This is one of my (Cecilia Brainard) sketches in reed and pen and ink. This depicts two women from my childhood who fascinated me and inspired my fiction. One was a woman who reportedly had horns on her forehead; the other was said to be a witch and who always carried an umbrella so she could hide her face. I'm pasting below my short story "Woman With Horns" which is part of literature … [Read more...] about Sketch: Inspiration for Cecilia Branard’s Woman with Horns
Christmas Gifts: Rebatching Ivory Soap
I like homemade gifts for Christmas presents. After all, one can buy what one wants, but the time, effort, and love put into something homemade makes the gift special. Today I am rebatching Ivory Soap and reshaping them usng angel and mermaid silicon molds. I ordered the silicon molds online. I use Ivory Soap but have used Dove and other brands. While some people add scent, oatmeal, … [Read more...] about Christmas Gifts: Rebatching Ivory Soap
World War Two: 78th Anniversary of Japan’s Attack
Today marks the 78th anniversary of Japan's attack of Pearl Harbor and Manila and the beginning of World War Two in the Pacific. This link gives you information. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/12/07/pearl-harbor-wasnt-only-surprise-attack-that-day.html To honor those who experienced World War Two, I am sharing a short excerpt of my World War Two novel, When the Rainbow Goddess … [Read more...] about World War Two: 78th Anniversary of Japan’s Attack
Jose Ma. Cuenco, Archbishop of Jaro: Antique photos
I'm sharing old pictures of my granduncle, Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco (May 19, 1885-October 8, 1972). The following writeup is from Wikipedia, with some changes. Jose Ma. Cuenco was the first of sixteen children of Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios Diosomito Lopez. He was the brother of my maternal grandfather, Senator Mariano Jesus Cuenco. Most of their children died in … [Read more...] about Jose Ma. Cuenco, Archbishop of Jaro: Antique photos
Holiday Cooking: Leg of Lamb for Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!For our family feast, I'm roasting boneless leg of lamb. (There will be the traditional turkey.) I took it out of the freezer last night - rock solid. I left it on the kitchen sink and by the morning the lamb was thawed. I plan on roasting it at 325 degrees for around 2 hours; to be specific, it's done when the meat thermometer registers 120 degrees (that's rare … [Read more...] about Holiday Cooking: Leg of Lamb for Thanksgiving
Movie Review “The Kingmaker” in Positively Filipino, by #CeciliaBrainard
Movie Review: "The Kingmaker" Shows the Fragility of Democracy, review by Cecilia Brainard, published in Positively Filipino: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/…/movie-review-the-kingma… "There was a false rumor that Imelda Marcos had funded the documentary The Kingmaker. In fact, the movie depicts Imelda Marcos, the central character, as a Marie-Antoinette-type with an excessively lavish … [Read more...] about Movie Review “The Kingmaker” in Positively Filipino, by #CeciliaBrainard
Recap of Hot Off the Press Readings at #FilAmBookFest
Recap of recent Hot Off the Press Readings 5th Filipino American International Book Festival - The Hot Off the Press Literary Readings at the recent Filipino American International Book Festival were held last Saturday October 12, 2019, at the Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library. Each reading showcased up to 10 authors promoting new books. In less than ten minutes, they talk about or … [Read more...] about Recap of Hot Off the Press Readings at #FilAmBookFest
Cecilia Brainard’s October Literary Events — HOTP & Book Talks
Cecilia Brainard will be in two literary events this October. First, she will moderate Hot Off the Press Literary Readings at the Filipino American International Book Festival at the Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 12:45 pm and at 4 p.m. Cecilia will also read from her work at the 12:45 … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard’s October Literary Events — HOTP & Book Talks
Cecilia Brainard at Book Talks, Philippine Expressions Bookshop
Cecilia Brainard, Jules DelGallego, Myles A. Garcia, Paulino Lim, Jr., Alexander Villarasa will read and discuss their books at Philippine Expressions Bookshop on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, from 3 - 6 p.m. Cecilia will read and talk about the new Philippine edition of her World War Two novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept. Contact info@philippinebookshop.com for more … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard at Book Talks, Philippine Expressions Bookshop
Hot Off the Press Literary Readings, #FilAmBookFest SF, CA Oct. 12, 2019
Filipino and Filipino American authors with recent published books will showcase their books at the HOT OFF THE PRESS Literary Readings at the Fifth Filipino American International Book Festival at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 12:45 pm and at 4 p.m. Cecilia Brainard is the host and moderator of HOTP Literary … [Read more...] about Hot Off the Press Literary Readings, #FilAmBookFest SF, CA Oct. 12, 2019
Cecilia Brainard Publications in Philippine PEN Journal & The Silliman Journal
