Creative Writing Workshop, sponsored by Bago City College, Philippines and the US Peace Corps

Dear Readers,

I had the privilege of participating in a Creative Writing Workshop held in Bago City College, Negros, Philippines, October 7, 2013.  The organizer, Elaine Sweet, who is an American Peace Corps Volunteer, had invited me to give a talk via Skype.

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Elaine Sweet, Susan Brooks (partially hidden), friend

This is the second time I've given a talk to students in Bago, via Skype. The first time was last May, upon the invitation of another American Peace Corps Volunteer, Susan Brooks, for the students in Ramon Torres National High School.  

American Peace Corps Volunteer to Azerbaijan and the Philippines - Elaine Sweet

American Peace Corps Volunteer - Elaine Sweet

Peace Corps Volunteers Elaine Sweet (right) with Susan Brooks (left)

Dear Readers,

Yesterday's blog entry featured Peace Corps Volunteer Susan Brooks from Cleveland Ohio; today, Elaine Sweet from New York is featured. Both of them are now teachers in Bago, Negros, Philippines. Elaine had served as a volunteer in Azerbaijan -- one of the few people I know who's served in the 'Stans.

Namibia by Elaine Sweet, American Peace Corps Volunteer

Herero Ladies from Namibia

My friend Elaine Sweet, American Peace Corps Volunteer, who had served in Azerbaijan and the Philippines, is now in Namibia, a country in southern Africa. I have her permission to reprint her Easter letter and pictures taken in Opuwo, the capital of Namibia. Her report is fabulous, so enjoy, dear Readers!

Thank you Elaine, for allowing me to share your wonderful Namibia Easter letter and pictures.
~~

From Elaine Sweet:

Easter in Opuwo,

I have now been in Namibia for three months.  It is the new “normal."  I have learned the basic methods of transportation to get around in my area.  First I ask the teachers at my school for a ride to the paved road. Then there are taxis which are constantly going back and forth between the main travel points.   It is not as difficult as I first perceived it to be.  On non-school days, the local people traveling the gravel road will stop for passengers.  There are established pay rates for travel to different points.

Guest Blogger: Peace Corps Volunteer Elaine Sweet Writes about Namibia

My Guest Blogger is Elaine Sweet, American Peace Corps Volunteer, who had served in Azerbaijan and the Philippines, is now in Namibia, a country in southern Africa. 

She says, "I need to wrap up the vacation odyssey because I have gotten a green light from the Peace Corps to set up funding for the Library Resource Center for my school."

Here is one of her final reports about her stay in Namibia.
I have her permission to reprint the following:
~~

Pictures, Creative Writing Workshop at Bago City College, Negros, Philippines

I received these pictures taken at the Creative Writing Workshop in Bago City College, Negros, Philippines.  Elaine Sweet, a US Peace Corps Volunteer, organized the workshop. She had asked me to give a talk via Skype.

The Heat is On! Fiesta in Pari-an, Cebu

The heat is on in the Pari-an in Cebu.  Fiesta today, of San Juan Batista - Mass in the Pari-an chapel at 5:30 p.m., followed by a procession.

Last night Val Sandiego's Dance troupe put on a fabulous show.  Peace Corps Volunteers Susan Brooks and Elaine Sweet found themselves onstage along with the dancers.

Fiesta sa Parian, Cebu with PCV guests Susan Brooks and Elaine Sweet

Above pictures show Parian Cebu's special guests, Peace Corp Volunteers Susan Brooks and Elaine Sweet with Yap-Sandiego Museum owner,Val Sandiego. 
Below, Susan and Elaine visit a private gallery with heritage folks.

Check back dear Readers. More pictures will be posted.
Sunday, June 23, Val's Dance Troupe will perform at the Parian Plaza, at around 8-9 pm.

Interview of American Peace Corps Volunteer in Bago Philippines -- Susan Brooks

 Susan Brooks, Peace Corps Volunteer

 Interview of American Peace Corps Volunteer, Susan Brooks

by Cecilia Brainard

 Last April, I received an invitation from an American Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the Philippines to participate in a Writers Conference. The Conference was part of a five-day Creative Writing Workshop for the students of Ramon Torres National High School in Bago, Negros, Philippines, where Susan Brooks taught. In May I talked to the students via Skype -- the first time I used Skype -- and that went well.

