TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: Voice from the Past

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Voice from the Past - Filipino Author Bienvenido N. Santos

I was happy to stumble upon this handwritten note from Filipino writer Bienvenido N. Santos to me dated May 22, 1988. Ben Santos was very supportive of my literary efforts. He was the one who introduced me to Gloria Rodriquez, publishing manager of New Day at the time, and Tita Glo published my first book, Woman With Horns and Other Stories.

Ben's note says:

May 22, 1988,

Dear Cecilia, Thank you for your autographed copy of your book. Now I can read the complete collection.
As a regular commuter between the RP and the U.S. every six months each year since 1981, promoting my books and teaching, I know what you mean when you say "I am tired." Consider, too, that I'm a 77-year old man.

But I keep busy, which to me is a way of survival. Manila is an exciting town to visit. I was born there, but the place has changed, the people, too.

I missed you at the poetry reading in which I participated in L.A. April 9. I asked Linda where you were and she told me. Sorry, our paths didn't cross.

I'm leaving at the end of the month for the Wash/DC area to speak and to receive my work in progress. Wish me well as I do you. Thank you again.

Regards to Lauren.

Ben Santos.

From Wikipedia, here is a short bio of Ben: Bienvenido N. Santos (March 22, 1911 – January 7, 1996) was a Filipino-American fiction, poetry and nonfiction writer. He was born and raised in Tondo, Manila. His family roots are originally from Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines. He lived in the United States for many years where he is widely credited as a pioneering Asian-American writer.

l-r: Linda Nietes, P.C. Morantte, Cecilia Brainard, Bienvenido N. Santos

#Philippine #literature #pinoylit #FilAm #novel #writer #Filipino #author #goodreads #librarians'

Read also

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's official website is ceciliabrainarddotcom. She is the award-winning author and editor of 22 books, including When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, The Newspaper Widow, Magdalena, Selected Stories, Vigan and Other Stories, and more. She edited Growing Up Filipino 1, 2, & 3, Fiction by Filipinos in America, Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, and other books.. Her work has been translated into Finnish and Turkish; and many of her stories and articles have been widely anthologized. Cecilia has received many awards, including a California Arts Council Fellowship in Fiction, a Brody Arts Fund Award, a Special Recognition Award for her work dealing with Asian American youths, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, 21st District, and the Outstanding Individual Award from her birth city, Cebu, Philippines. She has lectured and performed at UCLA, USC, University of Connecticut, University of the Philippines, PEN, Shakespeare & Company in Paris, and many others. She has served in the Board of literary arts groups such as PEN, PAWWA (Pacific Asian American Writers West), among others.