Book Review for Linda Ty-Casper's Book: WILL YOU HAPPEN

Book review WILL YOU HAPPEN, PAST THE SILENCE, THROUGH THE DARK?: Remembering Leonard Ralph Casper (PALH, December 2022, ISBN: 978-1-953716200 - palhbooks.com) 

 Review published in SANTELMO: Liwanag Sa Dilim (#7, Sept. 21, 2022)

Will You Happen, Past the Silence, Through the Dark: A Life in Letters

By Joel Pablo Salud

To write an analysis “so candid as to seem uncaring”.

I’ve read that line in In Burning Ambush: Essays 1985-1990, my first and, regrettably, only introduction to the works of author Leonard Casper. I had stumbled on a copy in a secondhand section of a bookstore whose name I cannot now recall, for a price much too bargain-basement for its hidden gems.

Casper, it would be safe to say, was one of my earliest influences in writing the essay. It’s a station he continues to share with four other authors whose nonfiction prose have nourished me in the early years: Alfred “Krip” Yuson, Sylvia Mayuga, Rosario Garcellano, and National Artist for Literature Cirilo Bautista.

They are my core encouragements, my pentangular spurs to a career spun across close to 40 years. But it was Casper who has, to this day, remained but a mere shadow, until Cecilia Brainard (author of When the Rainbow Goddess Wept and The Newspaper Widow, among others) requested that I look into a manuscript Linda Ty-Casper has written on her husband, Len.

In the Preface, Linda Casper writes:

“This book is the Memoir that Len did not get to write. But the letters he wrote actually are his Memoir, evoking a life, the work that nurtured that life, the yearning for meaning that led to the creation of that essential self through his writings – plays, poems short stories, critical essays; through his planting trees and shrubs along the Sudbury River where we lived for over 60 years; through the carefully chosen trips to reconnect with memory and realize dreams. Len chose a life and a world in which to live it; became who he wanted to be.”

Will You Happen, Past the Silence, Through the Dark: Remembering Leonard Casper begins as any good memoir ought to start: a controlled snapshot of a moment in time, shaped in ways that only a seasoned storyteller can:

“First, in a box of old pictures, there was the photo I don’t recall seeing: Len against a field, dated 1952. It could not have been taken in the Philippines, since he came in 1953, a month after Nanay, Gabriela Paez Viardo, my grandmother died, so they never met. They would have liked each other. Nanay told stories of the revolution against Spain, the war with the Americans; saying, ‘Someone should write these stories.’”

My being lured into the story was instantaneous. All it took was a sense of mystery, of a time and a photograph less likely to have any value to the reader save for its undying historicity. Talk of revolution, of war, of the colonials, of grandmothers holding long-kept secrets, were always a matter of great expectations to me story-wise. It reminded me of a memoir penned by my Latin American favorites, Gabriel García Márquez, in particular, whose little more than personal accounts of his life seeded much of his fiction.

Linda Ty Casper’s inclusion of the correspondences by Leonard Casper was everything but a dry recollection of now irrelevant thoughts. In fact, I find them significant in a memoir largely focused on the author’s writing life. Linda Casper writes:

“This recollection of Len’s life, overlapping at times, is a rumination. The letters show a life lived not in the isolation of academe, but one ever opening into fullness: countless connections that deepened into an inner life which shaped the work, enriched daily existence: perhaps, what continues into eternity, endless time, and timeless space.”

Leonard’s exchanges with American poet and literary critic Robert Penn Warren were so forthright and honest that any writer who would read them, and look back at his or her own life, may find necessary comfort in Leonard’s words:

“I have had a novel and a book poetry rejected too many times to care for wishful thinking. But these are the facts and I’m sure you can be even more unimpressed by them than I…” (March 10, 1953).

