Old Historic Cebu Photo - Elpidio Quirino, Mariano J. Cuenco, Manuel Cuenco

 

 I have old family photos given to me by relatives. These are interesting as they include the Sixth president of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino. My maternal grandfather Mariano Jesus Cuenco was Senate President at the time; and my uncle Manuel Cuenco was Governor or Cebu. 

From my baul: 1950 Photos of President Elpidio Quirino with my grandfather Senate President Mariano J. Cuenco and uncle Governor Manuel Cuenco. Quirino has the 6th president of the Philippines.

 

Top photo: l-r: 3rd person from left, smiling, Mariano J. Cuenco, Elpidio Quirino, Manuel Cuenco. Bottom photo: l-r: I can only identify the gentlemen in white suits, and they are Mariano J. Cuenco, Elpidio Quirino, and Manuel Cuenco.

 

Read also:

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2014/06/philippines-cuenco-family-remembrance.html?m=1

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-maternal-grandmother-filomena-alesna.html?m=1

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2015/07/cebu-politics-philippines-cebus-cuenco.html?m=1

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2015/02/excerpt-from-archbishop-jose-maria.html

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2016/02/cebu-philippines-antique-photographs.html

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2020/06/old-photographs-tony-cuenco-of-cebu.html

tags: Cebu Cebuano Sugbo history politics society culture, Philippine genealogy

 

Tags: Cebu history, Cebu politics, Cebuano, Cebu society

4-year old Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews - Fritto Misto

 

Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews

Vikram rates the following

Fritto Misto * * * * * (Five Stars)

620 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste A

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Vikram's faves are: lime soda, chicken "pillows" ravioli, fried calamari.

Read also Vikram's Other Vichelin Reviews:

Lazy Daisy Cafe, Santa Monica  

Fritto Misto 

La Cabana Venice Mexican Restaurant

The Palace Seafood & Dim Sum

Tags: food, drink, restaurant reviews, kid food reviews

Book Review of Seven Stories from Seven Sisters, Children's Filipino Folklore

Thanks to Dr. Herminia Menez Coben Herminia Coben who gave me a copy of this review of the children's book, Seven Stories from Sisters, a project of PAWWA (Philippine American Women Writers and Artists), a group I cofounded. The book was published a while back. PALH may have a few copies left, so email palhbooks@gmail.com if interested.

From Wikipedia: "Philippine American Women Writers and Artists also known as PAWWA was founded in 1991 by a group of seven Filipina writers in Southern California.[1] It was the first such support group for Filipina women writers. Aside from supporting one another, the group wanted to help other Filipina writers and artists, as well as to provide community service. PAWWA encouraged the creation of PAWWA-North, headed by Ceres Alabado in the Bay Area, California.

PAWWA's founding members are: Valorie Slaughter Bejarano, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Mariquita Athena Davison, Fe Panalingan Koons, Susan N. Montepio, Cecile Caguingin Ochoa, and Nentuzka C. Villamar.

For six years, PAWWA received the highly competitive Multicultural Entry Grant from the California Arts Council (CAC). PAWWA used that funding to help publish a newsletter and books: Seven Stories from Seven Sisters: A Collection of Philippine Folktales (1992); The Beginning and Other Asian Folktales (1995);A Directory of Philippine American Women Writers and Artists; and Journey of 100 Years: Reflections on the Centennial of Philippine Independence (1999)."

Tags: Filipino children's book, Filipino folktales, Filipino folklore

Cecilia Brainard On YouTube Palhbooks

 

Most of Cecilia Brainard's virtual lectures are archived on YouTube Palhbooks or click here https://youtube.com/user/palhbooks

 

Her lectures/talks include:

Ubec: Cebu Reimagined, a talk for the Cebuano Studies Center - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN0wzeF_j9I&t=17s

Cecilia Brainard's Talk for the University of Santo Tomas CCWLS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Y0aSYxs3Q&t=1808s

Literature as a Coping Strategy Part 1, Cecilia Brainard's Talk delivered at the International Conference on Literature Education (LEAP ICLE2021) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlL7scSJfg&t=3s

Literature as a Copying Strategy Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH2Gl4b5R_I&t=2s

Literature as a Copying Strategy Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlL7scSJfg&t=3s

Reimagining Cebu, a talk by Cecilia Brainard for the Cebu Technological University 2021 Library Congress - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wha67crdVH8&t=533s

Filipino & Fil-Am Women Writers - Philippine Embassy in the US Event - Panel Discussion with: Aileen Cassinetto, Cecilia Brainard, Migs Bravo Dutt, Luisa A. Igloria, and Gayle Romasanta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eQNIenrhXc&t=2481s

 

Cecilia Brainard has more talks and readings in You Tube Palhbooks, go to videos.

