A Touch of Life (Final Edition)

I had always dreamed of writing a book since I came to the United States. I carried a journal with me and would write down thoughts whenever inspiration came, but life became busy with work and raising a family. Before I knew it, my children had grown up, finished college, built families of their own, and blessed me with grandchildren. Then came retirement, and with time finally available, my old dream of writing returned. I prayed to Divine Providence and asked that the first title that came to my mind would be the one chosen for my book. That title was A Touch of Life. A Touch of Life is my autobiography, or memoir, told through a collection of stories from my childhood in Panganiban, Philippines, during the difficult years of World War II and its aftermath. As a young boy, I witnessed the hardships and atrocities brought by war, including the Japanese occupation and the eventual liberation of the Philippines. But liberation did not immediately bring an easy life. Poverty, hunger, disease, and the lack of resources made the years after the war extremely difficult. Through it all, however, my family never lost hope or faith. We believed that God would never abandon us, even during the darkest moments. These memories could have disappeared with the passing of time, but I chose to preserve them as a legacy for my children, grandchildren, and future generations. I want my story to remind everyone that poverty is not permanent, nor is it a reason to give up on life or success. For me, hardship became a teacher-it made me more compassionate, kinder, and more understanding of others. Looking back, I often ask myself, What if I had not finished high school? What if I had not graduated as valedictorian? What if I had not finished college? I believe those experiences, along with faith and perseverance, helped shape the life I was blessed to live.