Filipino-American Author J.R. Arranguez Jr. Explores War, Immigration and Family Reconciliation in Novel 'Reminiscence'

The novel Reminiscence: Memories are Beyond Forgetting No Matter How Bitter They Are by Filipino-American author J.R. Arranguez Jr. presents a powerful historical and multicultural narrative inspired by real events that continues to resonate with readers seeking stories about family, resilience, and cultural identity. The work explores the generational effects of war through the journey of a young Filipina woman who loses her father in the Vietnam War before she is born, only to discover decades later that he survived and built a new life in America.

Inspired by true events, the story follows a protagonist who dreams first of meeting her father, then of becoming a nurse and building a new life in America. As she matures, she abandons hope of ever finding her father, but fate intervenes when she moves to North Carolina to work at a nursing home. There she falls in love with the grandson of a resident, a romance that leads to the shocking emotional discovery that her father is alive, living nearby with a new family. This narrative structure allows Arranguez to examine complex themes of lost and found family connections across cultural and generational divides.

The novel's exploration of immigrant experiences holds particular relevance in today's globalized world, where multicultural identities and family separation due to war and migration continue to affect millions. Arranguez's background as a Filipino immigrant who moved to the United States in 1994 informs the authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience. His professional history includes work as a media production specialist and editor for the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas, where he wrote articles, scripts, and produced documentaries before transitioning to full-time writing in North Carolina.

Reminiscence offers readers both heart-wrenching and uplifting moments as it examines the quiet strength of immigrant women pursuing dreams in unfamiliar places. The work contributes to important conversations about how war trauma extends beyond combatants to affect families across generations, particularly those separated by international borders. Additional content related to the author's work can be found through resources like the Global Book Network presentation featuring J.R. Arranguez Jr.

The novel's availability through major online retailers makes this multicultural narrative accessible to broad audiences interested in stories that reflect Filipino heritage while addressing universal human experiences. As Arranguez continues writing from his current base in Long Beach, California, with works including the children's book The Boy Who Hated Numbers, his body of work contributes to the growing representation of Asian-American voices in contemporary literature. The emotional depth and cultural authenticity of Reminiscence position it as a significant contribution to multicultural fiction that bridges understanding between diverse communities.