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Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

author and editor

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Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Brainard — Santo Nino de Cebu

August 30, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

I will be blogging my memories of Cebu with accompanying sketch. This first personal essay is about the Santo Nino de Cebu. These sketches are part of the book, Magical Years Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, available as a limited edition of 100 copies from palh@aol.com.  ~~~ SANTO NINO DE CEBU Copyrignt 2021 by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard I was born and raised in the … [Read more...] about Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Brainard — Santo Nino de Cebu

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, Personal Essay, Santo Nino

Herminia Meñez Coben Reviews The Newspaper Widow by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

August 26, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Book Review by Herminia Meñez Coben, Ph.D. Professor Emerita from California State University of Sonoma Title: The Newspaper Widow Author: Cecilia Manguerrra Brainard Publisher: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2017, Beato Angelico Bldg., Espana, Manila, Philippines; Available from Amazon in hard copy and in Kindle format Number of pages: 234 pages Softcover, $18.95 in the … [Read more...] about Herminia Meñez Coben Reviews The Newspaper Widow by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Filed Under: Fiction, Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, crime, Filipino, literary mystery, literature, mystery, Philippine literature, Philippines, Ubec

Cecilia Brainard’s Popular Books

August 24, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the author and editor of over twenty books. Cecilia grew up in the port city of Cebu in Central Philippines, a place that retains its Spanish-Colonial influences, inspiring Cecilia to create her mythical setting called “Ubec” which echoes the Santo Niño Church, triangular Spanish fort, and old buildings and streets of the real Cebu. Her three novels — When the … [Read more...] about Cecilia Brainard’s Popular Books

Filed Under: Fiction, Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, Filipino, literature, Philippine literature

Larger portrait of Remedios Lopez Cuenco by Cecilia Brainard

August 11, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

I made a larger portrait of my great-grandmother Remedios Lopez Cuenco as reference.  I had made a smaller study a few days ago.  https://ceciliabrainard.com/portrait-of-remedios-lopez-cuenco-by-cecilia-brainard/ Here is an excerpt from my grand-uncle's biography that touches on the life and background of Remedios, who inspired me to write my third novel, The Newspaper … [Read more...] about Larger portrait of Remedios Lopez Cuenco by Cecilia Brainard

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, Cuenco Famiy, Fiipina, Filipino, Filipino Women portraits, Phiippines

Portrait of Filomena Alesna Cuenco by Cecilia Brainard

August 5, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

I made this portrait of my maternal grandmother, Filomena Alesna Cuenco, in prisma color and pastel, size 9 x 12. Filomena Alesna Cuenco from Carcar; born May 1, 1882, parents: Evaristo Barcenilla Alesna and Cresencia Ynosencia Sanchez Villarosa; parents died when she was young and she and her 2 sisters were raised by 2 old maid aunts; her older sister Placida married Mateo Noel; her younger … [Read more...] about Portrait of Filomena Alesna Cuenco by Cecilia Brainard

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Art, Cebu, Cuenco Famiy, Filipina, Filipino Women portraits, Philippines

Old Photographs Tony Cuenco of Cebu, Philippines

June 28, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Cuenco Famiy: I am sharing what I believe are early pictures of my cousin TONY CUENCO who recently passed away. The picture of three, shows my grandmother Filomena Alesna Cuenco with Tony (the older boy) and another grandson. The group picture features my grandfather and grandmother, Senator Mariano Cuenco and his wife Filomena with their family. Standing l-r: Carmen Cuenco, Milagros Veloso … [Read more...] about Old Photographs Tony Cuenco of Cebu, Philippines

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, Cuenco family, Philippines, politics

Framed Art by Cecilia Brainard “Vase and Bottles”

May 20, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

I framed (for the first time) one of my art work, 9 x 12, ink "Vase and Bottles" .  It's the one on the right beside an original by Manuel Rodriguez, the Father of Philippine Printmaking.   Also published in my Travel blog:  https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2020/05/framed-art-by-cecilia-brainard.html tags: #ceciliaBrainard #art #Philippine #Cebu #writerswhopaint … [Read more...] about Framed Art by Cecilia Brainard “Vase and Bottles”

