Emmanuel Ramos misses his mom and dad. They are on the island of Saipan working.
He is in Manila, Philippines, with his aunt, cousins and grandparents. Will his parents ever come back
for him? Will he ever see them again? Will Emmanuel's big dream to be with his parents on Saipan ever
come true? Find out >>
Scenes from the story!
Little Emmanuel is sad. His parents send toys, but what he really wants are his parents.
However, his aunts and cousins do their best to give him a normal life while
they are away!
Here he is watching the dolphin show in Manila.
Will he ever see his parents again? Will Emmanuel's big dream to be with his parents on Saipan ever
come true? Find out >>
Click below to order The Boy Who Dreamed to Be with His Parents on Saipan! by Riza Ramos:
Riza is busy working on her next book. It's almost complete! It's been a long time coming... It's top secret....Stay tuned, and join Riza's mailing list for the big announcement!
Other Saipan-related books
I just love your book and the story. It puts a face on the children who have foreign workers as parents.
It is so endearing and beautifully told. I am going to ask my county's librarians to buy the book for our school libraries.
Please let me know when another book comes out. Much love and best wishes to you and your precious family!"--
Wendy Doromal, activist, the UnheardNoMore blog(a forum for social justice dedicated to human rights, freedom, justice and democracy for the foreign contract workers in
the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.)
*****
"It's been a while since a book affected me this much.... excellent and heart warming book.
I really enjoyed reading it! I was initially thinking that it was a children's book, but my whole family loved
it. Well illustrated and the story is filled with love and inspiration. An expression of parents' love for
their kids. A must have for every family. I will recommend this book to my children's teacher. Can't wait for
another best from this author."--Dandy
*****
This is really great! This story is going to appeal to a lot of migrant workers kids, of which I am one.
And it's also relevant even if you're not. There are many families whose parents work all week away from home,
and their kids. I'm an adult with my own children now, but I related so much to Emmanuel's story. This feeling of what you
love most tearing you away from those you love is something as a kid you just kind of observe and sit with,
but that upon reflection as an adult, you realize what hard emotions you had to try and make sense of at a very early age.
Also, this concept of your parents working because they love you is just impossible to justify in your head at that age.
I just remember hearing the words but having my emotional words playing tennis with those and mine always winning.
I could go on and on...I really liked it, and it sent me many years back to memories I had buried away. Riza,
I think you have a great story and a huge market! The developing world experiences this daily!
--R.R. (Brooklyn, New York)
"This book captures a reality that affects millions of families worldwide. It's written
from a child's perspective, but anyone who has ever had to feel the pain of
separation from a loved one leaving to seek a better life, to work abroad,
or to serve in the military will be able to relate. Sometimes it takes
seeing the world through a child's eyes to make things crystal clear."--Walt F.J. Goodridge,
author of Living True to Your Self
Riza Oledan-Ramos grew up in Cabucgayan, Biliran, Philippines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Martinez Memorial College in Cabucgayan City, and is currently a staff nurse at the Commonwealth Health Center on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. She has written dozens of poems, and is currently writing a series of children's non-fiction books.
An interview with the author:
On August 18, 2009 my third grade son asked me to help him with his school project in Language under Mrs.
Frances Taimanao in Mt. Carmel School, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. However,
this was not the usual project or art work like he has had since the first grade. It was his autobiography.
We started collecting his baby pictures and revisited events that had occurred in his life. My son shared
his thoughts as we looked at the photographs. As I input his words into the computer, he told me things he remembered,
things he actually felt, and things that I had missed while I was away from him.
As I typed, I realized that to capture his thoughts accurately, I needed to put myself in his shoes,
and think like a child. I asked my son for things I could hardly describe, but he was smart enough to answer me in
a child’s way. During the process, I felt how sad it is for a child to be left by his/her mom or dad. I imagined
how many children are being left by mothers or fathers for jobs far from home.
As we finished my son’s project, I had an idea that we could actually make a real book; a book worthy
enough to share with the world. Every day in the Philippines and around the world many parents are
leaving their home country to find work elsewhere to give their children a better future. I, for one, am one of these parents.
My brother and brother-in-law also work in foreign countries, all with the same motivation: to gain a better life for us and our children.
This is a story not just for Filipino children, but for all children in the world with a mom or dad living far away,
who in one way or another have had the same experiences as my son.
This book is not only for kids to enjoy, but also for parents. This will be like your child
opening his feelings to you. My aim is not only to make it a memorable experience for children,
but also to touch a parent's heart with simple words from a child’s point of view. HAVE FUN READING!
On sale at the Commonwealth Health Center Giftshop on Saipan!
Ahora EN ESPAÑOL!
Little Emmanuel is sad. His parents send toys, but what he really wants are his parents.
However, his aunts and cousins do their best to give him a normal life while
they are away!
Here he is watching the dolphin show in Manila.
Riza is busy working on her next book. It's almost complete! It's been a long time coming... It's top secret....Stay tuned, and join Riza's mailing list for the big announcement!
Riza Oledan-Ramos grew up in Cabucgayan, Biliran, Philippines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Martinez Memorial College in Cabucgayan City, and is currently a staff nurse at the Commonwealth Health Center on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. She has written dozens of poems, and is currently writing a series of children's non-fiction books.
On August 18, 2009 my third grade son asked me to help him with his school project in Language under Mrs.
Frances Taimanao in Mt. Carmel School, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. However,
this was not the usual project or art work like he has had since the first grade. It was his autobiography.
On sale at the Commonwealth Health Center Giftshop on Saipan!
