Emilio Villareal, also fondly called Maestro Mil, by his constituents as well as the talented singers he mentored over the years, is one of Cebu’s

Cebu

Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...

 most talented composers and musicians. Born in Boljo-on

Boljoon, Cebu

Boljoon is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 14,877 people.Boljoon has a total land area of 111.2 km²....

, Cebu in 1920, Mil was one of several children born to Chinese and Spanish immigrants. The gift of music was one shared by several siblings, but it was Mil whose career spanned several decades and to this day, is still alive in spite of his advanced years.

In Mil’s early musical years, he started as the school Band Director of the University of San Carlos

University of San Carlos

The University of San Carlos is a Roman Catholic university governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935 in Cebu City. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.It...

 (1946–1948). He moved on to becoming a staff pianist and eventually, the Musical Director of Cebu Broadcasting Company (1948–1982). With the advent of television, he was picked as the Musical Directo of Channel 7’s “Sali Kami” (1983–1988). During this time, he was also the Band Leader of the Aristocrats Orchestra and DYRC Orchestra. During this time, his reputation for composing some of the most memorable songs in Visayan history flourished. Among the most unforgettable ones was Bisan sa Damgo Lang, a song popularized and sung by Pilita Corrales, the Philippines’ foremost female ballad singer.

Mil’s nine grown children and grandchildren reside in Europe, the Philippines, the U.S.A. and Canada. It is in Edmonton

Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...

, Canada, where he resides with his wife, Enriqueta. Although retired from the Philippine musical circle, Mil continued to offer his services and musical genius to the Philippine Choral group where, as Musical Director, he mentored and provided musical assistance, even composed songs, for their annual concerts from 1991-2000. Today, Mil leads the Visayas/Mindanao Association (VISMIN) choir in Edmonton where various activities are organized by Filipinos, most notably, the Sto. Nino fiesta. During these events, Mil composes songs for the group to sing, most recently, the very heartwarming song titled “Panamilit.” In his golden years, Mil continues to entertain and fulfill his musical drive. In Halad 2010, he was one of the honorees. In 2011, he penned his last composition, a final legacy to the Cebuano culture and the arts, titled Awit Ni Dodonghttp://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=695140&publicationSubCategoryId=51, the theme song of Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum

Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum

JRG Halad Museum is a musically-themed museum in Cebu City, Philippines that pays homage to the musical heritage of Cebu. This museum is operated under the Tipiganan sa mga Handumanan sa Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Foundation....

 with lyrics written by Cebuano newscaster, Leo Lastimosa

Leo Lastimosa

Leo Andanar Lastimosa is a radio and television newscaster in Cebu, Philippines.He currently co-anchors TV Patrol Central Visayas with Atty. Haide Acuña. He is also the host of Arangkada over radio station DYAB and a columnist in Cebu's newspaper The Freeman, He is a main regional reporter in...

.

Musical Compositions

• Alaut
• Angelica
• Awit ni Dodong
• Bisan Sa Damgo Lang
• Bulawan Sa Lapok
• Hain Na
• Hain Nang Saad
• Hinumdomi ... Mohilak Ka Usab
• Ikaw
• Ikaw Ang
• Langit Ko
• Imo Ako
• Inahan Ko
• Kahibulongan
• Kay Ikaw Akong Gipakamutya
• Langit ug Yuta
• Lawos Na
• Lusapon Beach
• May Adlaw Pa
• Nahadlok Ako
• Nahisulat Sa Hangin
• Panamilit
• Pasko Sa Kalipay
• Patrocino De Maria
• Sa Matag Pitik Ning Dughan
• San Lorenzo
• Unang Panagkita
• Usa Ka Higayon
• Veronica
• Wa'y Lain Tagiya

Awards and achievements

• 1958 Most Outstanding Piano (Jazz) Player, awarded by the United States Information Service and the Clarion Magazine
• 1980 Cebu Pop Music Festival Winner with the song "Langit ug Yuta"
• 1986 Most Outstanding Visayan Song Composer, awarded by the City Government of Cebu
• 1987 Most Outstanding Musical Arranger, awarded by the City Government of Cebu
• 1995 Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Radio Broadcasting in Cebu, awarded by the World Broadcasting Corporation
• 1996 Recognition in Pioneer Radio Entertainment, awarded by the Cebu Organization of Media Entertainers
• 1998 VISMIN AWIT Presidential Award in recognition of hist outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the Filipino community in Edmonton, Canada through his music
• 2001 Fine Arts Award received during the 2001 Fifth Hiyas (Gem) Awards (established by the Karilagan Dance Society to recognize deserving Filipino-Canadians for their achievements and contributions to the Edmonton Filipino community and Alberta)
• 2010 Halad honoree recognizing his remarkable contributions to Cebuano music as composer. His works can be viewed at the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum
  Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum
  JRG Halad Museum is a musically-themed museum in Cebu City, Philippines that pays homage to the musical heritage of Cebu. This museum is operated under the Tipiganan sa mga Handumanan sa Kanta ug Kinaiyang Sugbuanon Foundation....
  
  founded by the Freeman chair, Dodong Gullas, situated at the corner of V. Gullas (Manalili) and D. Jakosalem Sts.