Many people are unaware that the Philippines provided safe haven to Jewish, Russian, and Indochinese refugees. In the late 1930s, 1,200 German and Austrian Jews fled the Holocaust of Europe and found refuge in Manila. The plan for the rescue reportedly came about during regular poker games which included Philippine President Manuel Quezon, an American official Paul McNutt, Col. Dwight … [Read more...] about Jewish, Russian, and Indochinese Refugees in the Philippines
Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra 1932 Cebu Carnival Queen Article
I came across this article and magazine cover (Sunstar Weekend 9/1/1996) featuring my mother, Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra. She was Cebu's 1931 Carnival Queen. Read also: Death of a Carnival Queen Mother's Day: Remembering My Mother Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra Lucy Urgello Miller's Glimpses of Old Cebu Cebu Politics Philippines: Cebu's Cuencoi Family in 1932 Tags: #Cebu #Philippines … [Read more...] about Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra 1932 Cebu Carnival Queen Article
Cecilia Brainard’s Pen and Wash of Old House in Cebu
Here is a Pen and Wash of my "Old House in Cebu" which I did in pencil and pen and ink earlier. This is my interpretation of the Villalon Mansion in Cebu City, Philippines. Tags: #CeciliaBrainard #sketch #art #penandwash #penandink #cebu #house #hauntedhouse #heritagehouse #antiquehouse #mansion #Philippines … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard’s Pen and Wash of Old House in Cebu
Tyberius the Cat — RIP
To continue the story of my son's and his family's visit over Easter (with their dog Ellie), when they returned home, they found one of their two cats ill, and unfortunately poor Tyberius had to be put to sleep. They were all distraught, especially the children. To make them feel better, I did a drawing of Tyberius. I had wanted to put him in Pet Heaven, a mythical place that I have … [Read more...] about Tyberius the Cat — RIP
Cecilia Brainard’s Old Haunted House in Cebu Philippines — Pen and Ink
I'm sharing a corrected version of the Old Haunted House in Cebu, my interpretation of the Villalon House. This sat on a hill in Cebu and I used to stare at this last thing at night and wonder about the ghosts and enchanted people that supposedly occupied the house. Sometimes the house would be lit up and the next day people would say the spirits had a party. This was all part of my growing up in … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard’s Old Haunted House in Cebu Philippines — Pen and Ink
Watercolor of Cat Sleeping
I've been playing with watercolor painting. Here is "Tesla Sleeping." Tags: #catart #watercolor #art #writerartist #ceciliabrainard … [Read more...] about Watercolor of Cat Sleeping
Notre Dame Fire: Desole France!
I'm feeling sad over the fire in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and found these pictures in my files. I had the privilege of visiting the Notre Dame several times, and have even heard Mass there. The loss is great but I hope that it can be rebuilt. tags: #NotreDame #notredramefire #ceciliabrainard … [Read more...] about Notre Dame Fire: Desole France!