Tags: Filipino author, Filipino American writer, Philippine literature, FilAm writer 

 

Cecilia Brainard Remembers Filipino Filam Author Bienvenido N. Santos - You Lovely People Conference

 

Bienvenido N. Santos & Cecilia Brainard, circa 1996

Cecilia Brainard remembers noted Filipino Filam author Bienvenido N. Santos at the "You Lovely People: An Online Conference" on March 22, 2022, sponsored by the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center and the Department of Literature at De La Salle University, Manila.

The Conference went on for 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Cecilia's 10 minute talk was part of the Closing Program: Remembering Bienvenido N. Santos, along with Dr. Raymond Tan, Brother Bernard Oca, Dr. Dinah Roma, Readings by Mark Adrian Ho, Timothy Montes, and Response from Dr. Tomas N. Santos on behalf of the Santos Family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqWqE5D1PY

 Tags: Filipino authors, Filipino novelists, Filipino writers, Filipino books, Filipino American books, Filipino American writers, FilAm novelists

4-year old Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews - La Cabana Venice Mexican Restaurant

 

Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews

Vikram rates the following: 

La Cabana Mexican Restaurant - * * * * * (Five Stars)

738 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Vikram's faves are: the limonada, the bacon spinach quesadilla, and the candy at the end of the meal.

 Read also Vikram's Other Vichelin Reviews:

 Lazy Daisy Cafe, Santa Monica  

Fritto Misto 

La Cabana Venice Mexican Restaurant

The Palace Seafood & Dim Sum

 Tags: food, drink, restaurant reviews, kid food reviews

Author Cecilia Brainard Virtual Lectures & Readings in You Tube Palhbooks

 

Many of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's virtual lectures and literary readings can be found in YouTube Palhbooks or click here

https://www.youtube.com/user/palhbooks/videos 

Her lectures/talks include:

Ubec: Cebu Reimagined, a talk for the Cebuano Studies Center - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN0wzeF_j9I&t=17s

Cecilia Brainard's Talk for the University of Santo Tomas CCWLS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Y0aSYxs3Q&t=1808s

Literature as a Coping Strategy Part 1, Cecilia Brainard's Talk delivered at the International Conference on Literature Education (LEAP ICLE2021) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlL7scSJfg&t=3s 

Literature as a Copying Strategy Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH2Gl4b5R_I&t=2s 

Literature as a Copying Strategy Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlL7scSJfg&t=3s

Reimagining Cebu, a talk by Cecilia Brainard for the Cebu Technological University 2021 Library Congress - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wha67crdVH8&t=533s  

Filipino & Fil-Am Women Writers - Philippine Embassy in the US Event - Panel Discussion with: Aileen Cassinetto, Cecilia Brainard, Migs Bravo Dutt, Luisa A. Igloria, and Gayle Romasanta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eQNIenrhXc&t=2481s 

Cecilia Brainard has more talks and readings in You Tube Palhbooks, go to videos.

 

Tags: Philippine literature, Philippine American writers, Filipino American readings, Filipino American writers, Filipino American literary

World War Two Hero Cebu: Federico A. Reyes

 

There are many Filipino heroes of World War Two in the Philippines. Among them was Captain Federico Arias Reyes who was married to my mother's sister Consuelo Cuenco.  They lived in Cebu City.

Capt Reyes was born in Meycawayan, Bulacan on July 3, 1913; he died on June 10, 2011. He graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology in 1937 with a Civil Engineering degree. His parents were Pedro Reyes and Florentina Arias. His siblings were: Francisco, Hermogenes, Andrea and Irenea. Federico and Consuelo Reyes had three children: Teresita, Federico, and Florentino.

