Wilma Cruz-Tapalla is one of the country’s foremost speech and etiquette authorities. She earned an Associate in Arts from the University of Santo Tomas and a B.S. in Foreign Service from the Lyceum of the Philippines.

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She pursued advanced studies in Speech and Drama at the University of the Philippines and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and completed a Finishing Course at the renowned John Robert Powers School in San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

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She is the founder of the award-winning Wilma Cruz-Tapalla Academe of Speech and Etiquette, an institution that has served individuals from all walks of life — including top multinational corporations and government institutions.

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A student of the distinguished speech and image consultant Dorothy Sarnoff and master motivator Anthony Robbins, Ms. Cruz-Tapalla has traveled extensively around the world to study groundbreaking concepts and techniques in interactive learning, effective speech, and refined communication.

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Throughout her career, she has received numerous national and international recognitions, including:

• Outstanding Service in the Teaching Profession from the International Biographical Center (IBC) of Cambridge, England

• Recognition from the American Biographical Institute (ABI) in North Carolina, U.S.A.

• Most Outstanding Alumna of the Lyceum of the Philippines

• The distinction of being the first Filipino recognized as the Most Outstanding Overseas Filipino Female Speech, Poise, and Etiquette Educator by PINES Universal in Los Angeles, California

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She is also a recognized member of the Platform Association and Speech Communication.

Ms. Cruz-Tapalla hosted the educational television program Communicating with Wilma, served as a columnist for Women’s Home Companion Magazine, and was a board member of the Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).