National Geographic Features Brainard's Growing Up Filipino Books

PALH (Philippine American Literary House) is proud that National Geographic has featured its two publications: GROWING UP FILIPINO: STORIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS & GROWING UP FILIPINO: MORE STORIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS in its Summer Reading List.
Edited by Cecilia Manguerra Branard, Growing Up Filipino 1 and 2 collect stories about the saga of what it means to be young and Filipino.

Both books and also the Kindle editions are easily available from AMAZON. ***


For more information: https://ceciliabrainard.com/…/growing-up-filipino-stories-…/

https://ceciliabrainard.com/book/growing-up-filipino-ii/

***

School Library Journal reviews both books as follows: 

GROWING UP FILIPINO: STORIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS::
These 29 short stories offer a highly textured portrait of Filipino youth and an excellent sampling of creative writing. Thematically arranged, most of the pieces have been written since the turn of the 21st century. Each story is introduced by a thumbnail sketch of the author and a paragraph or two about some element of Filipino culture or history that is relevant to the story. Authors include those born and continuing to live in the Philippines, emigres, and American-born Filipinos. Tough but relevant topics addressed include a gay youth’s affection for his supportive mother, the role of religious didacticism in the formation of a childhood perception, consumer culture as it is experienced by modern teens in Manila, and coping with bullies of all ages and stations in life. While the introduction seems more appropriate to graduate school than high school students, and the layout and book design are not attractive, there is much here to merit consideration. There are more Filipinos living in the U.S. than most people realize, but finding literature reflective of their experiences is difficult. The high caliber and broad but wholly accessible range of this collection, however, makes this title a solid purchase for multiple reasons. (School Library Journal) 

GROWING UP FILIPINO II: MORE STORIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS:
Brainard has again selected powerful, evocative stories of family: of promises and disappointment, failure and resentment, tenacious and all-consuming love, anxiety and transcendent hope. There is plenty here to stimulate discussion and encourage an appreciation of Filipino writing and culture. This anthology is a worthy successor to the first volume and has appeal to an audience beyond high school literature courses. (School Library Journal)

 
AND RELEASED IN 2022 & 2023 by PALH and the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House

GROWING UP FILIPINO 3: NEW STORIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS 

Growing Up Filipino 3 is another masterful assemblage of short fiction collected and edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard … In sum, Growing Up Filipino 3 is excellent. It should be in the collection of every public and college/university library and is a must-have acquisition for individuals who deeply value Philippine literature. ~ (Dr. Lynn M. Grow, Professor, Literary Critic Specializing in Philippine Literature in English, for Positively Filipino)

 Tags: Philippines, Filipino, Pinoy, literature, stories, fiction, short stories, anthology, young adult, teenagers

Update Fund Raiser for Growing Up Filipino II - more

I feel gratified that more people have contacted me, wanting to support the publication of Growing Up Filipino II:

John and Elizabeth Allen, Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough, and Carolyn Williams contacted me last week. Here's the message from Carolyn Williams, Director of the Writers House in Rutgers University:

"I'm eager to help the publication of Growing Up Filipino II, but I've only just put my check in the mail. I hope it's not too late to include me!
Carolyn Williams
Director, Writers House
Rutgers University"

Special thanks to the following Sponsors whose support makes possible the publication of Growing Up Filipino: More Stories for Young Adults:

John and Elizabeth Allen
Christopher Brainard Law Offices – www.christopherbrainard.com
Emmanuel Gonzalez
Barbara Lim
In memory of Arcadio, Maria, Sylvestre, and Celerina
Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough
Marily Y. Orosa
Remy’s on Temple Art & Garden – www.remysontemple.com
Tony Robles – www.tony-robles.com
Studio 5
Carolyn Williams, Director, Writers House, Rutgers University - http://wh.rutgers.edu/

Update Fund Raiser for Growing Up Filipino II

As some of you know, I'm raising funds to help defray the cost of publishing the book, Growing Up Filipino II; donors will be acknowledged in the book. The first
Growing Up Filipino volume was quite successful and ended up in numerous
American libraries, and was also used by educators; there is also a Philippine
edition of the first volume. We plan a Philippine edition of the second volume
as well.