Without falling into the temptation of being a spoiler, I quote here Warren’s letter to Casper five years later in 1958: “Dear Mr. Casper, Yes, I have learned that Random House will not do your book – through I know that Erskine was greatly impressed by your quality as critic and writer. I imagine that it is the sort of thing which a university press will have to do – and what’s wrong with that?”

The choice of the right publisher and timing do come into play when thinking of publishing a book, and by August, Warren’s words proved him right. The University of Washington had finally agreed to come out with Leonard Casper’s book.

Leonard Casper would later write of Warren – in his book Robert Penn Warren: The Dark and Bloody Ground (Ford Foundation / University of Washington Press) – and bring to fore such ideas that people today need to hear:

“Violence is read not as melodramatic gesture but sometimes as the ironic outcome of attitudes of self-appointed innocents, those who elect themselves by self-righteous damnation of other; and always as the living shape of mutable identity / Warren does not share the Jeffersonian myth of human perfectibility; but everything he has ever written defends a faith in the possibility of human redemption, through acceptance of responsibility for one’s acts, even those long past, and vicariously for the acts of others.”

What, to me, remains intriguing was Leonard Casper’s withdrawal from a scholarship awarded by the Fulbright Committee and the Institute of International Education. The letter dated August 1, 1949 was heartbreaking to read, but simultaneously liberating for one reason: the possibility and presence of an honest man.

“Someone who deserves it more and who can benefit others and himself more by it, has the scholarship now… I think my greatest regret in having to refuse the Fulbright scholarship lay in the knowledge that it would be sort of a betrayal of those who had recommended me. I hope that you will forgive me for being honest too late.”

Leonard Casper, for everyone’s information, taught at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila, including Philippine Normal College. His last visit to the country was in 1996 where he presented a paper at the Bicentennial of the Philippine Revolution in Manila. His stay had opened doors for him to build personal relationships with many a Filipino author, including Silliman University’s Edilberto and Edith Teimpo. Where friends find comfort in each other’s encouragement, in the world of letters, such “encouragements” between friends come sometimes in rather harsh tones. Edilberto Tiempo’s letter to Leonard Casper dated January 26, 1974 was indicative of the candor friends in the literary community enjoy:

“Do you have a review of To Be Free?... I’m interested in your opinion especially because you were quite harsh on my first two novels. Frankly, Len, I couldn’t read any edition of Watch in the Night (or Cry Slaughter by Edilberto Tiempo), I have been embarrassed by that novel.”

Will You Happen, Past the Silence, Through the Dark: Remembering Leonard Casper is a treasure trove of charms and jewels for those like me who find Leonard Casper a bit of a cryptic, enigmatic figure. Linda Ty-Casper has done a great service by shedding light on Len’s memory, allowing us a voyeur’s look into a life dedicated to the magic and unease found in letters.

I am sure this book will remain relevant for decades to come.

 

BIO: Joel Pablo Salud is a Filipino author and columnist. He writes for the Philstar Life, Rappler, San Anselmo Publications, Inc, among others. He is a member at Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, was former member of the Manila Critics Circle, former chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN Manila and was former Editor-in-Chief at the Philippines Graphics.  

You can find Joel Pablo Salud and Anselmo Publications Inc in Facebook and other social media.  The photo shows him with his wife.

 

*** 

Tags: Leonard Casper, Robert Penn Warren, Philippine literature, Filipino literature, Philippine critic

L.M. Grow Write-Ups re Filipino Writer Cecilia Brainard

 

 

 

Dr. L.M. Grow, Author, Emeritus Senior Professor at Broward College, and Literary Critic whose career specialty was Philippine Literature sent me some writeups he did of my first novel, WHEN THE RAINBOW GODDESS WEPT, also known as SONG OF YVONNE.

    I am posting scans of the writeups.

First is a chapter from his book, AND QUIET FLOWS THE DAWN:

Cecilia Brainard "Cebuano Writers in English" NCCA Philippine Project

 

FILIPINA AUTHOR  Cecilia Manguerra Brainard responds to questions by Dr. Bea Martinez (Cebuano Studies Center) as part of the "Cebuano Writers in English" project of the NCCA Philippines. This is a comprehensive interview, over one hour long.

