LIFE is difficult. This is the first line of the phenomenal book in 1978 entitled "The Road Less Travelled." This is also the description of people who have had to experience hard times. But Danilo Canon Galarion preferred to look at hardship as a privilege. His patience when he had nothing and his attitude when he seemed to have everything define his success now. Danny is now the Dean of the College of Education of the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep).
He does not only head the most populated course in the school; he becomes the inspiration of many who are from humble beginnings. His way to success was a product of pure determination, belief in oneself, and faith in God. In 1980 when Danny was just 18 years old, he worked in the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office as clerk.
Originally from Butuan City, he transferred to Davao City through the help of her aunt Nicanora Paquera who was then working with DepEd. He stopped for two years after graduating in elementary.
His father was a carpenter and his mother was a housewife taking care of his other five siblings.
He was the third in the family and sending them to school was a major strain to the family resources. As DepEd clerk right after high school, he lived at the Teachers’ Home of DepEd for free. He also ran errands for his officemates for free food. All his salary, he spent for tuition. He went to the University of Mindanao, Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC), defunct International Harvardian University, and finally at Agro-Industrial Foundation College, as he tried to find the school that best fit his budget and his time.
After his 8:00-5:00 work at DepEd, he attended night classes. Sicne he can only afford a few units every semester, it took him ten years to finish the four-year Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English. Mathematics was his strength, his weakness was English.
When his high school teacher asked him of his dreams, he said he would want to become an Engineer and his second option was to become a teacher. His teacher motivated him to take up Education and to major in English instead so he could improve on it.
He can vividly remember his teacher saying, “Maayo na ka sa Math, sa English na ka mag-concentrate (you are already good at Math, concentrate on English).” In 1990, he obtained his college diploma and proceeded immediately to his masteral studies. He finished his Master of Arts in Educational Management at RMC in 1992 and started teaching.
He was first assigned at F. Bangoy National High School (NHS). He rose from Teacher 1 to 3 until he was designated as Administrative Officer. Danny enrolled again in another masteral studies. He finished his Master in Public Administration at Usep in 1995. In 2005, he was promoted as principal of Dr. Dacudao NHS then he was transferred to G. Tajo NHS in 2007. He passed all the exams he took from Civil Service Exam to Licensure Examination for Teachers to Superintendent’s Exam just by reading a lot of newspapers, journals, and current events. In 2010, he transferred to Usep as Assistant Professor 4 then he became Program Head of the BEED Program, Director of University Evening Program, Director of University Review Center.
Danny obtained his doctorate degree in Educational Management at Southwestern University in Cebu City in 2011. From 2015 up to the present, he is the dean of the College of Education. He said he felt he already reached his maximum potential at DepEd.
He was Principal 1 and although he would like to achieve a higher position, every time he would apply, even if he ranked number one all the time, the position would always be given to somebody else. He preferred to interpret it as a sign that there is something else waiting for him. Apparently, it was the deanship, and more ahead. Danny is an educator and a family man.
He met his wife Joan in the early 90s when she was yet a new teacher. They got married in 1996.
They had their first child in 1997 but the baby only lived for 22 days because of congenital heart disease. In 2008, they were blessed with another baby, Daniel John, who is now seven years old. For Danny, it’s really all about touching lives.
It’s all about motivating young ones to love education for education is life.
While the book of M. Scott Peck started with life is difficult, it ended with the great truth: “Once we truly know that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult.”