Cebu Philippines: Old Picture Archbishop Jose Cuenco Carlock Monument

Archbishop Jose Maria Cuenco in the middle

Dear Readers,
I've been busy and have not been able to blog as often. Do visit my Facebook page because I've been posting update there about political developments in the Philippines and in the US.

Philippines: Visit with Maryknoll College Friends

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Maria Ciocon, Ollie Yujuico, and I drove to Palm Desert to visit "snowbirds" Tina and Andy Heiter who are visiting from Switzerland. The four of us women went to Maryknoll College and it was great fun to update one another of our lives and our friends' goings-on. We also admired the coffee table book that Andy Heiter made of some of Tina's art work, which were recently featured in a gallery in Switzerland.

The group picture above shows l-r: Maria Ciocon, Tina Heiter, Cecilia Brainard, and Ollie Yujuico.

Pictures: Thanksgiving 2016 - FamilyPictures

Here are some Thanksgiving pictures.

Philippines: Filipino Youth and the Parliament of the Streets

A  Filipino social media controversy erupted. It focused on the young students who protested the burial of the Dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Heroes Cemetery (Libingan Ng Mga Bayani).  

Last November 18, Marcos had been hurriedly and secretly buried even before legal proceedings had been exhausted by those opposing the burial.  Within the hour, and throughout the Philippines, students spontaneously took to the streets to protest. (Filipinos have coined a phrase -- "Parliament of the Streets" to refer to the resistance movement characterized by protests in the streets.)

The social media matter began when the trolls accused the youths of not knowing what they were doing, having been born after the Marcos Martial Law years. The trolls said the young people were used by grownups for political reasons, that these youths were brainwashed and forced to rally, that it was child abuse, etc. 

Philippines: Rogelio Braga Writes About Ferdinand Marcos and Dovie Beams

My Guest Blogger is Rogelio Braga, a Filipino playwright, essayist, and fiction writer. He is the author of the novel, Colon (Balangiga Press). He shares with us a satirical piece, written in Tagalog, about the love affair of Philippine Dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the American actress Dovie Beams back in 1968-1970.

Braga published this funny and outrageous piece in his Facebook site but the post was removed because "it doesn't follow the Facebook Community Standards." I invited Braga to post his work here as my Guest Blogger. Thanks to Rogelio Braga for being my Guest Blogger.

