Title: The Magistrate: Family Man, Fisherman, Friend
Author: Deborah Ann Gomez
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media, LLC
ISBN: ‎ 1638710589
Pages: 206
Genre: Biography
Reviewed By: Dan MacIntosh

Read Book Review

This story of one man’s life is titled The Magistrate: Family Man, Fisherman, Friend, and its subtitle goes in that order for good reasons. Although Rick Siangco is pictured on the cover holding a big, recently caught fish, fishing was something Siangco did for fun. However, ‘family man’ is placed before fishing because Siangco – who comes from a big family – always tries to put his family first. In this biography of his life, the reader learns much about the man’s family because he is involved so deeply in their lives. He oftentimes uses his financial success to help others in his family, whether that involves giving them an opportunity to vacation with him or provide air fare for family to attend family member funerals. Family is a high priority in this man’s life, without question.

Unlike biographies of public figures, this book is the story about a relatively normal guy. Although he rubbed shoulders with governors and even a big celebrity (Kris Kristofferson), his tale is mainly peopled with normal men and women – like him. These include family, of course, as well as folks he worked with in his many career roles, including government and education positions. The book states multiple times how Siangco doesn’t drink alcohol. Nevertheless, he comes off as the kind of guy with whom you’d like to have a beer – even if his drink is a Coke or a near beer.

The book is structured relatively chronologically, tracing his youth in Hawaii, as well as much of his professional life in Alaska. The book’s main title (The Magistrate) is taken from the fact that Siangco was a judge in Alaska. A lot of the content is focused upon his work there and his courtroom style, which could oftentimes be humorous.

However, the most fascinating chapter in this work is chapter 22, which is called “The Mystics and Healers.” Coming at the end of a relatively straightforward event-by-event description of Siangco’s life, this chapter begins: “Spiritual phenomena are commonplace around our family.” The notion that ‘spiritual phenomena’ and ‘commonplace’ are utilized in the same sentence, should give you a clue that this was not at all any sort of typical family It continues by telling us how “the Siangco family’s roots are embedded in the Siquijor Island in the Philippines. The island is known as “the mystic island.”  Later in the chapter, we’re introduced to Siangco’s uncle, Victor Omilig, who is described as a spiritual healer. We then read about this uncle’s healing is of a schoolteacher friend’s sunburn. “My uncle told Arlene to remove her blouse so he could see the burned area,” we’re told. “Then I watched as he spread his hands over Arlene’s shoulder without touching her. As he spread his hands slowly over the blisters, I saw blisters disappear.” This is amazing! Although the book alludes to different Rick Siangco religious affiliations, he doesn’t tell us in this chapter where this uncle’s healing power comes from. Nevertheless, it doesn’t sound like any sort of Christian faith healing, that’s for sure.

Of course, the book contains many fishing stories. However, most all of these also involve other family members or close friends. Once again, the book paints Siangco as the ultimate unselfish man. It’s as though he doesn’t ever want to experience the best activities in life alone. If you can’t share good times with a loved one or family member, we’re led to believe, why even do it at all?

Without being put into a self-help format, this book is packed with lessons about life and how to live it. At one point, Siangco tells us that he was raised with the belief that if you’re always helping others, you’ll never go without having anything you need. You can call this karma, the golden rule or anything you like. Whatever this life principle is, though, Rick Siangco’s life is proof positive that devotedly living by it works.