CECILIA BRAINARD - Cebuano Writers in English, NCCA

 

https://youtu.be/z8qbFjWVqhU 

#Cebuanowriters #Filipinowriters #Philippineliterature #Cebuanoliterature #Cebuanawriter #Philippineducation

Filipino Readers Choice Awards Nominations - Cecilia Brainard books

 

I see that my books published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House are included in the nomination lists for the Filipino Readers' Choice Awards. Thanks to the organizers. USTph books are available at Lazada and Shopee; you can also find my books at Amazon.

The nomination list also includes books by writers I know: Linda Ty-Casper, Caroline Hau, Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Jenny Ortuoste, George Deoso, and others. Here's the link, scroll down:

https://docs.google.com/.../10RJIQ0T9ACXpgauxerIB.../edit...

 

Tags: Filipino books. Filipino writers, Filipino fiction, Philippine fiction. Philippines literature, Filipina writers 

Philippine American Women Writers & Artists (PAWWA) - Pictures & Memorabilia

PAWWA Pictures Memorabilia

I came across pictures and documents of Philippine Women Writers & Artists (PAWWA), a support group, which I cofounded in 1991.  

I will be posting pictures and information about PAWWA here. Please check back.

The pictures below are from the 1998 conference, "Journey of 100 Years."

Seated l-r: Nadine Sarreal, Rosita Galang, Hermia Menez, Edmundo Litton, Luisa Igloria

Standing l-4: Letecia Layson, Member, Cecilia Brainard, Paulino Lim, Jr., Valorie Slaughter Bejarano, Susan Montepio, Member.

Just Like My Lola Wore - My Creole Criolla Hoop Earrings

 

My mother used to have antique criola hoop earrings with diamonds, which she got from her grandmother. They wore these with their other tambourin jewelry.

 
I had small-sized criolla earrings but always wanted something bigger. I had my daughter-in-law, Stephanie create a bigger one, and I just got the earrings yesterday. They are beautiful and well-done. These are great reproductions of the antique earrings my mother-grandmother had. Stephanie captured the fine filigree work next to the stones.


Here are some pictures. (Yes, that's me, hiding but showing off my new earrings!)

Stephanie from Jewel Eternal made affordable versions of the Criolla hoop earrings she made for me, a set as low as $300. If you prefer, you can order the earrings in gold or platinum and with real stones. Just let her know. Stephanie Lee from Jewel Eternal created affordable versions of these earrings, as low as $300. You can order it in gold or platinum and with genuine stones if you wish.  Email her at: <custom@jeweleternal.com>

tags: jewelry, earrings, creole earrings, criolla earrings, tambourin jewelry, Spanish-colonial jewelry 

Time to Prepare for Baking Fruitcake for the Holidays

 

TIME TO PREPARE FOR BAKING FRUITCAKE for the #Christmas holidays

My friend Richard Little reminded me to get started on my fruit cake. You need to soak the fruit and nuts in brandy or rum before baking; and then you need to soak the cake with brandy or rum as well. I just ordered fruit and peel mix, and I'll be buying nuts shortly. I'll be baking in September so my dark fruitcake will be ready in November and December. The pictures show my recipe for dark fruitcake, and last year's photo of a batch I baked.

 tags: holiday baking, Christmas preparations, Holiday baking 

Book Review of Cecilia Brainard's Selected Short Stories

 

BOOK REVIEW:

Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House (2021; available at Lazada & Shopee

and PALH (2021); available at Amazon 

Review by Jenny Ortuoste

From "Short Stories to Lull You on Rainy Days" (Manila Standard, Lifestyle , 7/30/22)

 https://manilastandard.net/lifestyle/314247900/short-stories-to-lull-you-on-rainy-days.html

In these stories written and published over several decades, Brainard, a native of Cebu who migrated to the U.S. over half a century ago, explores her life experiences as a Filipino and Filipino American, as well as the entangled history of both countries.

