Joanna Villanueva Barrido-Cuenca
1st MIS and CHARTER MEMBER

A strong and brilliant woman, happily married to Atty. Edgardo P. Cuenca, a proud mother of four and a big sister to the MU SIGMA PHI Sorority. Yes, you guessed it right. It’s Sis Joanna Barrido Cuenca I am talking about. She was the first ever Most Idyllic Sister.

Many years have passed and yet she still brings with her the spirit of being a true MU SIGMA PHIan. She is very diligent and determined in her career. Quitting was never an option for her. After graduating from the University of San Agustin with a degree of BS in Education, Majors in English and Pilipino last 1963, she pursued her dream of becoming an excellent educator. In 1966, she took up units in Masters of Arts in Audio-Visual Education at the Ateneo de Manila University. She obtained of Master of Public Administration degree in 1989. And just like any other go-getting person, Sis Joanna strived for the highest possible level she could achieve. In 1995, with her ardent pursuit, her dream was realized when she earned her Doctorate degree in Philosophy at the Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

With all the seminars, workshops and conventions she has attended, her knowledge and skills were enhanced and all the rigors she went through the paid off. At present, she is the Directress of the Commission on Higher Education in Caraga Region. In the area of innovations, her output cannot be measured in terms of the certificates and awards she garnered, but rather she take immense pride in the fact that through her efforts and creativity, what used to be a “bodega” as a CHED Office is now a “corporate-looking” office housing the efficient and committed CHEDRO Caraga staff. The office is there for everyone to see the evidence of what it was before and its transformation to what it is now can be gathered from the different clients and Heads/ Presidents of HEIs in the Region.

For her scholarly output, the numerous doctorate and master’s degree holders in the Region can attest to her significant contributions and valuable inspiration towards the attainment of their dreams.

Before, Joanna was just an ordinary girl sitting and listening attentively to lectures and lessons discussed by different speakers. Today, she has already what it takes to be the one standing in the center and delivering her own lecture. She has been conducting seminars on the area of her expertise and has been a guest speaker in various celebrations such as graduations and faculty and student congress in Caraga Region and Region X.

Truly, she still has in her the spirit of a true MU SIGMA PHIan. She has attained the Sorority’s goals – academic excellence and spiritual refinement academic excellence by her never-ending quest for knowledge and wisdom and spiritual refinement because she has not forgotten that she owes all her achievements to the Father Almighty. By selflessly imparting her knowledge to others and by making sure that the youth of today receives quality education, she clearly shows that she is a good daughter of Christ.

Herewith is Sis Joanna’s personal commitment: “ I believe that I have been endorsed with qualifications and characteristics uniquely my own. I must use these to inspire Confidence, Competence, and Commitment in the significant others that I come in contact with.”

Sis, more power! We are very proud of you.

Noreen Tornalejo Orquinaza