Golfers Take Note - #Golf Rage Picture

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

It's a golf club stuck in a net!

This is a picture of a golf club stuck up in a net. It was taken by Lauren
Brainard while playing golf.

He says, "I did not, I swear, throw this club."

Read also
My Engineer Story and Other Engineer Jokes
The Rats and James Dean's Porsche
Jesuit Jokes

Tags: golf, golfing, sports, jokes, pictures

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Taking a Walk in Santa Monica, California

I used to do step exercise, swimming, and yoga for my workout, but dropped out.  Now I walk, do stationary biking and stretching. 

Talking About Living Ghosts with Lina Espina Moore - #Paranormal

Lina Espina Moore

 I'm remembering the time I talked to the novelist, Lina Espina Moore, about her stay in the Cordilleras, Northern Luzon. This was when she was married to Kip Moore, manager of a lumber company in that mountain area. Lina was very happy there, and she was also very productive as a writer there.

Excerpt from Archbishop Jose Maria Cuenco's Autobiography

My granduncle, Archbishop Maria Jose Cuenco, published an autobiography, Archbishop Cuenco Autobiography, in 1972.  Very few people (including his relatives) have copies.  I'm taking the liberty of reprinting sections that give information about the Cuenco Family. Archbishop Cuenco was the older brother of my maternal grandfather, Mariano Jesus Cuenco.

I have not made changes to the text. I have added related url links. ~ Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

~~

Santa Barbara Restaurant: Lunch at Brophy's

On our way back to Santa Monica from Cambria, we had lunch at Brophy Bros., 119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, a popular seafood restaurant and clam bar. 

How My Great Grandmother Remedios Lopez Cuenco Died

Remedios Lopez Cuenco, right

I have become the keeper of my family's genealogy. People share information about my father's and mother's families. The recent information I got came from my aunt, Teresita Cuenco Gonzalez, about my Great Grandmother Remedios Lopez Cuenco. Remedios married Mariano Albao Cuenco; they were parents of my maternal grandfather, Mariano Jesus Cuenco; they were the grandparents of my mother, Concecpcion Cuenco Manguerra.

Visiting Cambria, Central Coast, California

It's a 4 1/2 hour drive from the Los Angeles area to Cambria, Central Coast of California. Because there's construction along the coast, we drove inland, through the Central Valley, referred to as the breadbasket of America, although California's severe drought has affected its current agricultural production.

We drove through Kern County with its numerous oil fields. There were also orchard fields of almonds and other plants, with boxes of domesticated bee hives. These poor bees are shipped from all over the world to pollinate these fields. 

Where Does Happiness Come From? #psychology, #selfhelp

I was sick for several weeks, and perhaps because of the illness (asthma, coughing), I felt depressed. Not terribly depressed, but lethargic and gloomy.  I didn't have the zest, the curiosity, the desire to explore and discover new things, see old friends, as I usually do.  Then, my asthma and cough cleared up and I discovered that the depression lifted. I returned to writing; I enjoyed doing my daily tasks once again; I laughed, I felt good about life, about myself.  I felt more generous to others.

Health: The Wonders of Malunggay or Moringa Oleifera

My mother used to make soup with boiled chicken, ginger, and malunggay (or moringa oleifera) leaves. Malunggay leaves come from a tree that grows easily in the Philippines. We had several trees along the fence, and when we needed some leaves, the maids would cut off some sprigs. Malunggay was considered a poor man's food, but my mother used to rave about how good it was for our health and we would have it perhaps once a week.

How Are Honey Bees Doing this 2015?

Honey bees worldwide have been dying in great numbers. In late 2006, this phenomenon was called "Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD." The situation was so bad that in a place in China, farmers were hand-pollinating plants.

I have been following this news and have changed some of my outdoor plants into bee-friendly plants to help the wild bees. I also have containers of water for them. It is a joy to see them buzzing about my garden.  At some point, I considered raising bee hives and looked into it but I still feel intimidated. It's supposed to be fairly easy, but one has to lift heavy boxes, and more important we have a neighbor who's a biddy and I'm certain she'll go into hysterics if we have bees. So for now that project is on hold.

