Friday, July 31, 2015

Philippine Author: YouTube Links with Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

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I'm sharing some links to YouTube videos featuring me. I'm reading from my work in several of them. The interview is lengthy...
Thursday, July 30, 2015

Middle East: A Layperson's View of Turkey's Bombing ISIL and Kurdish Targets

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Just when I think things can't get worse in the Middle East, it does. Now Turkey, which had/has been allowing safe passage to ISI...
Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Cebu Philippines: My Aunts, Lourdes and Carmen Cuenco

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Lourdes Cuenco I have been enjoying the family pictures recently shared by my cousin. Some pictures reminded me of my unmarried au...
Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Cebu Politics Philippines: Cebu's Cuenco Family in 1932

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Cuenco Family, photo taken 1932 when Mariano Jesus Cuenco was Governor of  Cebu My mother, Concepcion, is standing far left My co...
Monday, July 27, 2015

Travel Hawaii: Sunset Photo of Seashore in Kihei

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Sunset Photo of Seashore in Kihei, Maui Just like that the sun set And the holiday's over... Stay tuned, dear Reader...
Saturday, July 25, 2015

Maui Hawaii: A Visit to Honulua Bay and Lahaina

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We drove to Honulua Bay , a famous surfing place, where one can catch the perfect wave in the winter. We also visited the historic t...
Friday, July 24, 2015

Maui, Hawaii: Mama's Fish House, a Restaurant Review

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Someone had recommended Mama's Fish House and we decided to check it out. Mama's Fish House is a sprawling restaurant near t...
Thursday, July 23, 2015

Update Travel to Maui, Hawaii - Haleakala Volcano

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Maui Update: Swimming, snorkeling ...
Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Filipinos in Hawaii Fastest Growing Ethnic Group

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I've been hearing  people in Maui speaking Tagalog and Ilocano, and I recalled that the Filipino population is large in Hawaii. I w...
Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Travel - Taking a Break in Maui, Hawaii

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The Island of Maui, Hawaii has a population of around 150,000, which swells to around 200,000 when tourist are around...
Monday, July 20, 2015

Travel Korea: Incheon International Airport's Free Transit City Tours

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If you ever have a long layover, pray that you're in South Korea. Since 2005, Incheon International Airport has been rated the bes...
Friday, July 17, 2015

Cebu Philippines: The Sinulog 35th Issue and Mayen Tan

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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 ann...
Thursday, July 16, 2015

Travel Philippines: More Pictures Cebu and Manila

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L-R: Terry Escano Manguerra, Lynley Ocampo, Chinggay Utzurrum, Cecilia Brainard, and Chona Bernad Here are a few more pictures ...
Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Are Romances the New Philippine Literature?

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I visited National Bookstore in SM Cebu and found one rack with serious Filipino literature.  There were perhaps 10 racks of romances,...
Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Guest Blogger Araceli Z. Lorayes Writes About Sharia Law in the Philippines

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My Guest Blogger is free lance writer, Araceli Z. Lorayes. In this article she questions the incorporation of Sharia or Shari'ah law in...
Monday, July 13, 2015

Is an Islamic Substate in the Philippines Possible? by Araceli Lorayes

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The following essay is by Araceli Z. Lorayes, a retired life insurance executive and currently a free lance writer. Araceli and I had atten...
Sunday, July 12, 2015

Philippines: Lunch and Shopping at Greenhills, Metro Manila

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l-r: Guia Lim, Araceli Lorayes, Cecilia Brainard Sunday, I had lunch with Theresian friends, Guia Lim and Araceli Lorayes, at Brasse...
Thursday, July 9, 2015

Philippines: Bartholomew, Brainard Books Spotted in Manila and Makati Bookstores!

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Spotted in Powerbooks, Makati - P acific Rims by Rafe Bartholomew  and some of my books, Behind the Walls, Contemporary Fiction by Fi...
Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Visiting Philippine National Artist F.Sionil Jose & Tessie Jose

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There are now two additional tropical storms around Manila, which accounts for the bad weather. The rain is sporadic but very strong...
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Philippines: Rain and Traffic in Makati

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Rain and traffic in Makati! Another tropical storm is lurking about. This is all for now! Healthy Philippine Tropical Fruits for Bre...
Monday, July 6, 2015

Healthy Philippine Tropical Fruits for Breakfast

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I thought I’d eat more fruits and vegetables and cut back on stuff like lechon and chicharon. I found mangoes, guyabano, and cus...
Sunday, July 5, 2015

Philippines: In Manila with Tropical Storm Egay!

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I’m in Manila and it’s been raining because of tropical storm, Egay. I’ve forgotten how hard it can rain, and how relentless the rai...
Saturday, July 4, 2015

Odlot, Northern Cebu Almost Two Years After Super Typhoon Haiyan

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Last November 2013, when super typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda struck the Philippines, the small town of Odlot in Northern Cebu was devast...
Friday, July 3, 2015

Promoting the Beatification of Bishop Camomot of Cebu, Philippines

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The Philippines is one of two Asian countries with a predominantly Catholic population (the other is East Timor ).  Eighty-six p...
Thursday, July 2, 2015

Philippines Architecture: Heritage Houses of Carcar, Cebu

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We visited two heritage houses in the the City of Carcar , which is around 45 km southeast of Cebu City. These houses are privately ow...
Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Proud to be Part of "Filipino Woman Writing" by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo

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I'm proud to be part of this book by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo who wrote: "This was waiting for me on my desk Monday morning...
Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Philippines: Cebu's Monsoon Season Has Begun, Drought Ended

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There was a severe drought in Cebu so much so that corn farmers lost their crop . A May 13, 2015 article in the Cebu Daily News says,...
Monday, June 29, 2015

Cebu Philippines: Cleanup of Parian River Begins!

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Photo courtesy of Sunstar Cebu I was delighted to r ead that part of the Estero Parian (or Parian river, canal, or creek) will be dre...
Sunday, June 28, 2015

Philippines: Seeing Old Friends in Cebu, the Franco Sisters

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Seated l-r: Gina Kahler, Helen Franco Misa, Lucy Franco Garcia, Jean Franco Teves Standing l-r: May Tan, Teresita Franco Barte, Cec...
Saturday, June 27, 2015

Rich and Poor in the Philippines

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I snapped this photo from my taxi. What caught my eye was the sidewalk advertisement for a barber shop that says: "Haircut wit...