As the daughter of Filipino immigrants and mother of six children–two of whom were adopted from the Philippines - Stephanie writes stories that connect generations to promote a sense of worth and belonging that every immigrant desires. Additionally, her focus on the impact of colonization stems from her experience living on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in rural South Dakota where she saw firsthand how colonialism has impacted both Native Americans and Filipino people in similarly adverse ways.

In addition to these personal experiences, her public health background combined with her love for children uniquely propels her to take action to reverse the devastating mental health effects of assimilation and colonial mentality one story at a time. Research studies have shown thatthe suicide ideation rates in Filipina adolescents was higher than all ethnic groups (Agbayani-Stewart & Enrile, 2003; Wolf, 1997) and that Asian American and Pacific Islander youth suicide rates have been steadily increasing in recent years (Reyes, 2024; Keum, 2024). Stephanie believes her book, Time to Shine, can spark much needed discussion in countless struggling families and communities, having the potential to become a source of healing and hope for current and future generations.

Given that there are over 4.5 million Filipino Americans living in the US as of 2022, few children’s books have been written to address the unique issues faced by Filipino immigrant families. It is her hope that Time to Shine will help people in America better understand their Filipino neighbors while encouraging Filipino children and their families to take pride in their identity as both Filipinos and Americans.