TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera Passes Away

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Philippine National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera Passes Away

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Felice Sta. Maria, Isagani Cruz, Michael Gonzalez, Bienvenido Lumbera, Marily Orosa, Karina Bolasco

Bienvenido Lumbera (1932-2021), Philippine National Artist for Literature passed away yesterday. May he rest in peace.

This is from the UST Publishing House:
"Fondly known as Sir Bien to his students and colleagues, he has become one of the foundational figures in Philippine literature not only for his valuable contribution on Tagalog poetry, but also for his sharp criticism with historical grounding. As a Martial Law detainee, his firsthand experience of state violence inspired much of his social commentaries, which are now considered cornerstone works in Philippine scholarly studies. Lumbera was proclaimed National Artist for Literature in 2006."

Tags: #philippineliterature #Filipinoauthors #Philippinewriters #Philippinenationalartist

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.