Guest Blogger: Lynley Ocampo: Mama Mary Answered My Prayer

 

2024 Update: A Catholic religious book that I collected and edited has a new edition - MAGNIFICAT: MAMA MARY'S PILGRIM SITES gathers 24 people's accounts of Marian sites wherein they found comfort, solace, and sometimes miracles. The pilgrim sites include familiar shrines in Lourdes, Vailankanni, Guadalupe, Fatima, Ephesus, as well as lesser known ones including several in the Philippines (Antipolo, Manaoag, Odlot, Caysasya and more).  It is available from Amazon.

The book was issued an Imprimatur by Archbishop Antonio G. Tagle D.D. of Manila and Nihil Obstat by Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr. Chancellor. 

Bishop Leopold C. Jaucian, SVD. DD, Bishop of Bangued, Philippines praises the book as follows:

 Profoundly Marian and beautifully written by the contributors as these are personal experiences! To our fellow devotees and would-be-devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you will surely fall in love with Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites, and love Our Blessed Mother ever more."

This book is part of the Marian Collection at the  Marian Library of the University of Dayton, Ohio.

*** 

I was thrilled to hear back from a contributor, Atty. Lynley Ocampo, a lawyer from Cebu City, who emailed me to say her prayer has been answered with the help of Mary:

"I am happy to announce that my family and I have moved to our new home in ____. This was an answered prayer -- as I mentioned in MAGNIFICAT .. more than two years in the making. We moved in last 12 June, significantly as if to declare our independence from abusive and oppressive landlords/landowners. Bittersweet, as we’ve spent almost 80 years - beginning with my grandmother, mother, down to the more recent generation - in our old place."  

She included two photos of their beautiful pristine and airy home and said, "Our new home."

I am sharing the original article Lynley Ocampo wrote for the book, MAGNIFICAT: MAMA MARY'S PILGRIM SITES, wherein she attests to religious changes in her after visiting our Lady of Odlot in the Philippines. Please read the excerpt with her writeup:

Gemino H. Abad, Philippine National Artist for Literature from Cebu

 

Cebuano Gemino H. Abad has just been named Philippine National Artist for Literature. Congratulations to Jimmy Abad!

He joins another Cebuano, Resil Mojares, who was named National Artist for Literature in 2018.

Top photo shows Jimmy Abad flanked by Cebuanas at a book festival l-r: Rose Villa Poblete, Marina Hamoy, Gemino H. Abad, Cecilia Brainard, Lorna Lardizabal Dietz.

Lower photo was taken in 2013 in Cebu during the visit of another National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, l-r: Seated l-r: Resil Mojares, F. Sionil Jose, Tessie Jose: Standing l-r: Hope Yu, Cecilia Brainard, Marlinda Tan, Jobers Bersales, Erma Cuizon, Hendri Go.

 Tags: Philippine literature, Philippine writers, Philippine authors, Filipino writers, Filipino National Artists

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Certificates of Appreciation for Cecilia Brainard

 I did a number of lectures in 2021 and 2022, and here are some of the Certificate of Appreciations I received. Many thanks to these institutions: The University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center, The Philippine Consulate of Jeddah, the Philippine Embassy in the US, the Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc.

I did more talks but because of the pandemic these Certificates have been sent via email; I can't find the others. 

Most of the lectures I did are in YouTube, search for Cecilia Brainard.

Tags: Filipino Education, Philippine literature, Filipino literature, Filipino authors, Filipino writers

Mississippi Cruise - Vicksburg #6

 

 

More on our Mississippi  River Cruise on the #AmericanQueen .