4-year old Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews - The Palace Seafood & Dim Sum

 

Introducing Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews. 

Four-year old Vikram rates restaurants that he has visited.

 

The Palace Seafood & Dim Sum Restaurant - * * * * *  (Five Stars)

11701 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90025

 

Vikram says, "Great service, food, and lemonade. Their siomai is my favorite."

Read also Vikram's Other Vichelin Reviews:

 Lazy Daisy Cafe, Santa Monica  

Fritto Misto 

La Cabana Venice Mexican Restaurant

The Palace Seafood & Dim Sum

Tags: food, drink, restaurant reviews, kid food reviews

Historic Antique Photograph Philippine Cuenco Family

 

 

For the first time I deciphered the writing on this old photo that I got from my aunt, Lourdes Cuenco. It's quite an interesting photo that includes a historic figure, Mariano Sevilla who had been part of the Revolution against Spain. His companion revolutionaries were killed by the Spaniards; fortunately for Sevilla, he was exiled. Read on.

1895 historic picture of the Cuenco Family. The photo references the Philippine hero Father Jose Burgos of the famous trio of hero-martyrs GomBurZa who were executed by the Spaniards in 1897 following the Cavite Mutiny. Father Mariano Sevilla (shown in the picture) had been exiled after the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.

The caption is in Spanish; I'll try to translate: Historic Photograph taken in Manila in the year 1895 for the Fotografia Pantierra. From left to right: sitting, Dona Remedios Diosomito Cuenco, mother of Archbishop Cuenco, Senator Cuenco, and Congressman Cuenco; Standing: Jose Ma. Cuenco, 10 years old, student at the Colegio de la Sagrada, Head Dr. Mariano Sevilla, companion of Father Jose Burgos; Standing Mariano Jesus Cuenco, 8 years old; center standing Jaime Cuenco, 7 years old (died); girl Dolores Cuenco, (1 year old).

My maternal grandfather was Mariano Jesus Cuenco. Remedios Diosomito Cuenco, here shown, was my great-grandmother.

photo copyright 2022 cecilia brainard

#philippinehistory #filipinohistory #Philippinerevolution #Gomburza 

UBEC: CEBU REIMAGINED Talk by Cecilia Brainard, Cebuano Studies Center & YOUTUBE

 Cecilia Brainard's Talk: UBEC: CEBU REIMAGINED (Feb. 19, 2022) is streaming in the FB site of the Cebuano Studies Center:

https://fb.watch/bjCduHleD6/

Cecilia Brainard's Talk can also be viewed on YouTube:

The complete 1 hour 41 minute program with Introductions, talk, and Open Forum can be viewed here:   

https://youtu.be/MN0wzeF_j9I

>>>>

Following is the transcript of her talk. 

 UBEC: CEBU REIMAGINED

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Copyright 2022 by Cecilia M. Brainard

"All Hail Cebu's Carnival Queens 1914-1941, Brainard in Positively Filipino

 Concepcion Alesna Cuenco, 1931 Cebu Carnival Queen (mother of author)

My article "All Hair Cebu's Carnival Queens 1914-1941" was published in Positively Filipino. Here is the link:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/all-hail-cebus-carnival-queens-1914-1941

"Six years after the Philippine Carnival took off in Manila, Cebu had its own regional Cebu Carnival or Cebu Petit Carnival. Cebu Carnivals ran from 1914 through 1941.

The Carnival festivities included commercial and industrial exhibits, and entertainment such as circus, ferris wheel and other rides, parades, vaudeville shows, balls, performances, and Carnival Queen events.

It was the Carnival Queen element however that grabbed people’s imagination and which is still remembered. The Carnival Queens evoked glamour, opulence, and they had a mystique that stayed with them all their lives. These Queens were treated with deference accorded to politicians and other dignitaries. My mother, Concepion Alesna Cuenco, who was Cebu’s Carnival Queen of 1931, had articles written about her carnival days even when she was in her 80s.

The candidates for Carnival Queen were nominated by newspapers, institutions, or districts; judging was done by either ballot system or by judges. They were chosen for their good-looks, proper breeding, accomplishments; most, if not all, came from influential and wealthy Cebu families... Continue reading in PF link. 

