Driving Forces

by Carol Fortino

THE Many forces drive us into the decisions we new opportunity, chance meetings, rebel causes. Dr. Louise Hammel, an American-Australian, takes a job in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, as a Regional Long-Term Advisor for an educational program called PROMES. Her assigned Filipino driver, Rico Bernales, becomes enamored with a Muslim widow whose uncle is the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Rico is unwittingly drawn into the nefarious and dangerous underworld of the rebels.As the year progresses, Louise becomes more savvy in negotiating her way through complex issues of Filipino human relations, religion, education, culture and politics, but she is unable to help her driver with his personal entanglements. In the end, Louise must decide if she will return home to the USA leaving her driver to extricate himself from the vortex of impending dangers.

BOOK REVIEWS Carol Fortino has woven an interesting tale, impressively detailed, melded with education, customs, culture and traditions of Catholic and Muslim Filipinos and the conflicts between them. The story is intertwined with romance, family conflict, betrayal, graft, subversion and disaster. The book illustrates a good comparison of the differences in cultures among the Philippines, Australia and America. Victor Moss, author of Beware the Wolves, a Soviet WWII Love Story (a potential Hollywood motion picture)

a thoughtful fictionalized memoir of an American ex-pats life moving between the radically different cultures of Australia and the Philippines. The rich individuals of the book paint a raw rubbing of fundamentally different ways of conceiving the worldas well as the precariousness of life in a nation haunted by the mixed blessings of so-called modernity and a particularly fragile environment...a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read." Jim ODonnell, author of Notes for the Aurora Society and Rise and Go

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2013

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of how innocent people can be pulled into schemes without fully realizing what is happening is set on the Philippine island of Mindanao, which is beset by harsh weather, volcanoes, poverty, and active terrorism. The American-Australian author used her own experiences working for a government education project on Mindanao for a year amidst some deep personal turmoil as the basis for a fictional story about a hired driver who finds himself being drawn into a dark and possibly dangerous organization. In the book she weaves delightful details of her recollections with her knowledge of Filipino life, politics, and religion so that the reader learns quite a lot about the Philippines while following the fascinating story. It is like visiting the island with an experienced tour guide taking you by the hand. The author illustrates how the desperate poverty and often unfair treatment of the muslim minority have led to rebellions, but always keeps her rational, deeply caring standpoint. This book can be seen as a thoughtful cry for peace and understanding between religions and cultures.

A lot of the customs and foods encountered in the Philippines are described and the author has kindly attached a glossary of Filipino and Aussie terms at the back of the book, along with a cast of characters, all of which I found helpful. I know now about 500% more about the Philippines than I did before reading the book and enjoyed every minute of this education. Interestingly, despite the real hazards of visiting the island, this book made me very much want to visit Mindanao! The book would probably not be considered great literature, but it is a great read, despite being so educational, and a perfect book for a holiday weekend. I finished it in a day because I just couldn't put it down.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about an American who, facing a failing marriage to an Australian man, takes a position in the Philippines. She has an interesting life as an expat during a time of increasing unrest. The story also follows her Filipino driver and his personal and political struggles.

The book reads more like a diary than a novel. There is little dialog, most conversations are described. The dialog that does occur often sounds overly formal, like a guidebook.

The main character is open and makes friends, getting to experience much of the local lifestyle. I would have liked to know more about her day-to-day life.

Overall, 3.5 stars.