From Natchez, we steamed on to Vicksburg, a city in western Mississippi. The place was the site of a key Civil War battle.  Vicksburg is situated on an elevated land above the Mississippi. Because it was strategically important during the Civil War, it was attacked by the Union Army. After a 47-day punishing seige (May 18-July 4, 1863) where residents had to resort to eating horses, Vicksburg surrendered.  

We visited the Vicksburg National Cemetery, which commemorates the battle of Vicksburg. The Union had 75,000 soldiers in the battle; while the Confederates had 34,000.  The estimated casualties were 37,273 (4,910 Union and 32,363 Confederates). 

We have visited other battle sites such as Gettysburg and Shiloh, and thinking of those who died always breaks my heart.

I'm sharing some pictures taken at the National Cemetery.  The exhibit included the USS Cairo, an iron-clad war ship that was raised from the river. 

Mississippi Cruise - Natchez 5

 

More on the Mississippi River Cruise I took recently:

From Pointe Coupee, we went to  the city of Natchez, which is famous for its antebellum mansions and the unfinished Longwood mansion. I found the place charming and beautiful.

Named after the Native Americans who lived there. Natchez sits on a bluff overlooking the river. The French settled there in 1716, and at first they got along with the Native Americans, but that relationship soured with both sides massacring each other. The territory went to the Spanish, and then to the Americans. Because it did not have strategic importance, it was relatively untouched during the American Civil War, which is why the mansions remain. 

Mississippi River Cruise - Pointe Coupee - 4

 

After Nottaway, our next stop of our Mississippi River Cruise was Pointe Coupee, Louisiana, which was surrounded by major rivers on three sides. It's a resort but pleasantly not crowded. We were told that when they have their Mardigras carnival, the place is packed. 

Mississippi River Cruise - New Orleans 3

 

Here are pictures taken at the French Quarter of New Orleans before we started our Mississippi River Cruise.

 

Mississippi River Cruise - Nottaway 2

 

I continue blogging about our recent Mississippi River Cruise.

Here are some facts about the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is 2,340 miles long, the longest river of North America; it starts at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and ends in the Gulf Stream. If the length of Missouri is added to the Mississippi's main stem, the river would be the fourth longest river, after the Amazon, and Yangtze.  If the Missouri and Ohio rivers are added, it would be the third longest in the world. 

Our cruise started in New Orleans, Louisiana and ended in Memphis Tennessee.

From New Orleans, we sailed to Nottaway, Louisiana where we visited the Nottaway antebellum mansion, said to be the largest extant antebellum plantation house in the South. This had been home to the Randoph and later the Landry families, and had witnessed Civil War days.

 

Mississippi River Cruise on the American Queen - 1

 

We took a Mississippi River Cruise recently with stops at New Orleans, Nottoway, Pointe Coupee, Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville, and ending in Memphis.


Our ship, the American Queen, was a steam paddle boat patterned after the 19th century paddle ships. It had a Victorian feel throughout the ship. I especially loved the library and the sitting room for the men and women, with old books and decor. The ship moved at around 7 miles per hour, perhaps the same speed Mark Twain's ship did. I read his Life on the Mississippi River during the cruise.

Entertainment was good, although it seemed geared to a much older crowd. However, the blues, jazz, and string performances were terrific.

Here's the first set of photos showing the paddle boat, men's smoking room ( with the ignored sign of Men Only), Lincoln Theater, and the Engine room. (The boat was powered by diesel fuel, no longer coal as in Twain's days.)

And there's a shot of our pleasant dinner companions, and another of the Mississippi. 

Stay tuned!

 

Cecilia Brainard Talk - Philippine Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia #NationalLiteratureMonth

 

The Philippine Consulate General of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia celebrated National Literature Month in April 2022. The Speakers on April 25, 2022 were Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and Dr. Christine Godinez-Ortega.

The FB link to the complete talk follows. Cecilia is in the second half of the video.

https://fb.watch/cCTBysiMMM/ .

