WORLD WAR II VETERAN'S LOVE STORY WITH FILIPINA

(I'm reposting some earlier blog entries because Google had changes making it difficult to access these blogs. - Cecilia)


This account will come in several blog entries. As I continue to gather information, I'll be posting it here. This account is true, but I will not be using real names. I am sharing this story because it is a unique one.

Around 7 years ago, I heard from a World War II American veteran. It was December when he first sent an email to my business http://www.palhbooks.com, expressing interest in an antique necklace. It was a gift for a Filipina who had been his fiancee back in 1947-49. They had been in love and were supposed to get married, but something happened and they broke up. They both went on to marry other people, and have families. But somehow, via internet, John (not his true name) learned that Ligaya (not her true name either) was now living in the U.S. Her family had liked him as a young man, and her family members in the U.S. reconnected with him. In fact when John learned that Ligaya's relative was hospitalized, he went to see the person - and saw once again Ligaya.

Now in their 70s, they found they still cared for each other. But since they had their own families, they did not want to hurt any one and did nothing about their feelings, beyond a few friendly phone calls. I post here his recent emails to me:

~~~~~~~
My name is John _____and in December 2000 I bought a necklace
from you for a lady that I was engaged to in 1947-1949 in
Paranaque. The information you gave me was that you
found it in Vigan, Northern Philippines. The lady's name
was Ligaya ______. It was a
beautiful necklace and she loved it. I don't know if you
asked or I just volunteered our story but to quote your
response, you said "I love your love story". I do not
know how much of our story I told you but I often think
I would like to write the story but am not a skilled writer.
I just feel sad that when we are both gone, no one will
remember our story. I guess her sister will but she is
also getting old.

She (and I) are now 79 years of age. She had a birthday
September __ and mine was December __.

She is not in the best of health (on medicines and oxygen).
but well enough that we converse by phone several
times a month.
~~~~~~~~~
I located Ligaya and I
began communicating again in 1999 and wrote a "poem"
(I think I later mailed them to her
but am not sure). I know they sadden me when I
read them but do not know if they are good, corny
terrible, morbid or what. As for our story being
forgotten; I do not think I care if people remember
it; I just do not think (had to stop and dry my eyes!)
something as sad and beautiful as our (or anyone
else's) story should just vanish when we "pass on"
although I imagine there are thousands that have.

You are welcome to put us on your blog and I trust
you not to put anything that would cause Ligaya
any sadness if someone that knew her figured out
who it was on your blog. I do not think you would
remember it as I told it 7 years ago so let me know
if you need me to email kind of an outline or something
of the story. Every time I think or write about it
the tears come even after all these years. Naturally
some her relatives know all about
it but Ligaya worries about her grandchildren or
my children or Grandchildren knowing that we
communicate. Also we are both married and, even
though I do not think there is anything wrong with
us keeping in touch, since the feeling involved are
so deep, I guess there is a slight feeling of guilt
even though there is actually no wrong-doing.

I had better end this email before it becomes a
book!

Here is one of the (cannot think of a descriptive word)
that I had. I sometimes think that if I was rich and no
longer married I would, as a kind of memorial, love
to have a beautiful log home with acres or a "small"
sturdy castle with about an acre of the yard as a
formal garden with marble "statues" modeled from
the few pictures I have had since the late 1940s
of Ligaya and I in the formal garden. Not much of
a description but hope you get the picture.

