Asia Society Philippines announces the appointment of Marco Antonio Luisito Villanueva Sardillo III as its Executive Director. He will be responsible for leading the team and, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, co-creating and implementing ASP's strategy, with a view towards its long-term vision, mission, and purpose.

“I am excited to work with our team as we strive to enhance Asia Society Philippines’ relevance, by positioning ASP as the ASEAN-focused Center with a development-oriented trajectory. I appreciate the support of our Chairperson and her Co-Chairpersons, and I look forward to working more closely with our Trustees—and the entire Asia Society global network,” said Marco.

Marco is a development practitioner, having served as an independent consultant to various development organizations such as UNDP Philippines, the Asia Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank. He is also a pro bono adviser to several nongovernmental organizations relating to social justice and public interest issues.

As an educator, he is affiliated with the Ateneo School of Law where he serves as a thesis-reader and part-time professorial lecturer (on leave) and the Ateneo School of Government where, apart from serving as part-time lecturer, he has been engaged for several projects—most recently as Training Director for a youth leadership program.

Marco served as Administrator of Intramuros Administration (with rank of Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism) from 2013 to 2016; during which time, he set out on and pursued an ambitious agenda for the long-term, sustainable, and irreversible redevelopment of Manila’s heritage district. Under his leadership, Intramuros Administration reached historic highs in its budget for its public infrastructure program—resulting in, among others, the rehabilitation of Fort Santiago, the completion of the Museo de Intramuros, and the undertaking of socialized housing for Intramuros’ informal settler families. It was also during his tenure that new enduring partnerships were forged: the establishment of Instituto Cervantes de Intramuros; the development of a LEGO Education Room; the hosting of Fête de la Musique; and the location of startups like Bambike. Premised on his paradigm of Intramuros as a “policy laboratory,” he secured technical assistance grants from AECID and the World Bank, leading to policy experiments such as the pedestrianization of Intramuros and the deployment of e-trikes to enhance mobility in the Walled City.

In recognition of these efforts and milestones, Intramuros Administration became the first organization outside of Europe to receive a Premio Patrimonio (“Heritage Award”) from the Group of UNESCO Cities of Spain.

Prior to his work in the culture and heritage sector, he served as Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and Chief of Staff of its Chairperson.

Marco obtained his Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy (2001) from Ateneo de Manila University and his Juris Doctor degree (2006) from Ateneo Law School. Soon after his admission to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, he attended the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore) where he received his Master in Public Policy (2010), as a recipient of the LKYSPP’s grant award. Being a lifelong learner, following his stint in the public sector, he returned to graduate school, as a Chevening Scholar, obtaining his Master of Science in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science.