Noel Alumit & Cecilia Brainard Perform at Glendale Community College
I'm happy to share pictures taken at the Glendale Community College's Filipino Fiesta celebration, where fellow writer Noel Alumit and I gave a talk and reading. The celebration ran for 2 days on April 2 and 3. Noel and I gave our presentation on April 2. The Mayor of Culver City, Thomas Aujero Small, also gave a talk on April 2. The room was full of very attentive students and … [Read more...] about Noel Alumit & Cecilia Brainard Perform at Glendale Community College
Photo Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal
I just returned from a visit to Portugal, including the Shrine of Our Lady in Fatima. I'm in the middle, standing behind our kneeling tour director. Since I am a devotee to Our Lady, I was thrilled to visit Fatima. Fatima was not as crowded as Lourdes, Guadalupe, or Knock, which I've visited. I did notice that churches in Portugal are not filled with people. By contrast, Philippine … [Read more...] about Photo Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal
Storytelling & Sketching, Talk by Cecilia Brainard at UST Manila
Please join us: Storytelling & Sketching Talk by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Benavides Building University of Santo Tomas, Manila February 22, 2019, 3-5 p.m. Description: There will be a Powerpoint Presentation, Talk, and Open Forum regarding the Creative Process, by author and editor of 21 books, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, who recently discovered the art of … [Read more...] about Storytelling & Sketching, Talk by Cecilia Brainard at UST Manila
Pen and Ink Drawing of Che
Here is a pen and ink sketch of my gray tabby cat Che. Copyright 2019 by Cecilia Brainard tags: #graycat #tabby #rescuecat #graytabby #cat … [Read more...] about Pen and Ink Drawing of Che
Sister Consuelo Varela ICM Passes Away
Our teacher at St. Theresa's College San Marcelino, Sister Consuelo Varela passed away recently. She was a big part of my life. She was from Cebu, like me. When I transferred from STC Cebu to Manila for High school, I felt out of place and lost. She was our teacher then, and she acknowledged my being Cebuana, mentioned knowing my family to me, which lifted my spirits up. Sister Consuelo was … [Read more...] about Sister Consuelo Varela ICM Passes Away
Playing in the Rain — Sketch Cecilia Brainard
"Playing in the Rain" - copyright 2019 by Cecilia Brainard When I was a child in the Philippines, I loved playing in the rain. I tried to capture the joy I used to feel in this pencil sketch. … [Read more...] about Playing in the Rain — Sketch Cecilia Brainard
Book Review of Reine Arcache Melvin’s novel, The Betrayed
Here is Cecilia Brainard's book review of Reine Arcache Melvin's novel, The Betrayed (Ateneo 2018). http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/…/passion-in-the-time-of-… " Reine Arcache Melvin, who has lived in Paris for years, has created a fine Filipino novel. The work is exquisitely written; the language is elegant and unpretentious. The form of her work is straightforward – we start from the … [Read more...] about Book Review of Reine Arcache Melvin’s novel, The Betrayed
The Class Reunion: Remembering the Salmon Run
The Class Reunion: Remembering the Salmon Run by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard This personal essay first appeared in the Journal Tomas 12, Volume 2, 2017- 2018 (UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies) Aside from the two who lived in Toronto, the women who showed up for our class reunion in Toronto travelled from the Philippines, US, UK, and even Switzerland -- twenty-four women, … [Read more...] about The Class Reunion: Remembering the Salmon Run
My Cousin, The Biz Wiz: Profile on Manny Gonzalez
I wrote about my cousin, Manny Gonzalez, businessman and CEO of Plantation Bay Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Philippines. This appeared in Positively Filipino, November 14, 2018 - please click here to visit Positively Filipino. The text is pasted below. My Cousin, The Biz Wiz By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Positively Filipino, Nov. 14, 2018 I ran into my cousin Manny Gonzalez in … [Read more...] about My Cousin, The Biz Wiz: Profile on Manny Gonzalez
Cooking with Cecilia: Filipino Barbecue Pork
We've had a heat wave in Southern California, which is perfect weather for barbecuing. My family loves barbecue pork, so I fixed this over the weekend. Here's a recipe. To be honest with you I don't measure ingredients and just add stuff into a huge bowl. For my family of 12, I cooked 10 lbs of pork butt; my men gobbled up most of it. Ingredients: 1 lb pork (butt or belly, cut into … [Read more...] about Cooking with Cecilia: Filipino Barbecue Pork
Mactan 50 Years Ago and Now
Mactan, 50 Years Ago And Now By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard The last time I visited Mactan, I stayed in a five-star resort with a man-made lagoon in the middle of clusters of handsome Colonial-style buildings. It felt like a picture-perfect village with well-appointed rooms, pools, tennis courts, and wonderful restaurants. The spa offered a variety of massages and had wonderful hot and … [Read more...] about Mactan 50 Years Ago and Now