<DIV><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>An emotional exploration of the Philippines, these novels illustrate the connection between a people and their beloved native land. The first novel, <I>Killing Time in a Warm Place</I>, is based in part on the author's own experiences as a student protester and his subsequent capture, imprisonment, and torture during the Marcos dictatorship. His subsequent assimilation to a new society as a speechwriter for the government is depicted, followed by his self-imposed exile to the United States and his eventual return to the islands upon the death of his father, where he is forced to confront past betrayals. The second tale, <I>Soledad's Sister</I>, delves into the dark side of immigrant and outsourced labor that is endemic worldwide. Following the mysterious death of a young Filipina woman working as an au pair in Saudi Arabia, the narrative chronicles a local policeman's search to claim her body, locate her next of kin, and give her a proper burial in her native soil. With deep insight into contemporary Philippine culture, this collection captures a nation attempting to reinvent itself in the eyes of the world.</P></DIV>