About Patrice
Patrice Villastrigo is a native of San Antonio, Texas, USA. After working abroad for many years, she returned to San Antonio and attended nursing school. Then, wanting to learn more about the human body and psyche, she furthered her education attaining degrees in Psychology, Education and Counseling. During the course of her time at University of Texas at San Antonio, Patrice created a Family Residence Counseling Institute, and a new technique for Drama Therapy, which she successfully implemented in her practice. She was awarded for outstanding achievement and excellence in her field by Sigma Chi Iota, the local chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an International Psychology Honors Society, of which she was a member. Patrice spent many years working with and being mentored by Toltec Nagual, Miguel Ruiz, and his family members, including learning about energy and natural, healing with don Miguel's mother, Sarita. Patrice also raised her daughter under his tutelage, during which time don Miguel adopted the teen and presented her on stage at a conference. Patrice has facilitated Context Training – restructuring how you think, and been a student of EST and ESP development. She has a keen sixth sense!
For over thirty years, Patrice has lead groups on personal growth journeys around the world, including North, Central and South America, and Egypt. She has been a student of and practiced natural healing since her teen years. She owns a publishing company and has penned books in a variety of subjects, from Poetry to Healing. One of her most popular books she co-authored, edited and published, and produced a documentary is about Incan healing with Dr. Manuel Canales Morales, a naturopath based in Arequipa with clinics all over Peru. The book is full of remedies and cures that Dr. Canales procured from papachos (village/tribal healer – not the shaman) across Peru for the past 30 years. Hence the title, Papacho Remedies: Incan Healing Secrets.(Available in English and Spanish!) This book and Patrice's other books can be found on Amazon.com and in bookstores.
Patrice is best known for her positive outlook and for sharing her loving heart. Currently, she has a counseling office and healing center at an historic estate known as The Historic Jackson Ranch, @HistoricJacksonRanch, where she and others facilitate whole health seminars, yoga, tai chi, and more, often in the Chakra Garden. In 2000, Ms. Villastrigo acquired The Jackson Ranch which at one time was the spiritual grounds for different Native American peoples. With the help of the San Antonio Conservation Society and City officials, Ms. Villastrigo researched the property history and was able to deem it a National Landmark.
The estate is currently utilized for seminars, ceremonies, music concerts, weddings, private events, Haunted Mansion Sleepovers, a bi-annual Renaissance Faire, other festivals, and more. Patrice has a whole health integrative healing practice there, utilizing her knowledge and experience with herbal, intuitive and energy healing, as well as life counseling to assist folks in maintaining healthy balance in all areas of life. You may read the history of The Jackson Ranch here: Jackson Ranch Website
Books
Patrice has penned several books on a wide variety of subjects, from healing and poetry to cookbooks and biographical novels.
She has always been an avid reader. As a young girl, she started writing short stories. She had so many interests to attend to, they had to be short! To this day, Patrice carries a moleskin to write stories, poetry, and ideas in.
At most events at The Jackson Ranch, Patrice will sign copies of her books and CDs.
FILM
Patrice has been involved in the film industry as an extra and actress since the 1970's. However, in the 1990's she turned her focus 'above the line' concentrating more on producing and as a creative consultant.
Her current project is a 16 episode series titled, ' Richie Cole, The Mexico Jazz Tour.' Proceeds benefit The Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund, for musicians in medical need, a division of The Jazz Foundation of America.
Subcribe to, then, peruse Patrice's YouTube channel, Skinny Llama Productions, to see projects she has created, produced, or starred in.
Patrice manages the film studio, Dream Sets SA, on the grounds of the historic Jackson Ranch.
Patrice is an avid photographer with a rotating exhibit spanning many countries titled, Journey Into Civilizations. She has exhibited her art in various restaurants and galleries around the world. Her father, Bob Collins, also a photographer and cinematographer, was a profound influence on her saying that she possesses an "uncanny sense of timing and perfect photographic eye." Patrice says that “since childhood, my imagination lead me to creative outlets of all kinds, drawing, painting, sculpting, singing, writing, photography, and even designing matching clothes for Barbie and myself. I investigate often uncommon sources to search for that perfect shot, combining the composition of color, depth, form, and beauty. Creating art using a variety of resources, I must admit that the camera lens is my favorite medium!”
MUSIC
Patrice inherits her musical ability from her ancestors. Her paternal grandparents were in Vaudeville and Broadway. Her maternal grandfather managed piano stores. Patrice began her musical career with Judy Garland. Since she was eight years old, she sang along with her mother's Judy Garland albums every day. Once in a while, young Patrice would sneak into a club and sing with her older brother, pianist, vocalist and composer, Vance Villastrigo. Having no formal music training, she just keeps on singing because she loves to sing! Patrice once said, "For me, singing is like breathing, I can't live without it!" At Disneyland, as a young teenager, Patrice sat in on one song, with jazz legends Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan. Afterwards, Patrice said to them, "All I want to do is sing, it is my life, Do you have any advice?" Basie replied, "Just do it, baby!" And so, she does!
Patrice has performed across North America and around the world for the past 30 years, from The White House to Luxembourg, South Africa, and Peru. Allowing other business to come first over the years, Patrice put her recording career on the back burner, happy just to perform. Yet, she never stopped singing or performing! Her drive to sing is so powerful that she performs following each event at her events center, The Jackson Ranch, and invites others to do so as well. Patrice even sang to her daughter upon her birth, which stopped the young babe from crying!!
A SONG FOR YOU
Friends who performed around the USA with Patrice, the late Texas Music Hall of Famer Spot Barnett, and superb pianist, the late, Tony Lara, talked her into recording a CD. They recorded with her, A Song For You, in San Antonio, Texas.
GOLDEN ORCHID
Her next CD was recorded in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, after touring and filming friends in an all star jazz band. She talked the band into recording with her. Her friend, tour headliner and world famous alto sax player, Richie Cole, was thrilled to do so, as was the rest of the band. That CD, Golden Orchid was added to and mixed at Gene Perla's studio, in Easton, Pennsylvania, where Patrice's nephew, New York actor, Michael Villastrigo, joined her on 2 songs.
LEAP OF LOVE
Another CD, Leap of Love, was released on February 29, 2016, leap day, leap year, and Richie Cole's birthday!! It features some of Patrice's favorite songs and composers, such as Freddie Mercury, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Leonard Cohen, Harold Arlen, and Paul Anka. Musicians on the CD include Richie Cole, Van Wilks, Al Gomez, and Michael Martin.
NO KID HUNGRY
In 2020, Patrice performed at a concert benefiting No Kid Hungry during the Covid pandemic. Accompanied by Ray Symczyk on guitar and Chris Guerrero on piano, The concert took place in 2 parts. The resulting CD also benefits No Kid Hungry.
PATRICE'S HOLIDAY
Patrice' s Holiday is a Limited Edition CD, released in 2022. This will not be found on any streaming sites. Send a message to the enclosed email address to purchase a copy.