My Guest Blogger is Elizabeth Ann Quirino who shares with us one of her recipes, a favorite Filipino comfort food, Nilagang Baka - Beef Nilaga Short Ribs and Vegetables Stew. Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino, based in New Jersey, is a journalist, and a multi-award-winner of the Plaridel Writing Awards and has been a recipient of the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Awards. She is the author of … [Read more...] about Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Ann Quirino’s Beef Nilaga Short Ribs & Vegetables Stew
Guest Blogger: Diona Filipino Poetry by Ralph Semino Galán
I am happy to feature Ralph Semino Galán as my Guest Blogger. He shares with us his work on a unique form of Filipino poetry called "diona" which has been labeled as Pinoy Haiku. The poems are in Tagalog and are about coronavirus. This is part of his larger writing project on the subject matter. ~ Cecilia Brainard Ralph Semino Galán, poet, literary and cultural critic, translator and editor, … [Read more...] about Guest Blogger: Diona Filipino Poetry by Ralph Semino Galán
Guest Blogger: Poetry by Elmer Omar Pizo
In this difficult time of Coronavirus, I am happy to feature poetry by Elmer Omar Pizo, a Filipino who now resides in Hawaii. May his poetry contribute to the healing that we need during this uncertain time. Thank you Elmer for being my guest blogger. ~ Cecilia Brainard POETRY BY GUEST BLOGGER ELMER OMAR PIZO I. Rice birds on the ground in front … [Read more...] about Guest Blogger: Poetry by Elmer Omar Pizo
The Quiet Voice
Now and then I will hear in my heart a tiny voice that is not my own. The voice, the thoughts it creates, come and go quickly, in my mind. The quiet voice came the other night. We sent you many warnings: white bison and other albino animals, but you continued poisoning the bees and destroying the mighty Amazon. You hunted elephants, rhinos, tigers, pangolins, and other rare and beautiful … [Read more...] about The Quiet Voice
Invitation to Write: Sensuous Writing #Covid19 #creativewriting
During this time of coronavirus, I invite my readers to write. Many of us are sheltering at home, why not use creativity to stay calm? I will try focus on one aspect of creative writing so the you can experiment with that element. Today, let us look at "Sensuous Writing." I am sharing a YouTube tutorial about this. Click here: or here: … [Read more...] about Invitation to Write: Sensuous Writing #Covid19 #creativewriting
Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of Lourdes
During this difficult time of Coronavirus, I will be sharing excerpts from the book, Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites, a collection of 24 testimonies by people whose lives were changed by Mama Mary. I hope that these articles remind us that Mary is with us during this difficult time. May you find solace in these personal testimonials. ~ Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, editor … [Read more...] about Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of Lourdes
Mary Is With Us: The Maryam Monastery of Lake Tana, Tigray, Ethiopia
During this difficult time of Coronavirus, I will be sharing excerpts from the book, Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites, a collection of 24 testimonies by people whose lives were changed by Mama Mary. I hope that these articles remind us that Mary is with us during this difficult time. May you find solace in these personal testimonials. ~ Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, editor … [Read more...] about Mary Is With Us: The Maryam Monastery of Lake Tana, Tigray, Ethiopia
Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of St. Maryam Dearit, Keren, Eritrea
During this difficult time of Coronavirus, I will be sharing excerpts from the book, Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites, a collection of 24 testimonies by people whose lives were changed by Mama Mary. I hope that these articles remind us that Mary is with us during this difficult time. May you find solace in these personal testimonials. ~ Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, editor … [Read more...] about Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of St. Maryam Dearit, Keren, Eritrea
Mama Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of Medjugorje
During this difficult time of Coronavirus, I will be sharing excerpts from the book, Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites, a collection of 24 testimonies by people whose lives were changed by Mama Mary. I hope that these articles remind us that Mary is with us during this difficult time. May you find solace in these personal testimonials. ~ Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, editor of … [Read more...] about Mama Mary Is With Us: Our Lady of Medjugorje
Aloy Polintan Reviews Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites (edited by Cecilia Brainard)
Book Review by Aloy Polintan Book: Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites Collected and Edited by Cecila Manguerra Brainard Anvil, 2012, softcover, 168 pages, ISBN 9789712727115 Available from Amazon Kindle This book collects 24 Marian devotees’ accounts of their experiences in Marian pilgrim sites. The sites are found in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, … [Read more...] about Aloy Polintan Reviews Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites (edited by Cecilia Brainard)
Takuya Matsuda Interviews Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Interview of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Takuya Matsuda Focusing on her novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept Takuya Matsuda is a PhD Candidate, Teaching Fellow at the English Department of the University of North Texas This Interview was done in March 2020 by email TM (Takuya Matsuda): My name is Tak Matsuda, and I’m a PhD candidate in English at the University of North Texas. I’m … [Read more...] about Takuya Matsuda Interviews Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Artist Tina Borja Heiter on Brainard’s Book of Sketches
I am sharing a letter from my artist friend, Tina Borja Heiter about my recent book, Magical Years: Memories & Sketches, a book that collects sketches inspired by my childhood in Cebu. Tina was my classmate at Maryknoll College and she is is now a resident of Switzerland where she exhibits her art at the Galerie am Schanzenbgraben. Tina has a website at … [Read more...] about Artist Tina Borja Heiter on Brainard’s Book of Sketches
Academic Studies on Cecilia Brainard Novels
I was happy to hear from two PhD candidates. The first interviewed me about my novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept. He wrote: "My name is ________ and I’m a PhD candidate in English at the University of ______. I’m from Japan and working on my dissertation that discusses ethnic American writers’ literary writings on the Second World War in the Pacific. I read your novel, When the … [Read more...] about Academic Studies on Cecilia Brainard Novels
2020 Get Togethers with Maryknoll Classmates
It's only February, but I've had the chance of seeing some classmates from Maryknoll College class of 1968. l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Bing Jacala, Tina Heiter, Maria Ciocon Recently some other Maryknoll classmates and their husbands had lunch at my home in Santa Monica. I have not seen these friends for some time and it was wonderful to get caught up with them. We … [Read more...] about 2020 Get Togethers with Maryknoll Classmates
Honoring Lina Espina Moore, Fiction Writer from Cebu, Philippines
One of Cebu's noted fiction writers was Lina Espina Moore (1919-2000). I met Lina in my publisher's (Gloria Rodriguez) office when I was an emerging writer and she was an established one. She greeted me and my mother (whom she knew) warmly, and Lina went on to mentor me. When I met her she was already a widow but she enjoyed talking about her married days with Kip Moore when they lived up in Mr. … [Read more...] about Honoring Lina Espina Moore, Fiction Writer from Cebu, Philippines
Thanks to Tony Perez for Artistic Guidance
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