Sorry I ramble on and on but there is a lot bottled
up inside.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness
~~~~~~

Tags: #lovestory #WorldWarII #WWII #WorldWarTwo #veteran

Philippine American War: Balangiga Massacre in Samar

I found these pictures about the historic Balangiga Massacre in Samar, Philippines during the Philippine American War.

The Filipinos attacked and killed 48 members of the US 9th infantry. In retaliation, Gen. Jacob H. Smith ordered the killing of all Filipino males over ten years old. Some 2,500 Filipinos were killed.

The picture above shows the American soldiers with their war booty, the church bell, which remains in the hands of the Americans.

Lunch with Linda Nietes and Robert Little of Philippine Expressions

I had lunch with Linda Nietes and Robert Little in San Pedro, California. Linda Nietes owns the iconic bookshop Philippine Expressions, which has been selling Philippine and Philippine American books for over 30 years.

Cebu, Philippines: Then and Now, Plaza Carlock Hamabar

Photo courtesy of John Allert, great-grandson of Judge Lyman Carlock

Photo courtesy of the Southeast Asia Digital Library

My friend, Louie Nacorda, took pictures of the park in front of the Cathedral that used to be dedicated to US American Judge Lyman Carlock Monument - see above.  

The park, which has been renamed, is now called the Plaza Hamabar. The centerpiece is a statue of Datu Hamabar. There is an obelisk in the back, which has a dedication to Hamabar at its base. 

Cebu, Philippines: Felicidad Climaco, Filipina Suffragette and Nationalist #womensrights

I blogged about the accomplished Cebuana, Ines Villa Gonzalez. Here is another suffragette from Cebu, Felicidad Climaco.

From the Heritage Cards, "Cebuana Trailblazers Sugboanang Tag-Una",  a 2008 Cebu Provincial Government's project. I quote:

Dona Felicidad Climaco, whom some considered "the Tandang Sora of the Revolution in Cebu," continued supporting the cause of nationalism during the American period.

Cebu, Philippines: Ines S. Villa Gonzalez, Filipina Woman Suffragette #womensrights

A researcher, Tichie Carandang, was recently in touch asking for information about Cebuana Ines S. Villa-Gonzalez, a supporter of the women's suffrage movement who had accompanied the 1922 Philippine Commission to the US.

Cebu Philippines: 1914 Historic Photographs re Judge Lyman Carlock

Here are two more antique historic pictures from the great-grandson of Judge Lyman Carlock, the first American judge in Cebu, Philippines.  

The top picture shows the name of the street on the house: Carlock Street. According to a Freeman April 23, 2014 article, "It is the street where the San Nicolas Elementary School is located within the jurisdiction of Barangay San Nicolas. It intersects at Tres de April St."

Invitation: Conversation with Filipino-American Fictionist Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

AN INVITATION

The University of Santo Tomas Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies Invites you to 

A Conversation with  Filipino-American Fictionist

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

February 9, 2016, Tuesday, 3:00-5:00 PM

Tangbalang TeresitaTomas, Espana, Manila

Open to the Public

~~~~

NOTE: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is also involved in The Food Writing Workshop sponsored by the Power of Pen on Feb. 13, Sat. at the Shangri-La Manila - please see link 