 

Angeles Noel, 1935 Cebu Carnival Queen 

Read more

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Official Website: 

https://ceciliabrainard.com  

Tags: #Manilacarnival #Philippinecarnival #cebucarnival #MissCebu Cebu beauty queens, Carnival queens of Cebu 

World War Two Hero Cebu -- Alfonso Escaño Corominas Sr.

 

Alfonso E. Corominas with his son Alfonso Jr. 

WORLD WAR TWO HERO - Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr. 

Another World War Two hero from Cebu is Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr., who, with his two brothers (Manuel and Eduardo), was executed  by the Japanese.

Alfonso was the son of  Jose Corominas and Paz Escaño. He married Flora Abellana North and they had six children, including Assemblyman Alfonso Corominas Jr. (Baby).

 Alfonso's granddaughter, Maritoni Corominas, who used to discuss the war and what happened to Alfonso Sr. to her grandmother Flora and father Victor North Corominas, shares this account:

 Alfonso secretly supported the guerrillas by providing them with food, medicine, and other supplies. A Japanese collaborator pointed Alfonso out to the Japanese. Aware that he had been betrayed, Alfonso brought his family to the mountain area in San Fernando, Cebu. The Japanese went to the home of the parents of Alfonso. Fearing for the lives of his parents, Alfonso gave himself up. The Japanese imprisoned him at the Cebu Normal School, which was the Kempetai Headquarters. He was imprisoned with two or three other men. His siblings would bring him food, but they later learned the Japanese had starved him. 

During this time the Americans had started bombing Cebu and during a bombing, part of Alfonso's prison cell was destroyed. Other prisoners managed to escape but Alfonso did not leave for fear of his parents' lives. 

The Japanese took him and another prisoner to an area near Miller Hospital where they had to dig their own graves. They were shot and buried there. Alfonso was martyred on August. 11, 1944. 

After the bombing, Flora (his wife) looked for his body. It took her two years of searching until she found the driver of the vehicle that had brought the prisoners to their execution site. Flora was able to identify his remains from a ring and his bone structure. He was interred at the old San Nicolas Church on T. Padilla St. in Cebu.  

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2016/08/03/1609531/assemblyman-alfonso-baby-n-corominas-jr

Flora North Corominas, wife of Alfonso

Photos of Alfonso Carominas Sr. holding Alfonso Jr. and Flora North are courtesy of  Julius Anthony Corominas

Read more

 World War Two Heroes in Cebu Philippines

Capt. Federico Arias Reyes 

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-war-two-hero-cebu-federico-reyes.html 

Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr.

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-hero-alfonso-escano.html

Dr. Colonel Emilio Veloso Osmeña

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-dr-col-emilio.html 

Conrado Colina Tudtud

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-conrado-colina.html

James M. Cushing

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-james-m-cushing.html

 Herbert Zipper

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/01/remembering-dr-herbert-zipper-world-war.html 

 Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Official Website: 

https://ceciliabrainard.com  

 tags: #Philippines #pacificwar #WWII #Worldwartwo #Philippinewar #Cebuwar

 

World War II Hero Cebu - Dr. Col. Emilio Veloso Osmeña

 

WORD WAR II CEBU HERO, Dr. Emilio Veloso Osmeña

Dr. Emilio Veloso Osmeña was the son of President Sergio Suico Osmeña and Estefania Rosales Chiong-Veloso. Born in 1906, he was a physician and had the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the USAFFE before the war. When war broke out, he was active in the guerilla movement in Cebu. He was executed by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. 

 Dr. Emilio Osmeña was married to Maria Luisa Oriol Renner (Mary Renner, who was of German-American background, and whose family owned the "Elite Bakery" which was established in the 1920s and eventually managed by the couple . Emilio and Mary were parents of Senator John Henry (Sonny) Osmeña, Governor Emilio Mario (Lito) Osmeña, Jr.,and Annie Osmeña (who married Luis Aboitiz). 

During World War II, Emilio Osmeña was beheaded by the Japanese for refusing to cooperate with them. He reportedly was fingered by a Cebuano collaborator for aiding the guerrilleros. He was brought to the Cebu Normal College, headquarters of the Kempetai and scene of many brutal executions by the Japanese. 