 In June, Susan and Elaine Sweet (another PCV from Bago) visited me in Cebu for the June 24 fiesta in the Parian of Historic Cebu which I attend annually. Finally I met the two women, whom I found lively, intelligent, and very curious about Filipino life.  They were game about everything -- touring old Cebu on foot, joining the fiesta procession, staying up late in the plaza to watch a folklore program. They had fun, I believe, and the three of us bonded.

I was curious about their experiences as Volunteers in the Philippines, and I sent them some questions. I actually planned/plan to use the information for another article, but their answers are complete and interesting. It gives one an insight into what American women (plucked out of modern America) feel and think as they negotiate their lives as teachers in a developing country.

Cebu, Philippines: Shepherd's Heart Cafe in the Parian

Shepherd's Heart Cafe in the Parian, Cebu City, Philippines
Corner Mabini and Zulueta, Parian, across Heritage Monument

This is a new Cafe in the Parian, the Historic District of Cebu. I'm hoping Cebuanos will support this one-month old establishment, a project by an American Peace Corps Volunteer, Amelia Kent - do drop by! It's at the corner of Mabini and Zulueta, across the Heritage Monument. 

My Typical Day in Cebu (or is that Ubec?), Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

It's around 8 a.m. Sunday morning in Cebu, and I've assigned myself the impossible task of describing my typical day here.  I'm not sure I can do this because when I'm here there's usually something going on like the Fiesta last week.  Last week for instance, I had house guests, Susan Brooks and Elaine Sweet, and I brought them around to see the tourist sites of Old Cebu. Aside from that there were the fiesta activities, the triduum prayers at the chapel, followed by some camaraderie. For three nights in a row, we were up until 2 a.m., talking and drinking margaritas.

Sports: Philippine Passion for Basketball

The question of the history of basketball in the Philippines popped up because  my third novel (the literary mystery), mentions three young men playing basketball in the plaza. The novel is set in 1909 in my mythical place, Ubec, Philippines. My husband did not think basketball would have reached the Philippines as of yet.  He said basketball first started in 1891, in Springfield Massachusetts.

A Day with Susan Brooks, American Peace Corps Volunteer to Bago, Negros, Philippines

 Susan Brooks, who recently completed her two-year service to the American Peace Corps, visited Santa Monica, California.  Susan served in Bago, Negros, Philippines. The pictures show us at Chez Jay Restaurant, Versailles Restaurant, Tongva Park, and the Santa Monica Pier.

Rooftop Room in the Dona Filomena Building, Cebu City, Cebu

The rooftop room prepared for two Peace Corps Volunteers: Elaine Sweet and Susan Brooks

Creative Writing Workshop Organized by Peace Corps Volunteer, Susan Brooks

Susan Brooks, a Peace Corps Volunteer, assigned in Bago, Negros, organized a five-day Creative Writing Workshop last May for the students of Ramon Torres National High School in Bago, Negros, Philippines.

She invited me to participate in the Writing Conference part of the Workshop, which I did via Skype. (It was the first time I used Skype!) Please read the news clippings below; the Workshop offered quite a lot to the students and should make an excellent model for other teachers.

Thanks again to Susan and the other organizers for including me. The students sent me thank you notes and I'll quote a few:

* "Thank you so much for sharing an inspirational message for us. I really reached many highs from you. May you continue to teach others about writing. God bless" - Jean Clarisse A. Ignacio

* "There might be nothing, but sometimes there is something on a draft." Thank you for inspiring us despite your schedules and being nice...I hope that someday I'll be like you, successful but still, a writer..." - Jirah Joy R. Gicana

*You are a very amazing author! And thank you for those things you shared to us. Your ideas and thoughts, experiences, and your stories in life. May God bless you and guide you always!" - France Anne J. Robaton

*Thank you so much Ms. Cecilia for sharing your time with us. You really did an amazing work. You keep inspiring us! God bless and take care! :) - Angel Veronque Cantoriag

*"Good day, Ma'am. I am so happy that you have share(d) with (us) your precious time. Thank you for sharing with us the essential factors on how to become a more creative writer. Thank you for welcoming us. I hope that we can see and speak to you again. Thanks so much and God bless." Lovelie Prisciven G. Beduyo

From Sunstar Bacolod & From the Visayas Daily Star

Photo l-r: Susan Brooks, Cecilia Brainard, Elaine Sweet (taken in Cebu, June 23, 2013)

 Read also Interview of American Peace Corps Volunteer -- Susan Brooks

tags: writing, Philippine literature, Peace Corps Volunteer, Bago, Negros, creative writing, Filipino writers, Philippine authors, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Jose Dalisay, Susan Brooks