http://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2015/12/power-of-pen-how-to-turn-your-love-for.html

~~~

Tags: Philippines, Philippine, Filipino, literature, author, writer, books, UST, creative writing, University of Santo Tomas, novelist, lecture, literary, program

Read also
Explosion and Drawing as Writing Exercises
Your Writing Workspace
The Importance of Keeping a Journal and My Pink Lock and Key Diary
The Importance of Sensual Writing 

Vintage pictures that help me write my novel - Paris, Barcelona, Ubec 
How to Write a Novel #1
How to Write a Novel #2

This is all for  now,

Cecilia

Cebu Philippines: Bell Tower of Santo Nino Basilica Fixed

In October 2013, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Central Philippines destroying the bell tower of the Basilica Santo Nino, a beloved church that dates back to 1565.

I was happy to see that the bell tower has been restored.

World War II Fiction - Excerpt, Cecilia Brainard's When the Rainbow Goddess Wept

Ten hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Manila.  

I'm posting the first chapter of my novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, which is about the coming of age of a young girl in the Philippines during World War II. The World War II pictures are courtesy of Wikipedia.

 Rumblings of War

Excerpt from Cecilia Brainard's When the Rainbow Goddess Wept:

Mother Ignacia, fourth-grade teacher at Santa Teresa's School, made us pray for peace, and she kept our souls clean by taking us to weekly confession and communion.

“If war should catch you with mortal sins in your souls, you will end up condemned, with chains, and you will roam the earth for all eternity,” she warned.

It was a scary thought: I, Yvonne Macaraig, entangled with heavy chains, barred from heaven, barred even from purgatory, destined only to drag myself and the chains, and scare people away. There was a condemned soul who frightened the people in the house down the street from where we lived. He had borrowed fifty pesos and never paid it back, that's why his soul was not at peace.

To prepare us for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Mother Ignacia talked about the Virgin Mary. “She did not have a speck of venial sin,” Mother Ignacia said. “She was spotless, perfect. She did not commit concupiscence. Does anyone here know the meaning of the word concupiscence?”

Pictures: Philippine Literature Critic Dr. Leonard Casper

These pictures of Dr. Leonard Casper are from the author Linda Ty-Casper. 

From Syracuse University Libraries where Leonard Casper's papers are stored, I quote:

Leonard R. Casper (dates unknown) is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and emeritus professor of English from Boston College where he taught for 45 years. He is the author or editor of numerous books on Philippine literature, as well as several pieces of fiction and two volumes on the works of Robert Penn Warren. Casper taught in the Philippines on five separate occasions, twice as senior Fulbright lecturer, and was contributing editor to Solidarity (Manila) and Pilipinas (Kansas; Arizona State). His wife Linda Ty Casper is a noted Filpino novelist.

The Leonard Casper Papers consists of correspondence, notes, manuscripts, drafts, published books and printed material.

World War II and the novel When the Rainbow Goddess Wept #warnovels #wwii

On December 7, 1941 (December 8, Asian Time Zones), Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.  Ten hours later, Japan launched an attack on the Philippines. 

My novel, When the Rainbow Goddess, chronicles the coming-of-age of  nine-year-old Yvonne during wartime in the Philippines. The novel garnered excellent book reviews from Booklist, Publishers' Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Kirkus Review, the Associated Press, and many others.

I'm reprinting the review by Associated Press, dated December 18, 1994: (you can see what a sorry state my copy is!):

Associated Press
Capsule Reviews:

When the Rainbow Goddess Wept by Cecilia Brainard is the tearful, seldom-told story of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II as seen through the eyes of a young Filipino girl. The many hardships that 9-year-old Yvonne Macaraig and her family are faced with teach her the value of hope and endurance.

Student Films Based on Cecilia Brainard's Story Flip Gothic

Yesterday I posted some student films based on a story of mine, but I found more student films on another story entitled "Flip Gothic." These stories (and others) are being taught in English/Lit classes in the Philippines.

"Flip Gothic" is part of my short story collection, Acapulco at Sunset and Other Stories (Anvil 1995).

The short story is about a rebellious Filipina American in New York who is dispatched to her grandmother in Ubec when her parents had had enough of her Goth look and unruly behavior. Here's the complete transcript of Flip Gothic. The student films and a student analysis follow.

Student Film Adaptation of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's short Story "Flip Gothic" - Joshua's Group

Student Film Adaptation of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's short Story "Flip Gothic" - Mary Rose's Group

Student Film Adaptation of Cecilia Brainard's short story "Flip Gothic" - Lara Monegro's group

Elaine Catubig's article "Flip Gothic: A Cultural Analysis"

Flip Gothic presentation by Carmz Daculap


Read also
           Students Films Based on Cecilia Brainard's Story Woman With Horns

• Book Review of Angelica's Daughters by Micaela Keck, Germany
• Oscar Campomanes' Article -- Cecilia Manguerra Brainard: Scenographer
• Leonard Casper's Possibilities of Humaness in an Age of Slaughter (critique of When the Rainbow Goddess Wept)
• World War II and the novel When the Rainbow Goddess Wept

     Tags: Philippines, Philippines, Filipino, literature, Flip Gothic, young adult, story, Filipina

     This is all for now,

     Cecilia

Student Films Based on Cecilia Brainard's story Woman With Horns

 

For your enjoyment, here are several student films based on my short story, "Woman With Horns". Here's a brief summary of the short story, courtesy of Wikipedia:

The story is set in 1903 a year after the tumultuous Philippine-American War. America was busy sending American administrators to their newly acquired colony in the Pacific. One of those who went to the "Islands" and who ended up in Ubec was a New York doctor and widower, Gerald McAllister. As the Public Health Director of Ubec, he carries on with his duties of establishing a vaccination program to stop a cholera epidemic. His initial meeting of the beautiful and sensual widow, Agustina Macaraig, disturbs and irritates the doctor. It is his assistant, Dr. Jaime Laurel, who reminds him that life is more than work: "Friend, you don't know how to enjoy life. Look at the sun turning red, getting ready to set spectacularly. It is a wonderful afternoon, you walk with a friend, you talk about beautiful women, about life..."^[2]

