Mr. J. Ernesto C. Villaluna, Jr. is the current president, COO and Director for Philex Mining Corporation; President and COO of Philex Gold and Lasgocon Mining Corporation; President and CEO of Brixton Energy and Mining Corporation, and  Director of ISM Communications Corporation. He served as the director for the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines from 1981-1988 and 1990-1996 and as Vice President – Gold Sector from 1990 to 1996. In addition, he also served as Director (1981) and President (1989) of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association. He was then recognized and appointed as the Philippine Representative for the Economic Cooperation on Mineral Resources Development for Indo-China Countries and Myanmar in 1996. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Alumnus in Mining Engineering of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Engineering in 2001.

Mr. Villaluna graduated from the UP with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining. He also received professional training from the American Cyanamid Company in Stamford, Connecticut U.S.A. on Ore Dressing and Mineral Research Laboratory work in1966 and from the University of Asia & the Pacific Senior Business Executive Program (SBEP) in 1991.