His father, Orlando de Leon Sr. was a mainstay in our City Fire Department before he went to the land of milk and honey. He has a house in Dolores, City of San Fernando. His mother, Aida -- a registered nurse -- hails from Antimonan, Quezon.
As a father, what will you feel if your son graduates as class valedictorian?
"I feel as if I hit the lotto jackpot 50 times. The joy is computed in terms of the peso-dollar ratio because my son did the trick in New York," the elder de Leon justifiably smiles as he talks of his namesake son. Indeed, Orlando de Leon Jr., at 17, has the world on his feet. As a student of the Gorton High School, (Yankees, USA), he was selected captain of Academy Quiz Bowl, president of the American Red Cross Chapter and editor of the school year book. He garnered countless medals, topping almost all inter-school contests on general information. He is adept and interested in every subject but his forte is Chemistry International Science.
The International Science and Engineering Firm (Intel) is an annual competition for high school students in the US. The students make and show engineering models, computer demonstration and scientific projects as they are judged.
This year, the contest was held in Indianapolis, India from May 8 to 12, 2006. This is the largest science competition in the world as 1,400 students in various disciplines including chemistry, botany, engineering, physics and medicine, zoology, science and mathematics compete. Over 50 countries and all 50 states of America were represented in the fair.
Our Orlando Jr., a Pinoy from the City of San Fernando, represented New York in the joust. He was cited as one of the top presenters for his project, entitled "Synthesis and characterization of Co Facial 2n - Posphyrin Dimer with Bis. Fullene Adducts."
In an unprecedented move, the Westchester County where the Gorton Public School is located honored the Young Fernandino with a Board Resolution declaration May 22, 2006 as Orlando de Leon Jr. Day in that county.
Wow! No wonder the young Filipino-American was offered scholarships from various colleges. He chose the Northwestern University, which offered full scholarship in the field of chemistry.
What more, the young man is not the stereotype nerd you know. He smiles a lot. His talks are interspersed with "po" and "opo". He is against elitism of the rich. Let us listen to what he has to say:
"My parents wanted to send me to private school, believing it was the only way to get into a top university. I didn't want anything to do with private school's high prices, its students' sense of elitism so I chose a public school, Gorton." More importantly, he is proud to be a Filipino.
"I trace my roots in San Fernando. I want to return to see the place after I have finished my course," he quips.
Orlando de Leon Jr. represents what is the best in us. We can overcome our inferiority complex and come out on top of the world. The Pinoy is world-class.
Yes, the Fernandino can. The Filipino can. Orlando Jr. has shown that it can be done.
(October 12, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