Here it is in Tagalog.

~~~

Maliit Ang Titi ni Marcos, Mga Bes, Kalokah! Help!
by Rogelio Braga

Bes, may chismax akong bongga sa hero mo!

Alam mo ba na maliit lang ang titi ni Marcos? Yes, ito ang isang bagay na ipinagkait sa atin ng nakaw na libing kahapon: nawalan tayo ng chance masilip kung umuumbok ba ang titi ni Marcos sa liit at malaman na rin natin kung totoo nga ang claim ni Dovie Beams. Maliit lang daw ito kaya chinuchupa na lang siya ni Dovie Beams in aide of KY Jelly maitawid lang ang kangkang for the night. Pero huwag ka teh magaling daw ang dila ni Marcos kasi kaya nitong bigyan ng multiple orgasm si Mareng Dovie. 50ish na noon si Kuya Hero at late 30s ang hitad.

Philippines: 1966 Student Rally Against Ferdinand Marcos

The students in the Philippines are protesting the burial of the Dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the Heroes Cemetery.  I can't believe that 50 years ago, I was a Maryknoll student who also participated in student rallies against the Marcos Dictatorship. Here are some pictures from my scrapbook. There are two anti-Marcos stickers, and there's a newspaper clipping of a student rally. I'm in the picture, bottom, right. The rally was on November 5, 1966.

"When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"

~~
Tags: students, rally, protest, Marcos, dictatorship, burial, politics, Philippines, Philippines, Filipino

Read also:

• Cover Studies and Prologue of Cecilia Brainard's N...
• Fiction: The Syrian Doctor in Paris by Cecilia Bra...
• Writing Workshop: How to Create Compelling Charact...
• The Pneumonia Shot That Sent Me to Urgent Care #He...

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Cover Studies and Prologue of Cecilia Brainard's Novel "Magdalena"

The University of Santo Tomas is publishing the Philippine edition of my novel, Magdalena. I'm sharing the cover studies for this book.  There were elements I liked in all three, but I finally chose the one with the human face -- above. The mood of this one is quiet and pensive and low-key, like the main character Magdalena.  I'm pasting below the beginning of this novel. You can find the American edition of  the novel, Magdalena, in Amazon.com

Fiction: The Syrian Doctor in Paris by Cecilia Brainard

My story, The Syrian Doctor in Paris, was published in The Philippine Graphic and received a Certificate of Recognition by the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards. I have read this piece in performance in Paris and in Jackson, Tennessee.

My deepest sympathies go to the Syrian people who have suffered long and hard. ~ Cecilia 

The Syrian Doctor in Paris

By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard 
Copyright 2014 by Cecilia Brainard, All Rights Reserved

May 9, 2014, the last rebels leave Homs

He lives in a flat near the Ile Saint Louis. Today, he’s up at four in the morning because he hardly slept and news feeds from Syria stream into the internet. His favorite sites are “The Syrian Revolution 2011” and the “Local Coordination Committees in Syria”, which give up-to-the-minute news in Syria. The sites will warn: “Artillery shelling and mortars and heavy machine guns aimed at the country districts of Daraa Al-Balad’s neighborhoods;” Or: “Explosive barrel bombs targeting the village Guenitarat in Aleppo.”

Writing Workshop: How to Create Compelling Characters by Cecilia Brainard

 This coming Saturday, November 19, 2016, 10 a.m.

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard will conduct a writing workshop on "How to Create Compelling Characters."

Characters are the central element in storytelling. For instance Atticus Finch and Scout are at the heart of the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird. But how does a writer create characters? How does she imbue them with life so much so that readers remember them as if they were living and breathing human beings? This mini-workshop will teach you how to create characters that are complex and compelling. You will learn how to flesh-out characters and try your hand at writing about these characters.

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the author and editor of nineteen books. She co-founded Philippine American Women Writers and Artists; she also founded Philippine American Literary House. Brainard's works include the World War II novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, as well as Magdalena, and Woman with Horns and Other Stories. She edited several anthologies including Fiction by Filipinos in American, and two volumes of Growing Up Filipino I and II, books used by educators.

Please RSVP to roselgonzales@earthlink.net to save a seat. Please come a few minutes early to get coffee and breakfast. We start at 10.

The San Gabriel Valley Women Writers
Sat. Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse
1010 Foothill Blvd.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011

Tags: writing, writers, character, workshop, San Gabriel Valley, women, fiction, creative

Read also:

• 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

This is all for now,
Cecilia

The Pneumonia Shot That Sent Me to Urgent Care #Health #Vaccination

