Augusto Villalón graduated in History of Art and Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, completed architecture studies at Yale University, and later in his life received an honorary PhD from Far Eastern University recognizing his lifetime involvement in conservation of cultural heritage. Appointed to the National Committee for Culture and the Arts, he also founded the Heritage Conservation Society in Manila and represented the Philippines on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris. His Manila-based architecture office has won international awards. Heritage conservation and cultural tourism work takes him all over the world including the Philippines as well, where he enjoys sharing his research and discoveries to share a personal, insider Philippine experience to select visitors. He is a heritage columnist, author of varied publications ranging from guidebook collaborations, conference papers, heritage textbooks, and books on Manila, Philippine heritage, and architectural history.