Into the Country of Standing Men

We all dream of a better future and of a better relationship. We all dream of a better family and of a better life. But how do we go about realizing these dreams? Is the degree of our dreams directly proportional to the degree of sacrifice required to achieve them? When physical separation from the husband, and separation from an only child is demanded of us, is it still worth pursuing that dream? Is not the nearness of a husband, the nearness of a son, the nearness of our family, the nearness of loved ones—a most wonderful dream? Is this not enough?

• Rey Ventura, Author

  Rey Ventura was born in Jones, Isabela, Philippines and has lived in Japan since 2001. His first book, Underground in Japan, was first published by Jonathan Cape in 1992 and was translated into French and Japanese. The sequel, Into the Country of Standing Men, was published by the Ateneo Press in 2007 and received the Global Filipino Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2008.