This article was also published by Positively Filipino, on November 29, 2016. Here's the link to Positively Filipino.

            Not too long ago, I had a severe reaction to pneumonia or pneumococcal vaccine and had to be rushed to Urgent Care.

            Before I launch into my story, let me explain that pneumococcal vaccine is given to prevent pneumococcal disease, an infection caused by bacteria. The vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person. In fact, the John Hopkins Medicine site states that “It should be noted that vaccination does NOT reduce pneumonia. A meta-analysis shows no decrease in pneumonia incidence as a result of vaccination, however it has been shown to be about 60-70% effective in preventing invasive disease (meningitis, bacteremia).” The John Hopkins Medicine site also says, “By CDC guidelines, once vaccinated, you will likely never need a revaccination. However, this is still a controversial area.” 

Pictures: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and Friends

I was with friends recently and am sharing some pictures. It was a good time to bond with old friends because the loss of Hillary Clinton presidential big in the US has made me and many friends sad and concerned.

Election Day today!

Election Day Today!

I hope Americans do their duty and vote. Every vote counts. We learned this when Al Gore lost the presidency in 2000.

I will vote for my candidate and am praying she will win.  But I encourage all Americans to vote --- be informed, use your head, not emotions, and vote your conscience.

God bless this generous country, America!

Food Writing Forum in Cebu City, Philippines Nov. 19, 2016

I participated in a Power of Pen Food Writing Forum in Manila and it was a life-changing opportunity for many participants. This time, the Power of Pen will be in Cebu City on November 19, 2016, at the University of San Carlos downtown campus.  Please read on and take at look at the above flyer:

FOOD WRITING FORUM, Nov. 19, 2016, at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines:

Life experiences and travel create a well-rounded food lover.
As food critiquing, and food writing in general has become a
more recognized ‘career’, seminars, workshops, food and
heritage tours are sprouting up geared specifically to food
writing.

STRAM,INCORPORATED, an events company based in Manila
has been creating and organizing the POWER OF PEN – a Food
Writing conference and forum since 2009. Since then, the Power
of Pen which happens every two years has now evolved and
developed regional food writing workshops to cater to the
growing demands of the food writer’s community.

This November 19, the Power of Pen will be touring the Visayas
region with the University of San Carlos as its co-presentor and
official venue for POP Visayas. The one day forum will gather
distinguished personalities from the writing industry composed of
editors, authors, culinary and heritage workers and news writers.

The POWER OF PEN is something which one can seek out if you
do not have an educational background in writing or to simply
boost your writing skills. The topics handled by our specially
chosen speakers will help you think in new ways to make your
writing come alive.

POWER OF PEN VISAYAS will have experienced and seasoned
writers, among them –

• Michaela Fenix (cook book author and writer for Phil Daily Inquirer), Myrna Segismundo ( Doreen Gamboa Food Writing Competition Founder), 
• Anne Marie Ozaeta ( Editor in Chief, FOOD by ABSCBN Publishing), 
• Louella Alix (Author of Hikay : The Culinary Heritage of Cebu for the University of San Carlos Press), and 
• Jobers Bersales,PhD (Publications Manager , the University of San Carlos Press).

THE POWER OF PEN Visayas will have the following topics for the day

• General Over-view of Food Writing, Importance of Research for food stories & ideas,
• Techniques & Tips for Recipe Writing, 
• Writing & Editing for Publications, and Regional Food writing and the Importance of Culinary Heritage.

Registration fee of Php 1,200.00 per person will include the
refreshments and the Certificate of Attendance signed by all the
speakers. Special rate for students currently enrolled is also being
offered at Php 600.00 per student. ( Valid school ID for the
current school year required before anyone can avail of this).
To register, please call STRAM,INCORPORATED, (02)
352.31.87 & (02) 927.72.08, (HP) 0906 385 9213 or you may
also email them at : info@strameventsinc.com.

Cecilia Brainard Talk at the Skyline Hills Library, San Diego, CA

This Saturday afternoon, in San Diego -- I hope I see some of you there! 

Saturday, November 5, 2016, 2 p.m.

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard will be at the Skyline Hills Branch Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Road, San Diego, California.

This is part of the celebration of the new library for Skyline Hills.

Cecilia will do a Reading and Powerpoint Presentation on "The Impact of Filipino History and Culture Upon American Literature."

Contact: Glenn Risolo, Manager, Skyline Hills Branch Library, City of San Diego, CA, 1-619-527-3485