I just discovered these links to articles that I wrote published in Philippine PEN Journal and The Silliman Journal: "The Island of the Living Dead" (Chapter from my novel, The Newspaper Widow) published in Philippine PEN Journal, HEALING, edited by Hermie Beltran, Jr., PEN International, 2014. page 15, Click on the link below:http://www.philippinepen.ph/Journal.pdf l-r: Shivaji Das … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard Publications in Philippine PEN Journal & The Silliman Journal
Cecilia Brainard Childhood Pictures
I'm sharing two childhood pictures that I recently cleaned up. The first one is the only surviving picture of me as an infant. This shows my oldest sister Vicky carrying me, my sister Ana, and my brother Jess or Junior. This photo was taken in our temporary home in Talisay, Cebu. We stayed there for a few years after World War II, while my parents built our home in Cebu City behind the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard Childhood Pictures
September Reading by Asian American Women Writers
I'll be reading with some members of that awesome women's group, PAAWWW (Pacific Asian American Women Writers-West) on September 21, 2019, from 2-4 p.m. at 1952 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247. Thanks to Timothy Toyota for organizing this event. Please join us. I'm sharing a- 1980s Photo taken after a reading that included Wanda Coleman Front L-R: Amy Uyematsu, Akemi … [Read more...] about September Reading by Asian American Women Writers
Cecilia Brainard Sketch of Cebu’s “Tartanilla” Carriage
My cats usually hover near me when I'm writing or doing artwork. Che was particularly interested in the following work. It's an image of the tartanilla, a horse drawn carriage found only in Cebu. This is part of my ongoing sketches of memories from my childhood. Stay tuned! #graycat #tabby #sketching # drawing #Cebu #tartanilla … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard Sketch of Cebu’s “Tartanilla” Carriage
HOT OFF THE PRESS Literary Readings, FilAm Book Festival, October 12–13, 2019
Here are some Filipino and Filipino American authors who will be reading at the HOT OFF THE PRESS Literary Readings at the Fifth Filipino American International Book Festival in San Francisco, October 12 and 13, 2019: Ivy Alvarez, author of Diaspora Volume L (Paloma Press, 2019 Ivy Alvarez is the author of verse novel Disturbance (Wales: Seren, 2013). A MacDowell Colony, and Hawthornden … [Read more...] about HOT OFF THE PRESS Literary Readings, FilAm Book Festival, October 12–13, 2019
Japan: A Thoughtful Travelogue by Cecilia Brainard in Positively Filipino
Please visit this link to read my article, "Japan: A Thoughtful Travelogue", published by Positively Filipino. I'm pasting the first part of the article. "My Filipino friends have raved about their trips to Japan. Availing of Philippine Airlines’ or Cebu Pacific’s discounted fares, they use Osaka as their base from which to visit other parts of the country. Even though they … [Read more...] about Japan: A Thoughtful Travelogue by Cecilia Brainard in Positively Filipino
Bamboo Reed Paintings by Cecilia Brainard
Fuente Osmena Park, Cebu, Philippines (copyright 2019 by Cecilia Brainard) I've been experimenting some more with bamboo reed painting. I also use barbecue stick for finer work. I like the energy, the unruly and wild feeling of reed painting. Here are two reed paintings based on my memories of my birth city, Cebu, Philippines. Kiosk of Magellan's Cross, Cebu, Philippines (copyright … [Read more...] about Bamboo Reed Paintings by Cecilia Brainard
Interviews of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by the Media and Researchers
Following are some Interviews by the media and by researchers of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Rappler Interview of Cecilia Brainard, 2019, l-r: Lilibeth Frondoso, Ceciia Brainard, Miriam Grace Go Interviews Interview by Shiela Mae P. Abas https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2015/10/interview-cecilia-brainards-novel.html#more Interview by Christopher Abadilla, University of the Philippines, … [Read more...] about Interviews of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by the Media and Researchers
Interviews of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Rappler
Here are the links to two interviews by RAPPLER of CECILIA MANGUERRA BRAINARD 1. Rappler's Miriam Grace Go interviews Cecilia Manguerra Brainard on July 8, 2019: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard on Writing About Her Two Homes 2. Rappler's Miriam Grace Go does a podcast Interview of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, released August 8, 2019: Love of Country: Can a Patriot Love Two … [Read more...] about Interviews of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Rappler
Brainard Novel Launched at Manila’s #Solidaridad Bookshop
The photo shows l-r, standing: Tillic Lorayes, Cynthia Posa, Virgilio Reyes Jr., Cecilia Brainard, Paulo Angelo Lopez Apolinar, Charlson Ong ; Seated l-r: Nelson Navarro F. Sionil Jose, Amado Ma. Guerrero. Last July 6, 2019, the Philippine edition of my novel WHEN THE RAINBOW GODDESS WEPT (UST Publishing House) was launched at Solidardiad Bookshop, 531 Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila, at 5 … [Read more...] about Brainard Novel Launched at Manila’s #Solidaridad Bookshop