Title: The Distant Glow
Author: Terry I. Sarigumba
Publisher: Toplink Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1491844531
Pages: 572
Genre: Autobiography
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington

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Terry Sarigumba tells his story in the gentlest way possible. He is a good narrator, as readers can follow through all the events in his life. Terry starts by telling the reader about his roots and the poverty he experienced back in the Philippines. He came from a humble background but his family meant everything to him. At four years old in 1943, Terry witnessed the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Even as a baby, he was horrified by the events. He describes that period as the darkest hour of the Japanese soldiers’ atrocities, as the soldiers were aggressive and even grabbed little kids from their mothers, displaying their guns and other weapons. Terry goes on to write about his childhood. Some memories made him happy while others made him sympathize with his situation. Terry vividly talks about his parents’ relationship, his grandmother and the siblings and cousins he grew up with. His family was lovely.

Terry is an amazing writer and he has a way of making the reader feel as if they are part of his journey. Reading about him was a beautiful experience. Apart from getting to know how his life was, I enjoyed how he viewed the Universe and the plans he has for the future. There is a lot that can be admired from his life. His reasoning and way of thinking made me realize everything is possible if you have hope.

Terry Sarigumba takes us to a world where most of us have never been to. I imagined how life is in Corella, Bohol, Terry’s birthplace, and what has changed throughout the years. Life was not easy for the author; having to dropout of school at some point to help your parents in the farm is not what children wish to do when growing up. I, however, admired Terry’s resilience and faith in his work. I pictured him climbing the tall coconut trees and doing manual work to support his family, and admired all the work he did.

The title of the book is referenced in one of the chapters. Terry says that one evening after sunset as he was atop of one coconut tree, he saw a glow and muttered to himself that someday he would find out what causes the glow. He likened that glow to his targets in life. That was one of the things that pushed him to achieve his goals. Going to high school at age 20 was one of the most commendable things Terry did.

Terry’s story is not just any other ordinary story. It was not easy for him to beat every obstacle that stood in his way. He was brave, courageous, ambitious, and focused. All these qualities are what made him the great individual he is today. There are a lot of lessons one can take from reading Terry’s book. The best lesson I got was to not let poverty hinder you from achieving your true dreams. Things may seem tough but you need to keep pushing on. The Distant Glow is a great book for readers who need uplifting by reading other peoples’ stories.