Putting a face on those who helped Brainard's Magical Years: Tony Perez (Playwright, Novelist, & Painter) gave artistic guidance to Cecilia Brainard when she was working on the sketches for Magical Years: Memories & Sketches. He taught her what pencils, pen and ink, paper to use; he critiqued her work all along. Cecilia Brainard first met Tony Perez in the 1990s when the USIS sponsored … [Read more...] about Thanks to Tony Perez for Artistic Guidance
Looking Back: Americans in Mactan Philippines
I'm sharing a picture circa 1966 showing a group of us posing with military service men from the US Base in Mactan. During the height of the Vietnam War, 1965-1968, the Americans built a military base in Mactan which housed the 772nd and 774th Troup Carrier Squadrons and other servicemen on R&R there. When the Americans left, the American base became part of the Cebu Airport. But while the … [Read more...] about Looking Back: Americans in Mactan Philippines
Desks of Filipino Writers, by Eileen Tabios
Carlos Bulosan Writer and publisher Eileen Tabios has put together photos of the work spaces of Filipino and Filipino American writers. This blog allows you a peek into that magical space where writers do their creations. She is lookng for other Filipino writers to participate, all genres. Please contact her … [Read more...] about Desks of Filipino Writers, by Eileen Tabios
Cecilia Brainard’s Book of Sketches: Magical Years
The writer Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier received her copy of my Magical Years: Memories & Sketches, and she wrote back: "Oh, Cecilia - I love your book. You DO capture the luminosity of childhood, something that I personally feel so strongly, and strive over and over to share with the rest of the world through my stories. Here you reveal it so sweetly. Thank you very much... If this seems … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard’s Book of Sketches: Magical Years
Global Day of Protest #NoWarOnIran in Westwood, LA, CA
We went to the Global Day of Protest (No War on Iran) at the Federal Building in Westwood, LA, CA. I've been rallying for 34 years now ... as the folk song says, "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?" I'm sharing pictures taken tonighjt at the Global Day of Protest rally, and the other picture is a newsclipping of at 1995 anti-Marcos rally (I'm im front, encircled in … [Read more...] about Global Day of Protest #NoWarOnIran in Westwood, LA, CA
Happy New Year — Magical Years Sketches
Happy New Year.! Here's a drawing I did yesterday (last year!) of Che scratching on the glass door to try and get out. Che and Tesla are favorite drawing topics of mine. They are part of my new book, Magical Years: Memories & Sketches, a collection of 43 of my sketches in pen and ink and reed. The book is a limited edition of 100 hardbound copies, signed and numbered. It is available from … [Read more...] about Happy New Year — Magical Years Sketches
Antique Pictures Lourdes Cuenco of Cebu Philippines
Perhaps because I've always been interested in family genealogy, relatives and friends have been forwarding old family pictures to me. Many pictures were damaged or lost in the Philippines during World War Two, and therefore old family pictures are rare. I'm featuring pictures of my aunt, Lourdes Cuenco, oldest sister of my mother Concepcion Cuenco. Lourdes remained unmarried as was her … [Read more...] about Antique Pictures Lourdes Cuenco of Cebu Philippines
Magical Years: Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Brainard — pictures
I'm excited about my book, Magical Years: Memories & Sketches, which collects 43 of my reed and pen and ink drawings. Some of you have been following my progress as a sketcher since December last year, when I picked up a simple book about sketching and started drawing, first in pencil, then pen and ink, and later bamboo reed, which Van Gogh did -- I love his reed … [Read more...] about Magical Years: Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Brainard — pictures
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard’s Book of Sketches Available “Magical Years”
BOOK OF CECILIA MANGUERRA BRAINARD'S SKETCHES AVAILABLE! PALH (Philippine American Literary House) has advance copies of MAGICAL YEARS: MEMORIES & SKETCHES by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, a special limited hardbound signed edition that collects Brainard's 43 sketches. Known as a writer and lacking formal training in the arts, Cecilia started sketching in 2018. Using reed and pen and ink, she … [Read more...] about Cecilia Manguerra Brainard’s Book of Sketches Available “Magical Years”
Antique Girl Photo: Concepcion Cuenco of Cebu
The girl in the middle is my mother, Concepcion Cuenco. This photo was taken circa 1920.I love the stockings, hat, bow, flowers, the flapper-style dresses, and that fuzzy nude in the background. I'm assuming the girls beside her are her sisters: Lourdes Cuenco the bigger girl, and Consuelo Cuenco the little one. They were children of the politician Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Filomena Alesna from … [Read more...] about Antique Girl Photo: Concepcion Cuenco of Cebu
Sketch: Inspiration for Cecilia Branard’s Woman with Horns
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
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 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
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
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