year before earning the degree of Bachelor of Arts, major in Political Science, from the UE College of Arts and Sciences-Manila in 2006.
He was first involved with the YMCA as a member of the UE Manila College Y Club and was designated as Head Delegate of the UE Manila Delegation to the 2002 and 2003 YMCA National Congress of College Students.
On both occasions, Mr. Villanueva was awarded Champion, Best Debater, and Best Speaker for its National Congress Debate competition (2002); elected Commission Chair and Cluster Secretary-General (2002); became a member of the Special Committee on the Proposed Charter Change for the 1987 Philippine Constitution (2003); was elected Deputy Speaker for Luzon (2003); became a recipient of the Congress Parliamentarian Award (2003); was an Extemporaneous Speaking contest Finalist (2003); and was recognized as an Outstanding Delegate (2003).
In school year 2003-2004, he was awarded the College Y’er of the Year by the YMCA of Manila to outstanding college students.
He served as UE Manila Delegation Adviser alongside former UE SAO Manila Director Remedios V. Porio and then UE College of Business Administration-Manila Professor Mary Ann V. Mercado during the 2007 YMCA National Congress. With support and encouragement from then UE SAO Manila Director Mercy L. Candelaria and current UE Manila SAO Director Edilina B. Baldoza, he reprised the said congress role in 2011 to 2019 and in 2023 to 2024. (There were no national congresses for 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic).
From 2011 to 2019 and 2023-2024, the UE Manila Delegation was consistently named Outstanding Delegation, earning the coveted award for a remarkable 11 times in a row.
In 2014, Mr. Villanueva was named YMCA of Manila Outstanding Adviser. He also received the following awards and recognitions from the YMCA of Manila Special Award for Services to the YMCA of Manila (2014), the Bronze Triangle Award (2016), Gawad Pasasalamat and the Silver Triangle Award (2018), and the Red Triangle Award (2021).
His role in the YMCA was highlighted in the said 2024 recognition. He has been a longstanding member of the YMCA Congress Executive Committee, a member of the Congress Core Group, a Corporate Member since 2014, a member of the College Y Advisory Council, and a ranking member of the College Work Committee.
From 2012 to the present, he was the official Congress Parliamentarian of the YMCA National Congress. He has also served as Congress Chair, Co-Chair and Committee Member of various congress committees and was a longtime Program Director for Students.
He was also instrumental in keeping the YMCA programs feasible during the pandemic by assisting the UE Manila College Y Club and other College Y Club of other schools in their online presence and was active in its voters’ education campaign in preparation for the 2022 national and local elections.
During that period, too, Mr. Villanueva was instrumental in reviewing, updating, and finalizing the proposed YMCA College Y Constitution and By-Laws as well as its Membership Primer to meet ever-changing viewpoints and dynamics on youth and student engagement.
The group photo shows Mr. Villanueva (third from left) being awarded by YMCA of the Philippines officials: (from left) Dr. Honorio T. Tan, the National Auditor; Atty. Elmer C. Balbin, the National President; World Alliance of YMCAs Executive Committee Member Karren Fetalvero; and National Corporate Secretary Rovin Jhon B. Cincollagas.
Congratulations and kudos, prolific and highly accomplished Warrior YMCA of the Philippines Awardee!
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