Magdalena Villaba

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Vicente, the birth surname or paternal family name is Alonso, and the marital name is Villaba.

Magdalena Vicente Alonso Villaba (July 22, 1928 – September 11, 2023) was a Filipina educational administrator and philosopher. One of the country's most respected philosophy academics, Alonso Villaba published several books and articles on oriental philosophy and Christian philosophy. In 1987, she was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Saint John Paul II, then the highest honor a Catholic lay woman could be conferred with.^[1]

Magdalena Alonso Villaba, Ph.D.
Dean Emerita of the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School
Personal details
Born	Magdalena Vicente Alonso (1928-07-22)July 22, 1928 Philippine Islands
Died	September 11, 2023(2023-09-11) (aged 95)
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Mamerto Villaba
Children	Esperanza Villaba Alvez & Beniamino Villaba Sr.
Parent	Victoria Lagasca Vicente (Mother) & Jose Mario Gonzales Alonso Sr. (Father)
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas
Occupation	Philosopher
Awards	Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Education

Magdalena Alonso Villaba finished high school from St. Paul College Manila. She graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1957, Master of Arts in philosophy in March 1968, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in May 1976.^[2]

Career

Magdalena Alonso Villaba was assistant dean and dean of University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1972 to 1976 and 1976 to 1987 respectively, and was dean of the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School from 1987 to 1995. She was full professor and dean emeritus at the time of her retirement in 1996 but remained teaching at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School until 2008 at the age of 80. Her dissertation "An Interpretation on the Doctrine of Transmigration" was published in full by Philippiniana Sacra in 1976. Her master thesis "The Atman-Brahman Relationship in the Upanishads" was published in full by Unitas in 1972.^[3][4]

Death

Villaba died on September 11, 2023, at the age of 95.^[5]

Bibliography

• Philosophy of the East (1980, 1995)^[6][7]
• Prelude to the Wisdom of the East (1979)^[8]
• The Mission of Women: A Return to their Original Role (1976)^[9]
• An Interpretation of the Doctrine of Transmigration (1975)^[10]

Honors

• Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (1987)