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Art, Cebu, Cecilia Brainard, pen and ink, Philippines, sketching

Marissa Tay Praises Brainard’s Magical Years: Memories & Sketches

May 5, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

          During these days of Coronavirus, I was particularly happy to hear from my college friend, Marissa Tay, who sent me her feedback about my book, Magical Years: Memories & Sketches,. This hardbound book collects sketches inspired by my childhood in Cebu. Marissa was my classmate at Maryknoll College in Quezon City.; we've had the chance to … [Read more...] about Marissa Tay Praises Brainard’s Magical Years: Memories & Sketches

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, Cebu sketches, pen and ink, Philippines, reed art, reed drawing

Philippine Antique Photo 1930 Concepcion Cuenco

April 28, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

This is a rare 1930 picture of Concepcion Cuenco of Cebu.She was mother and daughter of Senator Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Filomena Alesna Cuenco. In 1931, she became Cebu Petit Carnival Queen. She married Engr. Mariano F. Manguerra and they had four surviving children. Widowed when she was only 47, she raised her children and sent to graduate schools in Europe and the United States. She was a … [Read more...] about Philippine Antique Photo 1930 Concepcion Cuenco

Filed Under: Nonfiction Tagged With: Cebu, personalities, Philippines, society

2020 Get Togethers with Maryknoll Classmates

February 17, 2020 by admin 1 Comment

    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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, friendship, Maryknoll College

Honoring Lina Espina Moore, Fiction Writer from Cebu, Philippines

February 15, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: author, Cebu, Cebuana, Filipina, literature, novelist, Visayan, writer

Thanks to Tony Perez for Artistic Guidance

January 18, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Art, Cebu, drawing, Philippines, sketches

Cebu Antique Stereoviews

January 16, 2020 by admin 2 Comments

I have some antique stereoviews from my collection, including these with Cebu subjects, circa 1899   Family from Cebu   Carabao pulling cart   Filipino Saw Mill Cebu Street, Holiday crowd Children playing   Tags: history, photos, antique photographs, stereoviews, stereoptics, antique postcards, Philippines, Cebu, Filipino … [Read more...] about Cebu Antique Stereoviews

Filed Under: Nonfiction Tagged With: antique photographs, Cebu, Philippines, stereoviews

Happy New Year — Magical Years Sketches

January 1, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: book, Cebu, drawings, pen and ink, Philippines, reed, sketches

Antique Pictures Lourdes Cuenco of Cebu Philippines

December 26, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: antique photos, Cebu, Cuenco family, Filipina, Philippines, politics, society

Magical Years: Memories & Sketches by Cecilia Brainard — pictures

December 23, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

magical years

  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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Art, book, Cebu, children, drawing, Philippines, reed art, sketching

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard’s Book of Sketches Available “Magical Years”

December 22, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

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”

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: book, Cebu, drawings, pen and ink, Philippines, reed, sketches

Antique Girl Photo: Concepcion Cuenco of Cebu

December 13, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: antique, Cebu, photographs, vintage

Sketch: Inspiration for Cecilia Branard’s Woman with Horns

December 11, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Fiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, fiction, Philippines, short stories

Jose Ma. Cuenco, Archbishop of Jaro: Antique photos

December 6, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

  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

Filed Under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cebu, history, Old Cebu, old photographs, photos, pictures, politics

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Welcome!

I am a daugh­ter of the Philip­pines and an adopt­ed daugh­ter of Amer­i­ca. I have also trav­eled to many places so I am also a daugh­ter of the Earth. My expe­ri­ences have found their way into my sto­ries, which try to depict char­ac­ters caught in impor­tant moments in their lives, sit­u­a­tions that force them to act, make deci­sions, change. I try to see the world from my own point of view, not the dom­i­nant West­ern one, thus my inter­est in his­to­ry, cul­ture, and set­ting. But my char­ac­ters car­ry my sto­ries; they are the most impor­tant in my sto­ry-telling. I have to dive deep into them to under­stand their human­i­ty – their good­ness as well as their bad­ness, their beau­ty as well as their ugli­ness. Just like us. Just like each of us. I need to know where they came from, where they are now, so I under­stand where they are going. Just like us.

Please read my full biog­ra­phy here

 

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