On August 7, 2008, at the Philippine Sports Commission Offices at the Ortigas Center, Mr. Julito "Lito" R. Villanueva, the incoming President of the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) was sworn into office by the President of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Almost a month earlier, on July 10, 2008, Villanueva, erstwhile Executive Vice President, was asked to assume the presidency during a joint meeting of the PHILTA National Executive Committee, PHILTA Management Committee and PHILTA Board at the Philippine Columbian Association Clubhouse in Plaza Dilao in Paco, Manila. The incumbent President, Mr. Luis Antonio C. Mendoza, had earlier tendered his resignation because of a lingering illness.

Present during the pivotal July meeting were: Mr. Romeo S. Magat, Secretary General; Mr. Ajay Pathak, Vice-President, Northern Manila (also VP for International Affairs & Vice-President for Officiating); Mr. Fernando S. Villanueva, Vice-President, Southern Manila (and Philippine Davis Cup Administrator); Atty. Juan O Marfil Jr., Legal Counsel; Col. Salvador H. Andrada, Executive Vice-President for Administration; and Mr. Manuel D. Misa, Chairman, Board of Governors.

It was in 1987 that Lito joined the Philippine Tennis Association as a member of the Committee on Junior Tennis Development. This led to his being appointed as Vice President for Junior Tennis Development in 1989. During this year, he was the founding Chairman of JUNTAPHIL, or the Junior Tennis Association of the Philippines.

Six years later, in 1995, Lito attended the Officiating School in Kuala Lumpur and became Vice President for Officiating for PHILTA. After another eight years, in 2007, he was appointed Executive Vice President. Scarcely a year later, he has taken over the presidency of the organization.

Born in Ubay town in the province of Bohol, Lito graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts, major in Philosophy, from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. To this he added a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.

At the age of 20, he suited up as Medical Representative for Wander Company (now Novartis Inc.) under the Zuellig Group of Companies. During his first year, he placed fifth in the competition for Most Outstanding Med Rep. On his second year, he was not to be denied. He was the Most Outstanding Med Rep.

From Wander, he moved to Sarmiento Group of Companies as Product Development Manager. The same group installed him later as Vice President and General Manager for Lukas Pharmaceuticals, an acquired Canadian subsidiary.

Before working for the Escaler Group of Companies as Vice President, Marketing, of Aurea Ceramics, then the biggest brick manufacturing company in the country, Lito found time to establish his own company. This saw the birth of Biochemica Inc., manufacturer and distributor of household products. As proof of the strong fundamentals that Lito had set up, Biochemica still operates up to the present, producing and selling pet care products nationwide under the brand "Petguard."

Ever the entrepreneur, he was not one to sit on his laurels. In 1980, he founded what is now Tower Masonry and Stonecraft Inc., which operates factories producing marble in Bulacan and natural stone products in Cebu.

Married to Cecilia Saavedra, Lito is the proud father of Mellissa, Catherine, Julito Jr. Claro, Fernando and Steve.