User talk:Danny Leonera

Here you will see me as informal as possible. Neither my professional role nor my public life are the main interest here. It is me as a person. I am writing about me.

Nick named Danny. I was born in San Jose, Ternate, Cavite on April 7, 1960 and had all my education in Cavite and a part in Europe. I am the fifth in our family. In fact I am the first among my sibling who succeed in life. So I have some importance and responsibilities attached. I enjoy being what I am. I progressed through a totally normal life. The most important thing I have had was my parent’s care and inspiration to excel. Unfortunately I’ve lost my mother in 1996. I love her very much.

Now I am a Parisian and I dream of settling as a successful person in Paris, France and my favourite place on this planet. I live in Paris for almost 16 years from now. The first and foremost I miss (apart from my family of course) is the world famous Chicken Macaroni salad. Whenever I go home I make it to the point to enjoy the dish at least twice a weak.

In 1966 at the age of six I was a pupil of San Jose Elementary School and I transferred for Grade three to six at Ternate Central. I graduated with distinction during my primary school in 1972. After my secondary school in 1976, I took up Typing and Stenography at Tanza Secretarial School where I obtained first outstanding student during this period. I supported myself by working at Santo Nino Academy and took up night class at Western College, Naic, Cavite in 1977, where I developed to be a teacher with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education, Majoring in Mathematics and Science. Admitted Licensure Board Exam for Teachers in 1981. Teaching basic courses in Science and Mathematics at Santo Nino Academy was not fulfilling my aspiration. I’ve spent one year teaching in this institution created by Mrs. Erlinda H. Monteagudo who had developed me a test for the nearest of intelligence.

In 1982 I left home for the first time to Saudi Arabia and work as Secretary at the administration of Engineering Equipment Inc. It was not easy to our family but certainly it was very exciting and rewarding for me. I did it till 1985. I was promoted as Executive Secretary at the same company by the request of Mr. James W. Hay, my executive manager. Middle East is not my world so I decided to file my resignation and return back home and spent a year teaching in 1986.

Since that Philippine economy is getting worse, I went to Europe as a tourist in 1987 and aspiring for greener pasture by all means. Here, I found myself very interesting. Lot of challenges! I must speak the language so I could work. I started as Domestic Helper, which the Philippine Government proclaimed overseas DH was heroes! I serve myself by doing this job for several years. I met lot of European friends and since I was young then (not too old), I was encourage to pose in a different gay and straight magazine for my ethnic beauty as Asian Filipino. The magazine was published all around Europe and even in the United States for the rice king and queen. I am happy with this job but not a long lasting opportunity. I strived very hard and chances are on my way to work in different hotels.

Again, I went to school at night while working during the day. I took up French lessons at the University of Paris Alliance Frances where I was on top of the class among 38 students.

After my French studies, I took up Human Resources Management (HRM) for two semester at the American University, Paris, France.

From Housekeeper to Hotel Supervisor was the greatest gift I received by my inspiration. In 1998, I was the Representative Manager of Rent Paris, LLC. I am representing Paris which our main office situated in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. and to date I was the Manager occupying 48 hotel residential.

As a Manager, I help run the day to day operations of the hostel. I was responsible for activities such as personnel, accounting, office administrative, marketing, sales, purchasing, security and maintenance.

I have had the fortunate to learn and utilize a wide range of practical and commercial skills throughout my career. Both my professional and personal lives are oriented towards international contacts and cross-cultural understanding. My strength lie in the areas of organization, project management, team building and public relations.

My greatest accomplishment was I bought my own apartment in the heart of Paris. I travel a lot around Europe and much of the Eastern U.S.A.

Now that I have my own life in the city of Paris, I am proud to say I was once a part of Ternate or should I say Ternate was once a part of me. I will never forget this heaven – like place with warm and hospitable people – that is really something to be proud of.

