" Mi Vida...hasta ahora"

About the Book

An old popular Spanish adage says “ Caminante no hay camino , se hace camino al andar” which roughly translated means “Traveler there is no path, you make the path as you walk”. A saying that accurately describes “Mi Vida…hasta ahora” (“My Life…until now”). This book puts an end to the autobiographical trilogy about the life and accomplishments of Doctor Luis R. Pastrana Silva. “Mi Calle, Mi Barrio, Mi Pueblo” , “Mi Vida …en uniforme”, and this “Mi Vida…hasta ahora” ( “My Street, My Neighborhood, My Town”, “My Life…in uniform”. My Life…until now”) By the anecdotes in this book you will undestand that in life there are no inmovible obstacles when it comes to realizing your dreams if you really want to realize the dream. That when it comes to making a dream a reality indeed there is no path and that you must make the path as you walk. In this book you will also come to understand, in this last saga of the trilogy , that there is nothing that defines us more as a person and as an adult that the childhood that our parents gave us. Without a doubt, you will also agree that perseverance is the key that opens each door in front of us during our entire lifetime regardless of the difficulties we may encounter as we build the path. That is what will make us leaders . “Mi Vida…hasta ahora” leaves us in each narrated adventure with a life experience that will forever remain in the memory of those that decide to read this autobiography by a marvelous author and human being.

About the Author

I am a product of the University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras campus. Born in its clinic a Saturday afternoon the 7th. of November, graduating from the its High School (UHS), receiving degrees in Business Administration, a Commission in the United States Regular Army, and a Juris Doctor. I have lived a varied and fulfilling personal and professional life. A life that would meet the approval of my forever role models and idols; my father, Jacinto Pastrana Pastrana and specially my mother Adelaida Silva de Pastrana. They knew how, by example and with a gentle push, my sister, Professor Ada Pastrana de Perez, and I could go beyond our own expectations of achievements in life. The military phase of my life spanned twenty one years. In those two decades I matured in a hurry. I learned how to manage human resources, time and material. That there is no one style of leadership that can be applied as a constant to different situations. That war is not always justified or justifiable. I worked in journalism, banking and business while pursuing my Juris Doctor degree at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law approving in my first try the Bar examination, Appointed by the Governor as CEO of a subsidiary of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Corporation (PRIDCO) named “Centro de Fomento de Empresas para Jovenes, Inc” In a period of one year: over three hundred unemployed professionals were employed in the corporation, more than two thousand young men and women were trained in how to manage their own business, and one thousand five hundred new small businesses were started and survived their first difficult year of operations. Indeed an effort to be proud. Leaving the corporation and with three law school classmates, opened our private law practice office. As Senior Partner I built a client base that included: individuals, corporations, and municipal governments. Once again, I was called to public service as Regional Director for the Southeastern states for the Federal Affairs Administration of Puerto Rico. Together with an enviable team of dedicated professionals, faced a great and worthy challenge. Helping to alleviate the concerns of hundreds of compatriots and Hispanics that are far from their place of origin was a very meaningful endeavor. Now, I am back teaching and trying to provide my college students the necessary tools so they can become better than us.