Villonco's singing career began when she was only nine years old, prodded by her grandmother, showbiz industry crusader and former
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chief
Armida Siguion-Reyna. She first gained public attention when she sang the theme song for the
ABS-CBN children's television series
Hiraya Manawari which was composed by
Ryan Cayabyab. In her teens, she rose to prominence as a solo artist after the release of her teen pop song "Crush ng Bayan". In 2000, she was featured in
Time magazine as a Hero for the Planet. The same year, Villonco's debut movie was
Ang Dalubhasa with co star the late the King
Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ. Villonco had her first solo concert
Cris at Dish in August 2003, a year which also saw the release of her third album for Viva Records. She graduated from
Sarah Lawrence College in May 2006, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in music and economic development. In 2007, she worked for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Manila and Asia Society Philippines. Villonco then returned to theater, appearing in such roles as Hodel in
Fiddler on the Roof and Ophelia in Ana Abad Santos-Bitong's
steampunk-influenced
Hamlet, for Repertory Philippines. In November 2016, she starred as
Alison Bechdel in the first international production of
Fun Home, which premiered in Manila, alongside
Lea Salonga as Helen and
Eric Kunze as Bruce. The production is directed by Bobby Garcia. A review in
ABS-CBN News said that she delivers "a heartbreaking performance ... often using only her expressive face to suggest the wave of emotions inside her. Her solo 'Telephone Wire', about the pall of what's unsaid between Alison and her father during [an] ill-fated drive dramatically captured the inner turmoil that Villonco lugs with her even after the curtain call." ==Stage and screen performances==