Thus far, the following have pledged $100 each:

John & Elizabeth Allen
Christopher Brainard Law Offices – www.christopherbrainard.com
Emmanuel Gonzalez
Barbara Lim
In memory of Arcadio, Maria, Sylvestre, and Celerina
Marily Y. Orosa - http://marilyo.multiply.com
Remy’s on Temple Art Gallery – www.remysontemple.com
Tony Robles – www.tony-robles.com
Studio 5

Thanks for considering and happy New Year,
Cecilia Brainard
~~~~~
In 2003, PALH or Philippine American Literary House published Growing Up
Filipino: Stories for Young Adults, a book that received favorable mainstream
reviews in the United States and is used by many educators.About Growing Up
Filipino, Booklist states:

"In this fine short-story collection, 29 Filipino American writers explore the
universal challenges of adolescence from the unique perspectives of teens in the
Philippines or the U.S…The stories are delightful!"

It was the success of the earlier volume, Growing Up Filipino, that prompted me
to collect for publication Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young
Adults. Of this collection, Professor Rocio G. Davis of the University of
Navarre says, "Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's second volume of Growing Up Filipino
expands and deepens the paradigms presented in the frist book…This new
collection retakes the first volume's constutive strategy and many of the themes
but, importantly, extends some of the concerns…"

The 27 contributors to this forthcoming second volume are: Amalia B. Bueno,
Leslieann Hobayan, Rashaan Alexis Meneses, Paulino Lim,Jr., Dean Francis Alfar,
Marianne Villanueva, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Jonathan Jimena Siason,
Charlson Ong, Brian Ascalan Roley, Veronica Montes, Edgar Poma, Tony Robles,
Oscar Peñaranda, Max Guttierez, Geronimo G. Tagatac, Kannika Claudine D. Peña, Aileen Suzara, Jaime L. An Lim, Elsa Orejudos Valmidiano,
Erwin Cabucos, Dolores De Manuel, Maria Victoria Beltran, M.G. Bertulfo, Rebecca
Mabanglo-Mayor, Katrina Ramos Atienza, and Marily Y. Orosa.

Unfortunately, the economic situation right now is particularly bad in publishing. I have therefore decided to seek financial assistance from sponsors whose names will be acknowledged in Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults, which is expected to be released in 2009.

Donations of $100 or more will help defray the publishing cost of this
anthology. Donors will be listed in a Sponsors List in the book.

For clarification, I mention that PALH is not a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization,
and unfortunately these donations are not tax-deductible. However, I assure
you, that every penny will be used in the publishing of this book.
As many of you know there is a scarcity of Filipino and Filipino American
books. I hope you can help publish this worthwhile book. You may send your
$100 or more, made out to PALH, to:

PALH
PO Box 5099
Santa Monica, CA 90409.
Since we are currently in production, I need the names for the Sponsors List by
January 6, and you may email me at palh@aol.com to give me the name/names. These
may be personal names or business names, even websites, which will be printed for
posterity in the book.

Thanking you,
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Publisher and Editor of PALH (Philippine Am erican Literary House)
http://www.palhbooks.com
PALH
PO Box 5099
SM, CA 90409
Tel/fax: 310-452-1195
Email: Palh@aol.com

Fund Raiser for Growing Up Filipino II

The following is a fund raiser for the anthology Growing Up Filipino II - businesses, writers, academics, and others may want to be listed in the Sponsors List which will be published in the book. Let me know, at palh@aol.com, Cecilia
~~
In 2003, PALH or Philippine American Literary House published Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults, a book that received favorable mainstream reviews in the United States and is used by many educators. Booklist states:
"In this fine short-story collection, 29 Filipino American writers explore the universal challenges of adolescence from the unique perspectives of teens in the Philippines or the U.S…The stories are delightful!"

It was the success of the earlier volume, Growing Up Filipino, that prompted me to collect for publication Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults. Of this collection, Professor Rocio G. Davis of the University of Navarre says, "Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's second volume of Growing Up Filipino expands and deepens the paradigms presented in the frist book…This new collection retakes the first volume's constutive strategy and many of the themes but, importantly, extends some of the concerns…"

