Perhaps the only career advice that Nova Villa ever received—and heeded—came from her mother, Ana Acosta Villanueva, a science teacher. Then 15 years old, Novelita Villanueva appeared as an "extra" in movies and needed a screen name.
Her mother provided it. "Memorized niya ang lahat ng mga planeta at stars," Nova says of her late mother. "Doon niya kinuha 'yung Nova Villa. Villa, shortcut ng Villanueva. 'Yung nova is the smallest and brightest star. Tama rin kasi Novelita, 'di ba? Sabi niya, ‘Magiging screen name mo Nova because maliit ka naman. The smallest and brightest star...'"
After that, a big action star would unexpectedly give the little star her biggest break. In 1964, Nova accompanied comedienne Chichay, her neighbor in Sampaloc, Manila, to Premiere Productions. While Chichay was transacting business in the office, Nova was left by herself in the canteen. It was then that an elegant white Cadillac entered the gates of Premiere.
Nova recalls excitedly, "Siyempre, para kang fan n'on. Patingin-tingin. Artista siguro 'yung nakasakay kasi hindi naman ma-artista ang Premiere. Unlike Sampaguita Pictures and LVN na nagkalat ang mga artista. Sumilip ako. 'Yung nasa Cadillac sumilip din!" She goes on, her eyes lighting up: "Nagkatinginan kami. Inay! Si Fernando Poe [Jr.]! Of all people! Hindi ako kumikibo. Eh, nakatingin sa akin. Napahiya pa yata ako."
Minutes later, FPJ's manager, Bong Esteva, approached her in the canteen and asked if she wanted to be an artista. Without hesitation, Nova answered "Yes!" The very following day, she was filming her first movie with FPJ.
"Daniel Barrion [ang title ng movie]," Nova volunteers. "Si Ronnie Poe ang aking leading man. After that movie nag-sign ako ng contract. I was seventeen years old. I feel very lucky dahil up to now, wala namang kinontrak si Ronnie kundi ako lang."
Nova spent three years as a contract star at Premiere Productions before turning into a free agent. She then became a fixture of several highly successful television comedies. "Lahat nga ng channels naikot ko," she says. "I'm the only actress na since 1968, hindi ako nababakante."
At one point, she even pinch-hit for Nora Aunor—at the time, Nora was the country's only superstar—when the latter took a pregnancy leave from her show Superstar. "I was the Nora Aunor," Nova says with pride. "Ako 'yung nagpatuloy ng ‘Superstar.' Ako 'yung nag-e-emcee."
The hardworking Nova has made more than 150 movies and appeared in the television dramas, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Salamisim, and Panagimpan.
In recognition of her talent as a comedienne, she has been awarded four Best Comedy Actress awards from the Star Awards for Television.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. At about the same time Nova's career was picking up, she met the dashing Alfredo "Freddie" Gallegos. Says Freddie, "Neighbors kami sa Scout Gandia [Quezon City]. Plus San Beda ako, Centro Escolar siya dati, magkatapat lang. So neighbor pa rin sa iskwelahan, di ba? Love thy neighbor daw!"
Freddie pursued Nova but Nova was not smitten. Says she, "Actually, sa totoo lang, hindi naman ako talaga attracted sa kanya. Ang kulit lang! Ang tiyaga... araw-araw nasa bahay namin."
Freddie was then having problems with his girlfriend. "Kay Nova ko binubuhos 'yung sama ng loob ko sa girlfriend ko. Until later on, nakikita ko sa kanya 'yung traits na gusto ko. Caring, thoughtful, and a very good cook. I felt na parang she's ideal for a wife, for a mother. I saw qualities that will last in a relationship. Siya na ang niligawan ko."
Neighbors prodded Nova to give Freddie a chance. "Ang mga kapitbahay ko ang may crush, " she says. But she admits that Freddie did fit her requirements for an ideal partner.
"Kasi noon," she says, "ang prayer ko, ‘Lord, kung bibigyan mo ako ng mapapangasawa, hindi naman kailangan mayaman, hindi naman kailangan guwapong-guwapo. May itsura-itsura naman. Ang importante sa akin may tinapos, kasi ako, hindi ako nakatapos. I only reached second year college BS Education. Gusto ko naman may pinag-aralan. Para kung halimbawa—ilayo ng Panginoon—wala na ako sa showbiz, at least naman may sasalo ng obligasyon."
