He initially took up 3 years of Civil Engineering studies in Cebu Institute of Technology before taking the entrance examinations of the Philippine Military Academy.

He spent his early years in the military service mostly in combat assignments in Northern and Central Luzon and the provinces of Samar during the height of the CPP/NPA rebellion in the 1970s and 1980s.

Yano hugged the limelight when, as Task Force Zamboanga Chief, he acted as overall ground tactical commander during the infamous Cabatangan crisis in 2001 that led to the successful release of over a hundred civilian hostages and eventually liberated the Cabatangan Complex in Zamboanga City from over 300 fully armed MNLF Breakaway Group elements.

This crucial battle earned him the moniker “Liberator of Cabatangan” from the late City Mayor – Maria Clara Lobregat.

After his duty tour in Zamboanga City, he was personally handpicked by then SOUTHCOM Chief Gen Roy Cimatu to command the 601st Army Brigade in Socsargen at the height of terrorist bombings that rocked General Santos in 2002.

[6] The Commission on Appointments (CA) finally confirmed on June 11, 2008, en masse several top government officials, including Yano amid walk outs by Senators Jamby Madrigal and Panfilo Lacson.

Yano ran for Mayor of the Municipality of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte for the 2019 Philippine general election, but was defeated by former Congressman Rosendo Labadlabad.