It is Agustina Macaraig who eventually teaches Gerald McAllister to love and live once more.

SOME LINKS TO STUDENT FILMS FOLLOW:

2014 University of Santo Tomas Student Film Production of Cecilia Brainards' Woman With Horns, directed by Bagaslao and Bocobo.

2011 Student Film of Cecilia Brainard's Woman With Horns

2014 Student Film adaptation of Woman with Horns (UST Group 3 2-6, Philippine Literature)

2014 Student Film adaptation of Woman with Horns (uploaded by Gio Castillo)

2011 Student Film of Woman with Horns (Lit 102 project) (gynetheagustine)

"Woman With Horns" Bloopers re Mendoza Production (Bagaslao and Bocobo)

Read also:

Links relating to "Woman With Horns":

Wikipedia's page on "Woman With Horns"
Enotes on "Woman With Horns"
Oscar V. Campomanes' Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Scenographer
Leonard Casper's Possibilities of Humaneness in an Age of Slaughter (critique of Brainard's When the Rainbow Goddess Wept)
Student Films based on Cecilia Brainard's Story Flip Gothic
World War II and the novel When the Rainbow Goddess Wept

There are more student film adaptations of my story in YouTube - search "Woman With Horns"

Tags: Philippines, Philippine, Filipino, literature, story, Ubec, Woman With Horns, film, students, Cebu #philippines

This is all for now,

Cecilia

Antique Vintage Filipina Dresses #Philippines #sayas

I'm featuring antique/vintage dresses worn by my Cuenco relatives. These antique Filipina gowns and clothes are now gone. My aunt, Teresita Cuenco Gonzalez, told me that during World War II in Cebu, they cut up the old gowns to make into other dresses to sell, to help them survive.

Take the time to study these antique/vintage dresses. They come from a time that is no more.

The top picture is my mother, Concepcion Cuenco. My mother is the one in the middle of the children's picture.

Concepcion Cuenco

Vintage Philippine Wedding Pictures & Superstitions #philippines

Teresita Cuenco Gonzalez, photo courtesy of Manny Gonzalez

Here are some pictures of Philippine brides and grooms.  (That's my aunt up there! I don't know the others but they all look very charming.)

The Philippines has wedding superstitions including the follow:

• It is bad luck for siblings to get married within the same year;
• It is bad luck to give married couples sharp and pointed objects as these could lead to a broken marriage;
• The groom should be be at the church before the bride to avoid bad luck;
• The couple should not see each other the night before their wedding;
• Rain during a wedding day means good luck

Jewish, Russian, and Indochinese Refugees in the Philippines - #refugees

Many people are unaware that the Philippines provided safe haven to Jewish, Russian, and Indochinese refugees.

In the late 1930s, 1,200 German and Austrian Jews fled the Holocaust of Europe and found refuge in Manila. The plan for the rescue reportedly came about during regular poker games which included Philippine President Manuel Quezon, an American official Paul McNutt, Col. Dwight Eisenhower, and the Jewish-American Frieder brothers. The Philippines offered visas to Jews who most likely would have died in Nazi Germany. Shortly after the Jewish refugees settled in the Philippines, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and the refugees found themselves in another war. However, the Japanese accepted the Jews as Germans (their allies) and did not persecute them.

For the aid the Philippines extended to the 1,200 Jews, Israel created an "Open Doors" monument in Rishon Lezion Memorial Park just off Tel Aviv.

Philippine Literary Greats, Leonard and Linda Ty Casper

Leonard Casper, photo by Tina Casper-Denman

I was delighted to get news about two Philippine Literary Greats, the noted critic Dr. Leonard Casper and award-winning novelist, Linda Ty-Casper. Linda shared with me a photo of her husband, Leonard Casper. The photo was taken by their daughter, Tina Casper-Denman.  I have Linda's permission to share this wonderful photo:

From Syracuse University Libraries where Leonard Casper's papers are stored, I quote:

Leonard R. Casper (dates unknown) is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and emeritus professor of English from Boston College where he taught for 45 years. He is the author or editor of numerous books on Philippine literature, as well as several pieces of fiction and two volumes on the works of Robert Penn Warren. Casper taught in the Philippines on five separate occasions, twice as senior Fulbright lecturer, and was contributing editor to Solidarity (Manila) and Pilipinas (Kansas; Arizona State). His wife Linda Ty Casper is a noted Filpino novelist.

The Leonard Casper Papers consists of correspondence, notes, manuscripts, drafts, published books and printed material.

Philippine Author: YouTube Links with Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

I'm sharing some links to YouTube videos featuring me.

I'm reading from my work in several of them.

The interview is lengthy and comprehensive, with advise to writers.

The last link includes rare pictures of writers including Salman Rushdie, Bienvenido N. Santos, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Lina Espina Moore, and many others.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Writers Program Publication Party 2015  

Writers Program Publication Party 2014

Writers Program Publication Party 2011

Writers Program Publication Party 2010

Cecilia Brainard Reads from Angelica's Daughters

Interview of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Jeepney Books

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard - Books, Pictures with Literary Writers

Read also:

• Fiction - The Old Mansion Near the Plaza, Novel Excerpt
• Fiction - The Turkish Seamstress in Ubec, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
• Fiction - Flip Gothic, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
• Fiction - Manila Without Verna, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
• Fiction - Winning Hearts and Minds, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
• Book Review of Angelica's Daughters by Micaela Keck, Germany
• Oscar Campomanes' Article -- Cecilia Manguerra Brainard: Scenographe

Tags: Cecilia Brainard, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Philippines, Cebu, Filipino, Filipino American, literature, writer, novel, books. author, novelist, YouTube

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Cebu Philippines: The Sinulog 35th Issue and Mayen Tan

l-r: Mayen Tan and Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

I spent an afternoon with writer-editor, Mayen Tan, who gave me a copy of the 35th anniversary issue of the Sinulog magazine. As editor, Mayen had invited me to write an article for the commemorative issue, which I did, entitled, "My Mother and the Santo Nino."