White Redling

About the Book

Two Caucasian hybrids find themselves caught in the maelstrom of student activism in an American university in Southeast Asia. Yet all they wanted was to fulfill their cherished childhood dreams: David wants to paint and drive around the world in a red Mustang, while Archie wants to rule his province one day. Little does David realize that when he gets sworn into the underground Communist Party, against the wishes of his girlfriend Juliet, it would turn his poverty-stricken world upside down. When the rebels ambush a general, something goes terribly awry and he decides to bolt the movement.

He boards a ship and heads south, deep into Islamic Mindanao, seeking his long-lost pal Catinao, a half-Chinese Muslim, who helps him out, till the enigmatic American plantation owner himself, Van Custer, for some mysterious reason, gives him sanctuary. In his newfound Shangri-La, David meets Angela, a beauteous American nurse, who leads him to a spiritual high.

Meanwhile, Archie has firmed up a decision to hunt down his renegade buddy. He tracks David first to Iligan, then to a ghostly town called Malinaw, and finally to Van Custer’s plantation, where they face off. As they engage in a climactic fiery scene, each defends his views with equal vigor.

Who is right?

This is no ordinary adventure/love story, which explodes against a backdrop of the chaotic Martial Law era of President Marcos. Interwoven in the characters’ lives are the complexities of two opposing worldviews: the historical and dialectic materialism of Karl Marx and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Exposed to the pathetic fate of both David and Archie, the reader is left to glean the truth for himself.



BOOK REVIEW

 "Set in the Philippines of the early '70s, a pivotal turning point in the country's history, Layumas's historical fiction novel paints a vivid picture of a young man coming of age in a chaotic society."

"David Cordero Eastman is the son of an American GI and a Filipino bargirl. When he is only seven years old, David's father abandons him and his mother, condemning them to a hopelessly impoverished existence. In a culture where Muslim, Christian and Communist ideologies clash, David grows into an embittered teenager. His father's rejection and his mother's chronic illness (and the poverty and filth of his surroundings) are sharply contrasted by the wealth and decadence of Americans and bourgeois politicians."

"The writing ranges from well done to dodgy...the book is unusually rich in authentic visuals and has genuine cultural appeal, its characters remaining believable and three-dimensional throughout."

"A slice of life, vividly rendered, that most Americans will never experience."

---Kirkus Discoveries---


"It has exceeded all my expectations."

---Antonio Amor, M.D.---
 Charlotte, NC


"Layumas may not be Mario Puzo, but the story in his novel will linger in your memory for a long, long time."

---Pacificador M. Lluch---
  Iligan City, Philippines


"Well done."

---Oswaldo Esperat---
  Lubbock, TX


"Layumas is a very good writer, who writes colorfully. I laughed when I read about the character who looked like a cross between an owl and a German Shepherd."

---Rita Ferrell---
  Santa Rosa, NM


"Bravo!"

---Marcia C. Baquilar---
  San Francisco, CA


"Let me give you one description of the novel--superb. I want to