I was bon on September 18 in the Clínica Zamora in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. My father, Oscar Valle, a native of Mayagüez, was a news reporter for El Mundo newspaper. He was an author and also taught theater. My mother, Monserrate Ferrer Méndez, is also an author and teacher. She supervised the Spanish and theater curriculum in the public school system until her retirement in 1991. Since then until the present (2008) she is a professor of education and Spanish at Universidad Interamericana at Aguadilla. From both of my parents the love for the arts and the respect for our language was acquired, They were and are my guide for all aspects of my life.

I come from a humble, working class home. I grew knowing that work makes you what you are and that whatever talent one may have is an undeserved gift from God. My singing started with don Carlos Ruíz at Mayagüez, then I was a regular singer in the television program Borinquen Canta for 3 years.

Then I started singing Tangos, thanks to the urging of two great friends, don Pin Grafals and Antonio Guzmán Juarbe, both deceased. As an adolescent, I spent much time singing and writing songs. I worked on the culture promotion program of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, always aware that I needed another profession that would give me a lifetime stability and a healthy routine, around which my activities would revolve.

I didn't stray too far... I teach theater at Colegio San Antonio at Isabela. That is where my energies are directed. I really enjoy to see my students act, dance and develop their talents and abilities for coping with life and the difficult situations they will encounter in life.

I'm passionate about animals and have many cats, dogs, birds and fishes. They are the children I don't have. I protect them in this world where they are not cared. They are an important part of the healthy lifestyle routine I wanted and want to protect.

I prefer the simple life, I enjoy music, the theater, television and a good book. I love detective novels and mysteries on television. A dose of horror doesn't hurt... I'm... ¡just like anyone else!

At college, and at the theater classes, I came across with the most fascinating man in history: Charlie Chaplin. I read all his biographies, saw almost all his films. Above all, I fell in love with the extraordinary human being, occasionally misunderstood. Chaplin is not only The Little Tramp, little Charlot with mustache, hat and cane. He was for me an encyclopedia of life to which I could (and still can) refer to when human nature confuses. I cried his death, but I still recall and enjoy his memories within me.

As for music, I enjoy them all if they make me think and refresh my soul.  My songs vary from romantic to social themes, preferring to write the latter. I have records with my songs, two with the songs of Edmundo Disdier, one of composer Noel Estrada, one of composer and singer Bobby Vélez, and an now a fantastic two cd production of songs by Guillermo Venegas Lloveras.

I can enjoy singers Ednita Nazario , Juan Luis Guerra, Il Divo, Mozart and Pearl Jam, if the songs touch me.  I grew up listening to Trío Vegabajeño, Rafael Hernández, Sylvia Rexach: I love latin american music and respect new music genres that emanate from social and human conditions.

I like puertorican literature, with Manuel Méndez Ballester being my favorite author.

From the outside world... Richard Bach and his Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Og Mandino and his The Christ Commission and The Greatest Miracle In The World. Edgar Alan Poe, Oscar Wilde y Eugene O'Neil.

I'm a simple person, but I feel that only I know myself, a little.

...And of all, only one person has control of my life, Jesus, who  makes me behave before my Creator, to whom I owe what I am.

...Yeas, I can say that thanks to it all, I am happy...

...I hope that with my voice and the songs of Venegas, you are happy too.
Then I will know it was worth it.... thank you for allowing it.

Diana Olivia Valle