My most private moment is watching the sun set with the music of Jean Sebastian Bach or even Andre Rieu and Mozart. This was my greatest pleasure…

Name			:	Danilo Danny Villaruel Zaragosa Catumber Leonera Home Address 	:	100 Av. Simon Bolivar 75019 Paris, France Home Phone No.	:	01 42 45 12 59 Mobile Phone No.	:	06 84 24 60 75 E-mail Address	:	dleonera@noos.fr Main Office Address	:	Rent Paris LLC 1220 North Market St;, Suite 606 Wilmington, DE 19861 U.S.A. Office E-mail Address:	rentparis@rentparis.com Fax			:	1-413-235-8886 Family Status		:	Single Nationality		:	Filipino Language Competence :	Ternate Chavacano Tagalog English & French

TERNATE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TERNATE, CAVITE 2003 GRADUATION ADDRESS By : Danny Villaruel Leonera

Thank you Claire, Mrs. Clarisa Dualan, distinguished members of the board, Mr. Generoso S. Corpuz, members of the Tenate National High School administration, Faculty, Proud parents, and class of 2003.

I would like to begin by acknowledging those of you especially the students, who made it possible for me to speak here today. This honor you have bestowed upon me is one of the highlights of my career. This gift you have given me has truly touched my heart, and so I thank you from the bottom of it. Perhaps thanks would be more gracious than mere acknowledgement but, I’m not all sure how it would be to say thank you for the stressful opportunity of speaking at the graduation ceremony of one own niece Ronel, cousin Noel, grandson Michael and all of you dear graduates. The pride and the inevitable sadness in saying goodbye to childhood are deeply felt by all, not by you only, but by the teachers and by the parents as well. This is an important moment.

While I am on the subject of giving thanks, I want each of you to think for a minute about what it took for you to get here. Who do you have an obligation to thank ? Think about it. Who helped you get here, a few yards away from a diploma, and minutes away from the end of your high school career ? Do me a favor, CLOSE YOUR EYES and think, who do you need to thank.

Some of you are thinking right now about a higher power, whose divine intervention has paved your way. Some of you are thinking about family. You may not know exactly where they are in this enormous facility, but they are here, and they picked you out of the crowd from the moment you came in. Their eyes are not on me right now, their eyes have always been on you, and now you can almost feel their pride and warmth on your skin. Some of you are thinking about an administrator or someone in guidance, who helped you when you needed it most. Some of you are thinking about a teacher, maybe the one who opened your mind, maybe the one who challenged you, encouraged you, believed in you, or taught you more than you anticipated. Some of you are thinking about those friends whose support, advise, and help running up your parent’s phone bill helped you become a better person.

Who ever you are thinking about, make sure you fulfil your obligation of saying thank you. (Now you can open your eyes). To say thank you, don’t give that dry, informal thank you that everyone says. Or thank you people say to be polite, or to get an extra graduation gift. Give them the thanks you owe them. Look them in the eye and tell them exactly what you are thankful for. Your sincere thanks may bring tears, but those tearful moments make for the world’s greatest hugs.

Class of 2003 will you promise to say thank you and fulfil your first obligation ?

After you give thanks, you must fulfil your second obligation. In a few minutes from now, you will turn your tassels and officially end your senior year. After that, you freshmen will begin to fulfil your second obligation. Yes, that’s right, I called you freshmen. After today that is what you will be. Most of you will be freshmen in college, some of you will be a fresh face at a fresh new job, and some of you will have fresh new hair cuts as you join the armed services. So, no matter what, you will be a freshman tomorrow.

As you start your fresh new lives, you owe one simple thing. Climb to the top of the mountain again. Rise to the top. This diploma you are about to receive, doesn’t represent a bunch of credits, it represents your ability to succeed. This diploma represents the fact that you are all proven winners. This diploma says you have the ability to achieve anything you set your mind to.

Everyone who helped you get here expects and believes that you will succeed in life. All we ask is that you believe it too. All we ask is that you leave here today and give 110% to your dreams and achieve them.

Class of 2003, Your destiny is greatness, will you promise to try and fulfil your obligation to succeed ? Remember, your graduation is not an end, but just a beginning of the rest your journey on this planet. We hold these commencement exercises therefore, to say goodbye to you and to wish you well on your journey.

As you leave the portals of the proud institution, we say goodbye to you. Your devoted parents who showered you with love and personal sacrifices in the last 15 or 16 years of your life, and your teachers who guided your way in the past four years, say goodbye to you, as you now get on a new caravan of dreams- - dreams of a successful career, a family, and hopefully, a role in nation-building.

