Cebu’s music maestro Mil Villareal; 90

Emilio Villareal (source: https://mil.evillareal.com)

Emilio Villareal, one of Cebu’s most talented composers and musicians,  died on September 12 in Edmonton, Canada. He was 90 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Enriqueta Orcullo Villareal, nine children, 21 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Villareal’s  remains will arrive in Cebu on Thursday, September 22. The wake will be held at Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Banilad, Cebu City. Interment will take place at Cebu Memorial Park on September 26.

Fondly called “Maestro Mil” by his colleagues and singers whom he mentored, Villareal was born in Boljo-on, Cebu, in 1920 to Chinese and Spanish immigrants.

Maestro Mil’s musical career began as band director of the University of San Carlos in Cebu from 1946 to 1948. He moved on to become staff pianist and eventually musical director of the Cebu Broadcasting Company from 1948 to 1982; and of Channel 7’s “Sali Kami” from 1983 to 1988. He was also band leader of the Aristocrats Orchestra and DYRC Orchestra.

Among his most unforgettable compositions is “Bisan sa Damgo Lang” (Even in My Dream), a classic Cebuano love song popularized by Pilita Corrales.

Maestro Mil moved to Edmonton, Canada in 1990 where he continued to offer his services and musical genius to the Filipino community there.