I tried to find news about how bees are doing this 2015, but I didn't find much. It's still very cold in large parts of the US and bees are still in their hives. I read that the cold weather will be tough on the bees; they use up a lot of energy hunkering down and flapping their wings to keep their hive warm.

2015 Year of the Sheep - Happy New Year!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

The Chinese New Year begins on February 19, 2015 until February 7, 2016. This year is the Year of the Sheep or Goat or Ram, known for its docility.  Here's the astrological forecast from Fortune:

Losing One of Us: Milette Estrada's Passing

We had lunch for some Maryknoll classmates at my house in January, and we had wondered why we didn't hear back from one of our classmates, Milette Estrada. Since she was a travel agent who organized pilgrimages, we thought she was away on a pilgrimage, and thought nothing of her silence. It was only recently when we heard, in a round about way, that she had passed away. For the longest time, we did not know when and how exactly she died. It was strange how disconcerted we, her classmates, felt being in the dark like that. The feeling of wanting to blame someone lurked about, not full-blossomed, but it was there: how come those of you in Southern California didn't know? How come her sister said nothing to us? Why?  What happened?

Two Hot Topics in the Philippines: Pope Francis and Mamasapano Massacre

I just returned from a visit to the Philippines. While I was there, the two hot topics of conversation were:

I'm Back in California!

I'm back in California! There's a bit of a heat wave, but the weather feels good. Last night, we already visited our favorite little restaurant, Eddie's, for my calamari and Cesar salad with nice Chilean wine. I slept in, and in the early afternoon, we had brunch at another small little restaurant, Lazy Daisy, for Eggs Benedict. 

I have a lot of catching up to do, but it's nice to be back home!

P.S. -- Despite how my Literary Cats look like in the pictures, they are very happy to have me back!

Read also

Sphagnum Almost Killed My Orchids

Typhoon Haiyan: Jews in the Philippines - 1940 & 2013

Post-War Cebu Life - More Memorabilia Photos of Cecilia Brainard

Creative Writing: The Importance of Sensual Writing

Syrian Revolutionary Poem & Destruction of Khalid bin Walid Mosque

Creative Writing: Journal Writing and my Pink Lock and Key Diary

Tags: Home, family, California

This is all for now,

Cecilia

Flying Home - Check Back!

Flying Home - Check Back!

Read also

• Solving a Mystery Regarding the Cuenco Family of Cebu
• Manila: Dinner with Maryknollers Marily Orosa and ...
• Air Quality of Metro Manila - #Makati, #Manila
• Manila and Makati with Guia Lim and Tilic Lorayes
• Manila: Malate-Ermita District and Evelyn Bosch

       Tags: Home, Family, travel

       This is all for now,

       Cecilia

Open Letter re Homeless Problem in Cebu's Historic District

Open Letter to Amelia Kent, American Peace Corps Volunteer, who started Shepherd's Heart Cafe in Cebu City's Historic District

Dear Mimi,
Finally I had the chance to stop by the Shepherd's Heart Cafe with my sister-in-law.

We had coffee and sandwiches and chatted with the young women who were serving. Despite the sudden death of the sister in charge, the place is operating well. The place is tidy; they are now selling souvenir items, cookies. clothes and so on.  I am delighted that the air condition I donated does a good job cooling the place.

Friends in Cebu, Philippines

Seated l-r: Terry Manguerra, Helen Misa, Lucy Garcia

Standing l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Chona Bernad, Teresita Huete, Chinggay Utzurrum

I had dinner and lunch with some friends in Cebu City, Philippines.

The picture above includes my circle of friends who are involved in heritage work in Cebu: Terry Manguerra, Chinggay Utzurrum, Chona Bernad. We have been missing dear Inday Blanco who was part of our circle and who unfortunately passsed away last January 20.

Solving a Mystery Regarding the Cuenco Family of Cebu

This picture of my mother's family, the Cuenco Family, includes a girl with a bow in her hair, seated far left. I was told she was Maria, one of my mother's siblings who died shen she was young. I had also heard of a child named Corazon who died young. I was never sure if they were one and the same person.

