About the Director

Teacher Jill Palarca also conducts one-on-one COACHING for English Speech Therapy, Grammar and Creative Writing, and Public Speaking (Hosting). Private sessions are done on special arrangements. This special class is open only to ages 18 and above. Daily rates apply.

Call 0922-8384981 or email jillpalarca@live.com for inquiries on rates and schedule. A specific modular program will be tailor-made to suit the student's needs and current level.

"Confidence Booster Tip: We probably have more bad
hair days than good ones so remember to cherish at
least one fabulous photo of yourself. Frame it.
Who cares if it was taken gazillion ages ago?
The important thing is that there's always that
possibility that you can look THAT great!"

Raised in Davao City and trained in Manila and at New York Film Academy, the Program Director of Spotlight Workshop, JILL PALARCA, is an award-winning Screenplay Writer, Filmmaker, Speaker, and a former MTV Asia (Phil) Producer, Director, and Writer.

She has also worked for Channel [v] Philippines, TV5, and QTV 11, as well as other production companies such Alta Productions and advertising agencies and events production groups such as ThemeWorks, Stages International, Tagline, Strong Media Corp.

Throughout her 15-year career in TV production, advertising, and events, she has had the privilege of working under luminary directors such as Rowell Santiago, Audie Gemora, and Rich Ilustre, and alongside TV hosts such as Lucy Torres-Gomez, KC Concepcion, Derek Ramsay, Ryan Agoncillo, KC Montero, Donita Rose, and Sarah Meier to name a few.

She has interviewed local and international celebrities such as Rob Thomas of MatchBox 20, Linkin Park, Mandy Moore, Michael Bublé, Jason Mraz, and many more. While in MTV, she helped select and develop up and coming VJs during VJ Hunt season, and conceptualized on-air TV shows and on-ground events. She has also directed and produced music videos and concerts, and also managed the rock band The Late Isabel.

This Creative Writing Cum Laude Graduate from the University of the Philippines, Diliman was also selected among hundreds of applicants nationwide to be one of the 30 Young Filipino Ambassadors to the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program in 1999, where she represented the country as a STUDENT LEADER and traveled to Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam on a scholarship.

Upon moving back to Davao in 2011, she became an Instructor at the University of the Immaculate Conception Davao, where she taught Speech Communication, Theatre Arts, Literature, Creative Writing, and Film/TV Production. She was also the Moderator of UIC CenterStage, the official school's Theatre Club.

 In 2014, she won Best Screenplay at the 10th Mindanao Film Festival. She also founded www.filmindavao.com.

Presently, she runs  JJPalarca T.E.A.M. Consultants -- a Davao-based company that offers professional services on the following:

• T-- training such workshops, seminars, team building, and other organizational development activities,
• E-- events such as concerts, awards nights, fashion shows, and other marketing activities, 
• A-- arts and advocacy programs
• M-- media projects such AVPs, TVCs, films, documentaries, music videos, 

She also taught Fashion Marketing and  Branding at the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts, and is currently teaching Media Literacy at the Ateneo de Davao Senior High School. She constantly gets invited to speak at schools and events such as the Sunsilk Dreamstarter Fair held at the Abreeza Mall.  Presently, she is personal and organizational development consultant, conducting several workshops for companies.

Teacher Jill (seated) with some of the Summer 2011 tweens

Growing up, Jill had to face prejudice and ridicule because of her short height and broken family background. But instead of shying away, Jill stood stall despite her small stature by focusing on her writing skills and other talents. Right before graduating from High School, she emerged as Davao City’s Best Debater and Best Speaker in the 1994 PopDev Inter-School Debate.

Today, Jill is known as “Jillacious” to her peers and colleagues because of her tenacious spirit  and passion for her craft and hobbies. Indeed she’s one dynamic personality who aspires to inspire her students. Knowing that young people go through insecurities and awkwardness in adolescence, Jill designed the Spotlight Personality Empowerment Workshop with the objective to develop future leaders and artists by giving them a platform where they can learn how to embrace themselves and in so doing learn how to effectively embrace the spotlight as a leader and a personality. The program is now on its 7th season.

Jill is currently 38 years old and happily married for 7 years to Dr. Joseph John Palarca, a veterinarian. The husband and wife are also active media ministers in their church and are staunch advocates of PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) and volunteers at the Mindanao Film and Television Foundation, Inc. (MFTDFI).

Call 0922-8384981 or email jillpalarca@live.com for inquiries on rates and schedule. A specific modular program will be tailor-made to suit the student's needs and current level.