~~~

Tags: literature, literary, program, talk, library, San Diego, Skyline Hills, California, Filipino American, writer, author, novelist, Philippine American

This is all for now,

Cecilia

Happy Halloween 2016!

 Happy Halloween, everyone!!!

Our plan is to hand out huge Snickers Bars to the trick-or-treaters and when we run out, turn off the porch light. We haven't had a lot of trick-or-treaters in recent years. I think the kids now go to private Halloween parties. In the past we would get up to a hundred trick-or-treaters. 

Be safe, and remember --- if you eat candy today, you will not gain weight!

Read also
Celebrating Halloween in America and in the Philippines
Happy Halloween 2008
The Turkish Seamstress in Ubec

Tags: holiday, Halloween, ghouls, ghosts, Day of the Dead

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Chapter from Cecilia Brainard's novel The Newspaper Widow

I'm happy to share the chapter "The SS Pacifica"  from my novel, The Newspaper Widow ( University of Santo Tomas Publishing House 2017; PALH 2021).  It is now available in Kindle format: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785MMKB4

~~~~

The SS Pacifica

by

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

copyright 2017 & 2021 by Cecilia M. Brainard, All rights reserved)

            It was Samir’s mother who had said, “Take Didier and go. I’ll be all right.”

The idea had germinated, taken root, and like a wild plant branched out and filled Samir’s mind. With Melisande’s letter in his hands, Samir had read to his son the part about the two talking mynahs in a huge cage beside the picture window with the mannequins.

Day of the Dead Halloween Costumes to Consider

A couple of years ago, were in San Miguel Allende, Mexico for the Day of the Dead. It was a big event with every one promenading at the park to celebrate as well as to be seen.  Here some pictures which I hope will inspire some of you to come up with good Halloween costumes and makeup next week.

This site has Halloween Makeup Tutorials.

Invitation to November Literary Events with Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

You are invited to these November Literary Events:

1. Saturday, November 5, 2016, 2 p.m.
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard will be at the Skyline Hills Branch Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Road, San Diego, California.
This is part of the celebration of the new library for Skyline Hills.
Cecilia will do a Reading and Powerpoint Presentation on "The Impact of Filipino History and Culture Upon American Literature."

Contact: Glenn Risolo, Manager, Skyline Hills Branch Library, City of San Diego, CA, 1-619-527-3485


2. Saturday, November 19, 20116, 10 a.m.

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard will conduct a writing workshop on "How to Create Compelling Characters."

Interview of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Libay Linsangan Cantor in BOOKWATCH, NBDB Philippines

The following is an excerpt from the article "Anthologizing the Filipino Experience in America" by Libay Linsangan Cantor. It is an interview of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard by Ms. Cantor who also edited BOOKWATCH. 

You can find the article in p. 29 of BOOKWATCH Vol. 20 No. 3. BOOKWATCH is published by the National Book Development Board of the Philippines.

So what does it take to create such an anthology, and how is it possible to gather varied voices and collect them under one volume? Another anthology editor, novelist and essayist Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, shared with us her thoughts on the matter.

A California-based writer of Cebuano heritage, Brainard travels frequently to the Philippines where she still enjoys literary connections and publication deals. 

Travel Italy: Rome the Eternal City

This continues my blog entries about our recent trip to Italy. Here are the earlier accounts:

• Chianti and San Miniato in Tuscany
• Florence American Cemetery, Volterra..
• Florence Tuscany in September
• The Blue Sky of Siena, Italy

THIS IS ABOUT ROME:

     Because we had taken the train in Tuscany, we learned a couple of important things: first, instead of dealing with the complicated ticket machines at train stations, it's better to buy your tickets at the tabacchi (tobacco) shop for the same price but with the added benefit of having a human being help you.  Second, one needs to validate those train tickets before boarding the train. We learned this the hard way; we were penalized for not sticking our tickets into those small validating machines. Ouch -- sixty euros! (the conductor said we should have paid 120 euros, but he gave us a break.)

Philippine Literature: Writer Bienvenido N. Santos - 1988 Letter

Here's a voice from the past! I came across this note from the famous Filipino novelist, Bienvenido N. Santos. In it, he writes:










May 22, 1988

Dear Cecilia,

Thank you for the autographed copy of your book. Now I can read the complete collection.

As a regular commuter between the R.P and the U.S. every six months each year since 1981, promoting my books and teaching, I know what you mean when you say "I am tired." Consider, too, that I'm a 77-year old man.

But I keep busy, which to me, is a way of survival. Manila is an exciting town to visit. I was born there, but the place has changed, the people, too.

My cats Che and Tesla Join #PussiesAgainstTrump

My cats, Che and Tesla, join #PussiesAgainstTrump !!!

And here are some more pictures grabbed from the Internet:

Read also

• Travel Tuscany: The Blue Sky of Siena, Italy
• Travel Italy: Florence Tuscany in September
• Travel Italy: Florence American Cemetery, Volterra...
• Travel Italy: Chianti and San Miniato in Tuscany

Tags: cats, kittens, pets, trump, politics, USA, #PussiesAgainstTrump

This is all for now,
Cecilia

Travel Tuscany: The Blue Sky of Siena, Italy

I fell in love with Siena the first time I visited it and my affection for this Medieval place remains high even after subsequent visits.

Travel Italy: Florence Tuscany in September

Florence or Firenze is the capital of Tuscany, Italy, and driving there from where we stayed in Montegufoni would have been challenging. Traffic would have been bad and parking even worse. We decided to take the train. First we drove to Montelupo, a municipality fairly close to Florence, parked our car, and took the short train ride to Florence. 

Travel Italy: Florence American Cemetery, Volterra, and La Verna in Tuscany

From the Castle Montegufoni where we stayed at in Tuscany, we could take trips to different places.

FLORENCE AMERICAN CEMETERY

One of the sites we visited was the Florence American Cemetery, where our friend's father is buried. The man in charge of the American Cemetery, an Italian, was cordial and helped us find the burial place of William Allen. There were other Americans looking for the burial sites of their relatives, and some of them had great stories. A woman spoke of her relative, a pilot whose plane had to go down, but he was able to release his passengers, while he and his co-pilot went down with the plane. Even though World War II was years ago, emotions were still palpable.

Travel Italy: Chianti and San Miniato in Tuscany

Travel: Tuscany, Italy

One day, almost a year ago, I received an email from Great Value Vacations offering a package deal to Italy.  The package included free airfare from Los Angeles to Rome and back, a Hertz car, and ten nights in hotels in Tuscany and in Rome.  The deal was superb, and we booked it. We went there in mid-September.  

Our first stop was the Chianti region in Tuscany, in the Castello Di Montegufoni, which dates back to the 10th or 11th century.  The castle has been beautifully restored with, not just rooms, but apartments. The grounds are just as lovely. The view from our apartment was fantastic; we could see Tuscany's rolling hills with vineyards, cypress trees, and another huge castle or villa on a ridge.