The 28 contributors to this forthcoming second volume are: Amalia B. Bueno, Leslieann Hobayan, Rashaan Alexis Meneses, Paulino Lim,Jr., Dean Francis Alfar, Marianne Villanueva, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Jonathan Jimena Siason, Charlson Ong, Brian Ascalan Roley, Veronica Montes, Edgar Poma, Tony Robles, Oscar Peñaranda, Max Guttierez, Geronimo G. Tagatac, Kannika Claudine D. Peña, Dean Francis Alfar, Aileen Suzara, Jaime L. An Lim, Elsa Orejudos Valmidiano, Erwin Cabucos, Dolores De Manuel, Maria Victoria Beltran, M.G. Bertul fo, Rebecca Mabanglo-Mayor, Katrina Ramos Atienza, and Marily Y. Orosa.

Unfortunately, the economic situation right now is particular bad in publishing. I have therefore decided to seek financial assistance from sponsors whose names will be acknowledged in Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults, which is expected to be released in 2009.

Donations of $100 or more will help defray the publishing cost of this anthology. Donors will be listed in a Sponsors List in the book.
For clarification, I mention that PALH is not a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, and unfortunately t hese donations are not tax-deductible. However, I assure you, that every penny will be used in the publishing of this book.

As many of you know there is a scarcity of Filipino and Filipino American books. I hope you can help publish this worthwhile book. You may send your $100 or more, made out to PALH, to:
PALH
PO Box 5099
Santa Monica, CA 90409.

Since we are currently in production, I need the names for the Sponsors List by January 6, and you may email me at palh@aol.com to give me the name/names. These may be personal names or business names, even websites, which will be printed for posterity in the book.

Thanking you,

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Publisher and Editor of PALH (Philippine American Literary House)
PALH
PO Box 5099
SM, CA 90409
Tel/fax: 310-452-1195
Email: Palh@aol.com

Google Alert - Growing Up Filipino

This is another Google Alert on Christmas morning. It feels good to know that the young Filipino Americans appreciate this book.

BakitWhy Reading Series: Growing Up Filipino

Posted Mon, 12/22/2008 - 16:17 by janice Add new comment

Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults (edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard) is an anthology filled with Pilipina/o and Pilipina/o American short stories that addresses the complexity of growing up Filipino from many different perspectives. As a daughter of Pilipino immigrants, this book helped me understand parts of myself that I thought would seldom be addressed in school, with my friend or in my family. The book itself is split up into five sections: family, angst, friendship, love and home. Each of these sections exist as testaments to parts of my life that I thought were ineffable experiences. Each writer paints the fabric of Pilipina/o America with their words by connecting historical moments with personal narratives and forming a collective story with their own. This book deftly describes symbols of their process to learn about who they are and recaptures moments for a growing audience.

I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I took a chance on this book and its title during a point in my high school years when I was researching Pilipina/o American identity. I needed books that my high school library lacked. Thanks to Amazon.com, that search was simplified but it still continues today. There was something missing from Chicken Soup for the Soul books that just didn't quite address more pertinent cultural issues such as language barriers, the thirst for ancestral knowledge, generation gaps and familial intergenerational strain or struggles regarding identity. It was and still is a hardship to locate Pilipina/o American literature in most major retail stores and public libraries. After purchasing this book, I learned to find comfort in knowing others' stories and strived to write my own.

If you're looking for a good, calm read on your individual quest to constructing and learning about your Pil/Am identity, then this is a good place to start. If you're looking to get acquainted with Pil/Am writers or seeking inspiration, then you have to get this book. If you want to get away from your academic reads, but don't know how to choose non-required reading, well, then please believe me on this one. If you've read my other articles and have begun to trust our blogger-to-reader relationship, then you will only value and cherish our friendship even more. Lastly, if you're looking for a (last-minute) gift for the inquiring and developing Pilipina/o young mind, then I'm sure you can expedite your book delivery. The decision to buy this book shouldn't be entirely based on conditional terms - this book has a story for all ages. Stories take place in the Philippines and in the United States and across certain periods of time while providing personalized backgrounds and reactions to social structures and phenomena.

