TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD: July 2025

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Cebu Launch of Two Cecilia Brainard Books

Vibal Foundation and Cecilia Brainard launched two books recently in the Philippines. There were several book celebrations in Cebu and in Makati, Philippines.

But please read this Vibal Foundation writeup describing the books:

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2025/07/vibal-foundation-launches-two-cecilia.html

In Cebu, Lost Books Cebu hosted a book celebration for HOW I BECAME A WRITER: ESSAYS BY FILIPINO AND FILIPINO AMERICAN WRITERS on May 30, 2025. Dr. Hope Sabanpan Yu and I went to give chats and sign books that day.

On June 7, 2025, STEP INTO OUR KITCHENS: THERESIAN RECIPES AND TALES was celebrated with Patricia Aberasturi and Chef Pamela Relampagos giving talks and signing books. They even baked an angel cake and petite fours for the guests!

These events in this beloved little bookshop in Cebu were very joyful and successful. I even had two classmates from kindergarten St. Theresa's College show up!

Thanks to Donald Villamero for hosting these celebrations.

Here are some photos from Lost Books Cebu:

May 30, 2025, with Cecilia Brainard giving a talk and signing books:

June 7, 2025 with Patricia Aberasturi and Pamela Relampagos signing STEP INTO OUR KITCHENS: THERESIAN RECIPES AND TALES. They are contributors to this cookbook.

You can find copies of these books at Lost Books Cebu. You can also find copies at Vibal Shop, Lazada, and Shopee.

I'll be posting more pictures, please visit again.

Vibal Foundation Launches Two Cecilia Brainard Books

The following announcement is courtesy of Vibal Foundation

𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝟮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙆𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧

𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗜 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: Vibal Foundation unveiled two new inspiring books edited by award-winning author and editor Cecilia Manguerra Brainard: 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 and 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳: 𝘌𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴 is a rich culinary memoir that blends personal stories, faith, and over 70 cherished recipes contributed by Theresians and their families. More than a cookbook, it reflects the legacy of shared meals, childhood memories, and the enduring spirit of the graduates of St. Theresa’s College from its campuses in Manila, Cebu, and Quezon City.

In her Introduction, Brainard reflected on her concept for the book which came after the 60th reunion of her high school class of 1964 at St. Theresa’s College-Manila: “The idea rooted in my mind was that we should leave something behind for our families, friends, and the next generations—a small something of ourselves. The ‘cookbook project’ started forming in my mind… Perhaps because I am primarily a fiction writer, I considered creating a food book that tells a story. I thought of combining recipes, anecdotes, longer personal essays, and the history of our STC Foundress, Mother Marie Louise De Meester—a kind of memorabilia, thus the title: 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴. Here, then, is that food book.”

The book is under the Gastronomía Filipina imprint of Vibal Foundation, which aims to showcase established and emerging voices in Philippine food writing, while reflecting the evolving narrative of Filipino food. Its editor-at-large, food scholar and book designer Guillermo “Ige” Ramos, was also present during the launch to show his support for Brainard.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

John Iremil Teodoro Writes "Rediscovering Cecilia Manguerra Brainard"

This totally made my day!

https://dailyguardian.com.ph/rediscovering-cecilia-manguerra-brainard/

The writer and academic John Iremil Teodoro wrote about me and my work in his column in the Iloilo newspaper, the Daily Guardian. John writes about some of my books which he has enjoyed, my novel, MAGDALENA, and ACAPULCO AT SUNSET AND OTHER STORIES, among others.

In his article, he mentions our June 8, 2025 launch of HOW I BECAME A WRITER: ESSAYS BY FILIPINO AND FILIPINO AMERICAN WRITERS (Vibal), which includes 22 top notch Filipino writers, John included. John himself has published 20 books and received the prestigious SEA Write Award from the Kingdom of Thailand -- no small feat.

The other writers in HOW I BECAME A WRITER are: Merlie Alunan, Ian Casocot, Linda Ty-Casper, Aileen Cassinetto, Kristian Sendon Cordero, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Jose Dalisay, Noelle Q. De Jesus, Allan N. Derain, Migs Bravo Dutt, Yvette Fernandez, Caroline Hau, Luisa A. Igloria, Paulino Lim, Jr., Tony Perez (who recently passed away, RIP), Elmer Omar Pizo, Joel Pablo Salud, Eileen Tabios, Jack Wigley, and yours truly.

The writers in HOW I BECAME A WRITER have such wonderful honest write-ups about what led them to become these fine accomplished creative writers, prompting Resil Mojares (Philippine National Artist in Literature to say:

"How I Became a Writer: Essays by Filipino and Filipino American Writers offers intimate, fine-grained accounts in the making of what constitutes contemporary Philippine literature, provided by a remarkable set of Filipino writers in the Philippines and abroad, It is a book to be treasured."

Yes, I'm plugging this fine collection, because I'm genuinely proud of the writers in this book. You can pick up a copy from Lazada and Vibal Shop. It will eventually be listed in Amazon. To those in the US, dying to have a copy, message me.

Thank you, John for honoring me with your article.

TRAVELS (and more) WITH CECILIA BRAINARD

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Cebu Launch of Two Cecilia Brainard Books

Vibal Foundation Launches Two Cecilia Brainard Books

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

John Iremil Teodoro Writes "Rediscovering Cecilia Manguerra Brainard"

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