TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: Cecilia Brainard -- Journey of a Woman Writer by Maribel Paraz

l-r: Edna Del Rosario, Dr. Loreta Castro, Cecilia Brainard, Maribel Paraz

Cecilia Brainard - Journey of a Woman Writer
by Maribel Alvarez Paraz

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is celebrating her Maryknoll class' Golden Jubilee this year. She graduated from Maryknoll College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts in 1968. She received Maryknoll College's Amazing Alumni Achiever Award in 2003.

Her talk on February 5, 2018 was her special gift to Maryknoll/Miriam College, her way of giving back to her Alma Mater.

The Little Theater of Miriam College was filled by an audience of almost 400 students of E-105 and Filipino-103, Chi Rho (the school publication) staffers, Professors Lourdes Baybay, Gail Galang, Mary Ann Arcega, Grace Soriano, Lynda Garcia, and her batch mates from Class '68, Edna del Rosario and Maribel Alvarez.

Students were engaged and interested in, and appreciative of, Cecilia's narrative and PowerPoint presentation about being born and raised in Cebu; how close family and community life influenced her; how Philippine folklore, culture, history influenced her writings. Her father, in particular, instilled in her the love for "words on paper."

Cecilia also talked about how the different schools she attended reinforced her love for Story. She cited specific nuns from St. Theresa's College (where she attended grade school and high school) who encouraged her in play acting. Sister Consuelo Varela made her fall in love with Shakespeare.

Maryknoll, Cecilia said, taught her how to think "out of the box." Teachers gave her and the other students the freedom to be creative.

Dr. Marge Acosta is far left; Dr. Loreta Castro is in the center holding the red book.

She also workshopped at the Writers Program of UCLA Extension, learning the necessary skills as well as the business of writing.

Cecilia challenged the audience to support Philippine writers, publishers, and booksellers, because if they don't, who will? And who will write our stories?

The audience asked questions about what Maryknoll was like in the 1960s and laughed to learn that there were already "Lanai Girls." They also lit up to learn Ateneans cross-enrolled and attended some Maryknoll Communication Arts classes.

The talk was sponsored by Dr. Marge Acosta, Dean of Arts and Letters.