Nathan Go's taut meditation on forgiveness and regret is told in the indelible voice of a
Filipino chauffeur nearing the end of his life.After suffering a serious heart injury Lito
Macaraeg reaches out to his estranged son-a journalist who lives in the United States far from
his father's Manila nursing home-to promise him a scoop: the story of a secret meeting between
Imelda Marcos and Corazon Aquino. Imelda best known for her excessive shoe collection was the
flamboyant wife of the late Philippine dictator Corazon was the wife of the opposition
politician who was allegedly killed by the Marcoses. An unassuming housewife Corazon rose up
after her husband's death to lead the massive rallies that eventually toppled the Marcos
dictatorship.Lito was Corazon's personal driver for many years and her only companion on the
journey from Manila to Baguio City to meet Imelda. Throughout the long drive Lito's loyalty to
his employer is pitted against his own moral uncertainty about her desire to forgive Imelda.
But as Lito unspools his tale about two women whose choices shaped their country's history his
own story and failings slowly come to light. He delves into his past: his neglectful father
who joined a Communist guerrilla movement their life in a mountain encampment headed by a
charismatic priest and Lito's struggles with poverty and ambition. In the end it is Lito
himself who must contemplate the meaning and possibility of forgiveness.In Forgiving Imelda
Marcos Nathan Go weaves a deeply intimate novel of alternative history that explores power and
powerlessness the nature of guilt and what we owe to those we love.
