The Magistrate is truly a modern Americana story of a first- generation immigrant son born in Hawai'i who learns to balance his 1950s American values with those of the old country that his parents brought with them from the Philippine Islands. Born in 1939 in Hawai'i, Rick's mother dies of cancer when he is 5 years old. His eldest sister promises their mother on her dying bed to raise him and his siblings, six children, 3 months to 10 years old, together with her own eventual 9 children. Taking one day and one life experience at a time, Rick finds himself at many conflicting crossroads, where doors open serendipitously, it seems, and he is eventually appointed Alaska's first Filipino magistrate. This immigrant family thrives as new Americans while establishing their family legacy of loving God, loving family, and serving humanity. Excellent read to understanding the American immigrant experience.