Authors and writers of Growing Up Filipino are prominent figures in the Pilipina/o American community who contribute to the growing body of literature for and by Pilipina/o Americans. Some of my favorite short stories from this anthology include "San Prancisco" by Joel Barraquiel Tan (about a queer Pinoy and the "coming out" process), "In Place of Trees" by Linda Ty-Casper (about a post-WWII moment in the Philippines), and "Her Wild American Self" by M. Evelina Galang (which is the title of one of her books that I also strongly recommend for Pinays and Pinoys, but most especially for Pinays).



Enjoy the holiday season and curl up with a good book! You can find excerpts of the book here via GoogleBooks.

FROM KRIS ANNE ALCANTARA OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Hi Ms. Brainard and PALH,
My name is Kris Anne Alcantara, a final-year Media and Communications (Journalism) student at Sydney University and a Manila-born Filipina raised in Australia and America. I have recently completed a six-week internship working at The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the leading broadsheet paper in the Philippines, after winning a journalism scholarship sponsored by Myer and the Australia-Korea Foundation, during which I had numerous articles published, including a front-page article with a picture of my mother and I, on the EDSA 1 Revolution ( http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=120808 ).

The reason I am writing is because I recently received a copy of 'Growing Up Filipino' while on my trip to the Philippines. After finishing the entire book in one (long) sitting, I want to salute you, PALH, Susan Montepio and the PAWWA, for compiling such wonderful Filipino youth literature and having it published. This makes me so proud to be a young Filipina, and a writer. You mentioned in the preface the scarcity of Filipino-American (and Australian, I might add) literature and Filipino young-adult books, and how you grew up reading Nancy Drew and novels with Anglo-Saxon protagonists. While I also enjoyed these books, I craved for Filipina and Filipino heroes and heroines, role models that I could relate to, that looked like me and shared my cultural values and background. By having these young, talented authors published, you provide a great springboard for more writers (like me), as well as inspire young Filipinos to get their work out there.

I long to see more Filipino writers on bookshelves all over the world; we need more journalists, newscasters, global media figures and novelists. I firmly believe Filipinos are some of the most talented and driven people in the world; so many of us possess not only passion but such strong work ethic - we simply need more avenues to express ourselves, more role models to emulate. So thank you for 'Growing Up Filipino.'

I also write to offer my services and writing skills if needed. I have had extensive experience writing fiction and non-fiction (journalistic) pieces, as well as opinion. I recently completed a guest editorial for The Philippine Times newspaper (Australia) in Dec 2007, and am in the process of completing a feature comparing Filipino and Australian youth culture for the paper. I am also currently a feature writer for Star Central magazine (leading lifestyle and entertainment magazine for Australian-Filipinos). Furthermore, my opinion article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Feb 9 2008, 'Final Piece of a Puzzle,' has now been circulated via email and blog sites to Filipinos all over the globe

I have many short stories lying around, based on experiences I have had as a young Filoz/Am growing up and my experience of coming "back home" to the Philippines in my adulthood. If you are planning to publish another anthology, I would love to contribute some of my work.

Again, I thank you for 'Growing Up Filipino' and 'Fiction by Filipinos in America,' they provide young writers like me with inspiration and hope, and most importantly - people to look up to.

Sincerely,
Kris
Krisanne Alcantara | Communications Specialist
The University of Sydney

GROWING UP FILIPINO II - CONTRIBUTORS

Here's the lineup of contributors to the second volume of Growing Up Fiipino that I'm currently editing. I'm still waiting for a few more writers to send in their work.

Amalia Bueno, Leslieann Hobayan, Rashaan Alexis Meneses, Paulino Lim,
Dean Francis Alfar, Marianne Villanueva, Jonathan Jimena Siason, Veronica Montes, Edgar Poma, Tony Robles, Kannika Claudine Pena, Erwin Cabucos, Aileen Suzura, Jaime L. An Lim, Elsa Orejudos Valdimiano, Dolores De Manuel, Maria Victoria Beltran, M. G. Bertulfo, Rebecca Mabanglo-Mayor, Katrina Ramos Atienza, Oscar Penaranda, Geronimo G. Tagatac.

Great stories in this anthology! Will keep you posted!