You may also watch Cecilia Brainard's Talk on YouTube: 

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, author and editor of over twenty books, talks about her roots that inspired much of her writing. As a writing teacher for many years, she shares practical creative writing tips that can be helpful to teachers and aspiring writers. She covers topics such as character and character development, conflict, dialogue, setting, and more. She also gives shares online resources for ebooks and information about Fake News and she talks about the importance of critical thinking.

Here is Part 1 of Brainard's talk "Writing Your Own Stories." - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqg1nTtJnMM  

Here is Part 2 of Brainard's talk "Writing Your Own Stories" - 

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

Here is Part 3 of Brainard's Talk "Writing Your Own Stories" - 

 https://youtu.be/RlCx1fFpt2U

Tags: Philippine literature, Filipino literature, Filipino authors, Filipino writers

My Father, Mariano Flores Manguerra

 

I'm sharing pictures of my father, MARIANO FLORES MANGUERRA. My father was from Laguna, and he taught for many years as a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines. When World War Two broke out, he brought his family (Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra, my mother, and their two young children) to Mindanao where he joined the guerrilla movement. After the war, and because Manila was almost totally destroyed, my parents settled in Cebu. He was a district engineer and a private contractor.

There were many things I do not know about my father because he died when I was young, and one of this was this: in 1947, he had been Acting Mayor of Cebu.

The article by Clarence Paul Oaminal, published in the Freeman, 12/19/16 has more information.

 https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2016/12/19/1654874/engr-mariano-f-manguerra-cebu-city-acting-mayor

The group photo with Papa (seated, 4th from left) shows him with members of the Tau Alpha fraternity of UP Engineering, which lists him as "Adviser." I always understood he co-founded this fraternity, and even now, Tau Alpha members remember him.

The solo photo of him was when he was a young man.

When he was in his early twenties, he went to Valparaiso University in Indiana to study civil engineering.

Tags: Cebu politics, Cebu society, Cebu personalities, Laguna personalities 

Filomena Alesna Cuenco, plus photos of Josefa and Isabelo Montesclaros

 

 

Here is an old photo of my maternal grandmother, Filomena Alesna Cuenco, with her grandsons l-r: Ramon and Tony Cuenco. This was taken in 1938.

Filomena Alesna Cuenco from Carcar was born May 1, 1882. Her parent were: Evaristo Barcenilla Alesna and Cresencia Ynosencia Sanchez Villarosa. Her parents died when she was young and she and her 2 sisters were raised by 2 old maid aunts. Her older sister Placida married Mateo Noel; her younger sister Josefa married Isabelo Montesclaros; Filomena married Mariano Jesus Cuenco. They had 8 children (6 survived to adulthood: Manuel, Lourdes, Concepcion (my mother), Carmen, Consuelo, Teresita. Filomena had a stroke and died during wartime (WWII).

The boys in the picture are sons of Manuel and Milagros Cuenco. Tony Cuenco served as a council member for the 2nd District of Cebu City. Unfortunately he passed away last June 2020 due to effects of Covid 19.

I love these old pictures, not only for the faces of the people but also for the details, like the grandfather clock in the back, and my grandmother's gown, jewelry, the children's clothes too - look at the little strappy sandals. I find these very charming.

Addendum 3/24/25

Here is a photo of Josefa Alesna and her husband, Isabelo Montesclaros, courtesy of  their granddaughter Lyra Campana Gadores Apura. 

 

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: old photographs, antique photographs, Cebu politics, Cebu society, Cuenco Family

4-year old Vikram's Vichelin Star Restaurant Reviews - Lazy Daisy Cafe, Santa Monica

 

Vikram's Vicheln Star Restaurant Reviews

Vikram rates the following

LAZY DAISY CAFE, Santa Monica  * * * * * (Five Stars)

2300 Pico Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90404

Vik's faves are: Lemonade, Crispy Waffle with Strawberries, Bacon

Note: Vik's Dad likes Eggs Benedict.

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