MANILA, Philippines - Nova Villa is Novelita Villanueva Gallegos in real life.
And when she is not being funny in front of the camera, Nova is happy playing the role of a doting wife and mother to her only daughter who lives in California.
Nova is also deeply religious. She never fails to thank God for all the blessings she has received.
“Prayer is the most effective means of talking to God. When you share with Him your problems, He will listen to you,” she said with a gleam in her eyes.
Even when she was in the US in 1978 to get her green card, she did not forget God. She regularly went to attend the Mass at a church that was miles away from her parents’ house.
At home, Nova is a regular busybody. She personally takes care of her plants, especially her orchids, and she fusses over her pet dogs. During leisure hours, she plays tenpin bowling with some friends.
In spite of her hectic schedule, she makes it a point to have some time for civic work in her community in Quezon City, especially during the Lenten season.
Curiously, her entry into the world of klieg lights was purely accidental. She was then accompanying her neighbor in Sampaloc, Manila, Chichay, a veteran comedienne, to the Premiere Productions.
While there, she was asked to appear with Fernando Poe Jr. in the box-office hit Daniel Barrion. She did over seven movies for the said film outfit.
This was followed by appearance in many television shows, like Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Doray, Super Laugh-In, Stop, Look, Listen and Panagimpan.
At present, Nova is part of GMA 7’s My Beloved with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera in the lead roles. She’s also part of Tweets for My Sweet, with Marian, Roderick Paulate, Chef Boy Logro, Mikey Bustos, Sheena Halili and Elmo Magalona.
“We believe in teamwork. We do our best as a team to make each episode in a show a success,” she said.
All in all, she did over 200 movies, the latest of which is the soon-to-be shown Every Breath U Take, starring Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban.
It is not difficult for her to earn the admiration of other people. I vividly recall when she was suffering from a flu during a TV taping, she was not discouraged to do her best. It did not daunt the effervescent Nova. She was all over the place, brimming with energy and enthusiasm, helping the newcomers in showbiz by showing them acting techniques.
“My piece of advice to newcomers is that they should be professional, sincere and dedicated,” she said.
Nova has really come a long way wince her college days at the Centro Escolar University. “When you learn the art of caring, you will never be alone. Love will make you feel the glory of life.”
Truly, the diminutive comedienne of many riotous movies has found success, contentment and God.