A street -- Dr. Emilio Osmeña St-- was named in Cebu Philippines to honor this war hero. 

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2014/01/27/1283432/dr-emilio-osmea-st-cebu-city

Here is a photo of the hero during happier days. He had been Consort to Manila Carnival Queen of 1930.

 

Read more

World War Two Heroes in Cebu Philippines

Capt. Federico Arias Reyes

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-war-two-hero-cebu-federico-reyes.html

Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr.

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-hero-alfonso-escano.html 

Dr. Colonel Emilio Veloso Osmeña

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-dr-col-emilio.html 

Conrado Colina Tudtud

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-conrado-colina.html 

James M. Cushing

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-james-m-cushing.html

  Herbert Zipper

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/01/remembering-dr-herbert-zipper-world-war.html

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Official Website: 

https://ceciliabrainard.com  

tags: #Pacificwar #Worldwar2 #worldwarII #Cebuworldwar2  #Cebu #philippines #battleofcebu #bataandeathmarch

World War II Hero Cebu - Conrado Colina Tudtud

 

 WORLD WAR II CEBU HERO - Conrado Colina Tudtud

Tudtud Street in Cebu was named after Cebuano CONRADO COLINA TUDTUD, a World War Two hero who spied on the Japanese and gave information to the Filipino Guerrillas and Americans.

Owner of Conrad's Ice Drop factory, he also provided employment to many ice drop distributors including the legendary boxer Flash Elorde. 

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2013/11/11/1255453/conrado-c-tudtud-street-cebu-city

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Conrado_Colina_Tudtud

 Read more

World War Two Heroes in Cebu Philippines

Capt. Federico Arias Reyes 

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-war-two-hero-cebu-federico-reyes.html

Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr.

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-hero-alfonso-escano.html

Dr. Colonel Emilio Veloso Osmeña

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-dr-col-emilio.html 

Conrado Colina Tudtud

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-conrado-colina.html

James M. Cushing

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-james-m-cushing.html

  Herbert Zipper

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/01/remembering-dr-herbert-zipper-world-war.html

 Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Official Website: 

https://ceciliabrainard.com  

 #wwii #worldwartwo #pacificwar #battleofcebu #bataandeathmarch

World War II Hero Cebu - James M. Cushing & Plan Z

 

I'll be doing writeups focusing on World War Two in Cebu where I was born and raised.  Here's the first one.

WORLD WAR II HERO CEBU - JAMES M.  CUSHING & PLAN Z 

Lt. Col. James M. Cushing, head of the guerrilla movement in Cebu, came across highly important Japanese plans in early 1944. Called Plan Z, these

documents were recovered when 2 Japanese planes crashed near Cebu. The planes carried important Japanese military officers -- Koga and Fukudome. Koga died but Fukudome survived the crash.

Cushing had to turn in Fukudome to the Japanese who killed many Cebuanos and threatened to kill more unless Cushing released him. Cushing did, but he kept the documents.

The Japanese documents turned out to be top secret military plans. After great difficulty, Cushing managed to get the documents to his superiors in Brisbane who figured out that the Japanese planned to give it their all at the next battle in the Mariannas.

The American discovery of these top secret plans turned the War in the Pacific and hastened Japanese defeat.

The following account is by a historical archivist, worth the read.

https://www.archives.gov/.../prol.../2005/fall/z-plan-2.html

Read more:

World War Two Heroes in Cebu Philippines 

Capt. Federico Arias Reyes 

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/03/world-war-two-hero-cebu-federico-reyes.html

Alfonso Escaño Corominas, Sr.

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-hero-alfonso-escano.html

Dr. Colonel Emilio Veloso Osmeña

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-dr-col-emilio.html

Conrado Colina Tudtud

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-conrado-colina.html

James M. Cushing

https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/02/world-war-two-in-cebu-james-m-cushing.html

         Herbert Zipper

 https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2022/01/remembering-dr-herbert-zipper-world-war.html

 Cecilia Manguerra Brainard Official Website: 

https://ceciliabrainard.com  

Tags: #worldwar2 #worldwarII #pacificwar #Cebuworldwartwo #jamescushing #jimcushing #battleofcebu #bataandeathmarch