Manila: Dinner with Maryknollers Marily Orosa and Maribel Paraz

During our college days at Maryknoll, the “lanai” as we called it was a popular place for gathering and chatting. This was a porch that ran a long length of the school, facing the entrance. This was where we people-watched. We didn’t know it, but it was also where lifelong friendships were forged.

Air Quality of Metro Manila - #Makati, #Manila

Makati: I continue to cough and I hear many people in Manila/Makati coughing.  I looked up "Quality of Life in Manila" and found this site;

Here's an excerpt from the  December 2014 study:

Pollution in Manila, Philippines

Air Pollution		89.17	Very High
Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility		55.36	Moderate
Dissatisfaction with Garbage Disposal		75.00	High
Dirty and Untidy		80.36	Very High
Noise and Light Pollution		75.00	High
Water Pollution		87.50	Very High
Dissatisfaction to Spend Time in the City		79.31	High
Dissatisfaction with Green and Parks in the City		75.00	High

Apparently the study is based on Visitors' feedback for the past three years.

Hmmmm ......

Read also
Government site re Air Quality in the Philippines

Tags: Manila, Makati, Philippines, air quality, quality of life

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Manila and Makati with Guia Lim and Tilic Lorayes

l-r: Tillic Lorayes, Cecilia Brainard, Guia Lim

It’s become a tradition that when I’m in Manila, my friend, Tillic Lorayes, and I go to the Island Spa at the New World Hotel to have a massage, followed by dinner with our other friend, Guia Lim. Friday, we did just that: one-hour foot massage, followed by a one hour Swedish massage – very relaxing. (In the past we had enjoyed Island’s Stone Massage and a Mixed Massage.)

Manila: Malate-Ermita District and Evelyn Bosch

l-r: Evelyn Ramirez Bosch, Cecilia Brainard, Cynthia 

Posa, Mila Santillan

 I attended high school at St. Theresa’s College in San Marcelino, Manila, right across the Adamson University and near the San Miguel Brewery. We used to smell the brewing beer while we did Math or Sciene. Four years I went to that convent school. And there I made friends who remain my friends even now. 

Visiting The Philippine Graphic and Alma Anonas-Carpio

  

I visited Alma Anonas-Carpio at her office at the Philippines Graphic, where she works as Associate Editor. I stopped by to pick up copies of the Graphic that published my work, The Incident, a chapter from the novel I’m now rewriting.

Dinner with Maryknoll Friends at Blackbird Restaurant, Makati, Philippines

l-r: Meldee Perez, Nini Arzadon, Cecilia Brainard, Marily Orosa

I had dinner with some Maryknoll friends at the new Blackbird Restaurant in Makati.  The restaurant is located in what used to be the Heritage Library (I was sad to learn the library closed), and is aviation-themed. It's a high-end restaurant with lovely indoor space and even lovelier outdoor spacious patio.

We sat in the patio and tried their antipasti: the ribs and crab cakes were favorites. We had pasta and the one with anchovy was delicious. We had cheesecake for dessert.

The food was all right, not memorale though. The portions were rather small for the price. The ambiance and service were great.

Internet is slow in Manila, so if you don't hear from me, check back, dear Readers.

Read also:

Philippines: The Forty-four Elite Commandos who Fell in Mindanao

• Cebu Philippines: Funeral Traditions in the Philippines
• Sunset Pictures of Historic Sites in Cebu, Philippines
• Cebu, Philippines: Thanks for the Joy and Laughter Inday Blanco
• Old Fashioned Shopping in Carbon Market 
• New Developments in Historic Downtown Cebu City, Philippines
• Philippines: Pope Francis's Call Not To Breed Like Rabbits
• 
  

Tags; restaurant, Makati, Blackbird, food, drink, Maryknollers

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Philippines Traditional Massage or Hilot: Alternative Holistic Medicine

I’m in Manila and as luck would have it I had a bad asthma attack yesterday. I haven’t had an attack in two years and I didn’t realize my inhalers are expired. They were not that effective. For the most part of yesterday, I was miserable. My sister called her masseuse to give me a traditional massage or hilot, a special type of deep tissue massage, defined in a holistic site as follows:

No Internet - Please Check Back

I may not have internet access for a while, so please check back.

Thanks for your patience,

Cecilia