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From Padre Garcia to Harvard University: The Journey of Arnel Casanova

In the article I’ve posted yesterday (Famous Batangueños: From the Pages of History and Beyond), you’ve read about our kababayans who became popular in their chosen field.

You’ve read the names of national heroes, public servants, celebrities, literary genius, etcetera. I have one name which I intentionally did not include. Actually, it was because of him that I came up with that article yesterday. He is Arnel Casanova. A Batangueño in Harvard University.

I’ve read his story yesterday in TheManilaTimes.net and so I thought of sharing his story with you guys.

You can treat this as the sequel of yesterday’s post – minus the popularity meter. Arnel Casanova grew up in Padre Garcia where his family used to live a struggling life, swaying to and fro on the poverty line. He went to a public school for his elementary education. This was where his eyes were opened to the biases in the society; to the hurtful truths distinguishing the line between the fortunate and the less fortunate.

From the walls of the seminary, where he finished high school, he was determined to attain a higher education. Arnel realized he was not shaped to become a priest. With strong determination, he discarded everything that blocked his way to achieve what he long wanted – a UP education. From Batangas, he moved to Manila and juggled from one job to another in order to sustain his college education.

Because of his hard work, he finished his degree in English. A year after graduation, he decided to enter UP College of Law. And so he did. He worked at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process while studying. On his fifth year in the college of law, he moved to the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). From Head Executive Assistant, Arnel climbed his way to being the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.

It was in BCDA where he was faced with grueling challenges; with unwanted issues of bad, unethical leadership. But once an activist, always an activist. Despite gaining enemies, Arnel stood still, holding on to his principles.

Until the opportunity to study in Harvard came his way. Arnel got in to John F. Kennedy School of Government where he took up his master’s degree in Public Administration. He is currently the executive director of Asia Society here in the Philippines. Asia Society produces young leaders, just like Arnel Casanova.

With all these, I hope to meet him someday. So if anyone of you knows him, please let me know. =)

This is Arnel Casanova. An achiever. A global leader. A Batangueño.

About Publisher

JR Cantos is the Publisher of WOWBatangas.com. Some of the articles here on the website have been contributed over the years, so please just email us at help (at) wowbatangas.com if you have any concerns. Salamat!

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No comments

  1. Thanks Dyann for this. Isa ako sa malapit na tao sa buhay nya at isang saksi sa kabutihan ng kanyang puso.

    Just let me know if you want to meet him. Taga-Garcia laang kami.Kung taga-Lipa ka, napakalapit natin. 🙂

  2. Thanks Dyann for this. Isa ako sa malapit na tao sa buhay nya at isang saksi sa kabutihan ng kanyang puso.

    Just let me know if you want to meet him. Taga-Garcia laang kami.Kung taga-Lipa ka, napakalapit natin. 🙂

  3. yan ang pinsan ko.ü

  4. yan ang pinsan ko.ü

  5. Hi Dyan! Thanks for the great article you wrote about me though sometimes I do feel unworthy of the accolades. I look forward in meeting you one of these days. =) Let me know.

    Arnel

    • Sir Arnel! I’m delighted to see this message of yours. It’s nice to know that some of your relatives and friends are readers/supporters of WOWBatangas. Sir Dodo Capunpon helped me get your contact number. He’s just so nice he even visited your mom and told her how I wanted to meet you po.

      I hope that when you get back here in Batangas, we could interview you and have a sequel of this article I’ve posted. It would be our honor to have a conversation with you soon. Thank you so much and God bless you Sir Arnel!

      • Hi Dyan! Dodo has my number. Send me text message when you want to have the interview and I will arrange my schedule. =)

        Thanks!

        Arnel

  6. Hi Dyan! Thanks for the great article you wrote about me though sometimes I do feel unworthy of the accolades. I look forward in meeting you one of these days. =) Let me know.

    Arnel

    • Sir Arnel! I’m delighted to see this message of yours. It’s nice to know that some of your relatives and friends are readers/supporters of WOWBatangas. Sir Dodo Capunpon helped me get your contact number. He’s just so nice he even visited your mom and told her how I wanted to meet you po.

      I hope that when you get back here in Batangas, we could interview you and have a sequel of this article I’ve posted. It would be our honor to have a conversation with you soon. Thank you so much and God bless you Sir Arnel!

      • Hi Dyan! Dodo has my number. Send me text message when you want to have the interview and I will arrange my schedule. =)

        Thanks!

        Arnel

  7. arnel,

    wow..your such an inspiration…go pinsan…I’m proud of you..

    becca

  8. arnel,

    wow..your such an inspiration…go pinsan…I’m proud of you..

    becca

  9. Iam so so proud of you Kua arnel, @dyan, i will wait for the next episode of your article and i knw that many Batangueños are waitin for this… More power to you and to you kua arnel!! God always Bless you more n more!!!:-)

  10. Maricar Villamil

    very proud to work for him and to know him for almost 9 years. brilliant. humble. intense. admirable.

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