It has been exactly 27 years now kwandu a gradwa yo na high school. Very memorable kel di motru graduation. Di pwedi yo habla alegri y malungkut. Alegri dahil we are one ! Nuway Valedictorian, nuway din Salutatorian maski honorable mention. We had all given then recognition as outstanding students of Batch ’76. Malungkut, kasi we are mourning dahil 3 diya bago di motru graduation ya muri una na di motru mestra. Todu motru ta yura habang ta kanta motru kel di motru graduation song Bridge Over Troubled Water. Mismu agora na mi piensa no yo guest speaker, mi feeling ay di gradwa rin yo companieru dis tedi. You must be proud of kasi todu dis tedi mestra ay taki na harapang dis tedi hanggang na dis tedi pusleru dia aqui na iskwela, and they are very pleased with your accomplishments and very proud of you young men and women, whom I will call the ¨Centennial Graduates¨.

I am very happy to see some very familiar faces in the faculty and among the parents out there, some of whom were my old classmates, 27 years ago. Kumusta kayong lahat diyan sa likod. I have been informed, by the way, that Mr. Corpuz after 27 years, remains the best History teacher you have anywhere !

Dear Graduates, as your own sun rises in the east, mine has now passed the point of higth noon, and in the gathering of dusk, I see you within the perspective of time. There are landmarks in my own career and my own life which I would like very much to share with you, in the hope of inspiring you on your journey. In the process, I will be invoking the names of some great people who have profoundly influenced my life.

My parents, first of all, who built me to excel where I am now. I remember my mother told me. ¨Anak, tayo ay hindi mayaman. Wala akong maipamamana sa iyo kundi ang aking talino at pinag-aralan. Ang tunay na kayamanan ng isang tao ay wala sa laki ng kanyang kabuhayan, wala sa dami ng pera sa bangko, wala sa ganda ng mukha o laki at ganda ng bahay at bakuran. Ang tunay na kayamanan ay nasa karunungan at pinagaralan, at sa magandang kalooban¨.

These words of wisdom inspired and carried me trough the rest of my life. After high school, I was fortunate to attend a college only by supporting my own self because my parents could not have been able to afford it, by any stretch of the imagination. I felt like I was the poorest boy in the class, which I probably was. I only had two pairs of khaki pants and two pairs of white shirts, which I alternated washing every night. My sister know this very well and will fondly remember it.

In my group, I was the only one who feels so sorry. When my rich classmates were out having good time with their friends, I was in my own room alone, earning my spending money by typing my clients term papers. When I graduated, I had higher grades than any of my rich classmates, who had all the luxuries and conveniences in life. Today, they respect me and look up to me !

The point of this story is Poverty : Poverty is no excuse, and being poor is no hindrance to success, as long as you have the tenacity to survive and determination to succeed. Think ! Think like an eagle and you will fly like an eagle. When stumbling blocks are thrown your way, use them as stepping stones. When dark clouds hide the day, look for the silver lining that leads to a bright and sunny sky. Armed with an invincible weapon that is your solid dedication and hard work can take you !

I want you to understand then, that there is nothing nobler, stronger, healthier, and more helpful in life than a good remembrance, particularly a remembrance from our childhood. when we still lived in our parents house. You often hear people speak about upbringing and education, but I feel that a beautiful, holy memory preserved from the early childhood can be the most important single thing in our development. And if a person succeeds, in the course of his life, in collecting many such memories, he will be saved for the rest of his life. And even if we have only one such memory, it is possible that it will be enough to save us some day.

Graduates, I challenge you to prepare for the new global economy are many and formidable, but for those who can prepare for it by pursuing the right careers and having right frame of mind, the rewards will be great. My personal advise to you is to choose careers that will give you the opportunity to learn to use computers, browse the Internet, learn about other cultures and maybe even familiarize yourselves with foreign languages. Seize every opportunity at your disposal to go abroad, even for a brief study of work assignment. The next century is the Information Age. In order to survive and get ahead, you must be conversant with the modern tools of information technology, such as computers and telecommunications. Some ot these you can learn in school. Some you can learn on your own, and apply the principles to whatever profession or field of endeavor you might choose to pursue.

My parting message to you, my dear graduates is this : Whatever career you decide to pursue, and whatever faith leads you, be the best that you can possibly be. Let shine in you - - in your hearts, in your words and in your actions – the best image of the Filipino and the best image of the Ternatenos that you can possibly present – without arrogance and without apology, but with dignity and pride ! I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GODSPEEDS ! GRADUATES, CONGRATULATIONS !