Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
American novelist
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Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born 1947) is an author and editor of 22 books. She co-founded PAWWA (Philippine American Women Writers and Artists) and also founded PALH (Philippine American Literary House). Brainard's works include the World War II novel, When the Rainbow Goddess Wept; The Newspaper Widow; Magdalena; and Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, which won the 40th Philippine National Book Award and Cirilo Bautista Prize. These books have been translated into several languages. She edited several anthologies, including How I Became a Writer: Essays by Filipino and Filipino American Writers, Fiction by Filipinos in America, Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, and three volumes of Growing Up Filipino, young adult books used by educators.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard | |
|---|---|
Cecilia Brainard at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 | |
| Born | 1947 (age 78–79) Cebu, Philippines |
| Occupation | Filipino writer |
| Notable work | When the Rainbow Goddess Wept |
| Website | http://www.ceciliabrainard.com/ |
Biography
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born 1947) grew up in Cebu City, Philippines, the youngest of four children to Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra and Mariano F. Manguerra. The death of her father when she was nine prompted her to begin writing, first in journals, then essays and fiction. She attended St. Theresa's College and Maryknoll College in the Philippines and completed graduate work at UCLA.[2][7][8]
Brainard has received awards from the California State Senate(21st District), several USIS Grants, a California Arts Council Fellowship, an Outstanding Individual Award from the City of Cebu (Philippines), a Brody Arts Fund Award, a City of Los Angeles Cultural grant, and a Carlos Bulosan Book Club Award, among other. The books she has written and edited have also received awards, including the Philippine National Book Award, the Gintong Aklat Award, and the International Gourmand Award. [9][10][11]
Brainard's second novel, Magdalena, inspired playwright Jocelyn Deona de Leon to write a stage play, Gabriela's Monologue, which was produced in 2011 by Bindlestiff Studio in San Francisco as part of Stories XII!, an annual production showcasing original works for the stage by Pilipino and Filipino American Artists. [12]
Brainard's writings have appeared in periodicals such as CNN,Town and Country, Zee Lifestyle Magazine, Focus Philippines, Philippine Graphic, Amerasia Journal, Bamboo Ridge, among others. Her work has been anthologized in books including More Cebuano Than We Admit (Vibal 2022), Cherished (New World Library, 2011), Asian American Literature (Glencoe McGraw-Hill 2001), Pinay: Autobiographical Narratives by Women Writers, 1926-1998 (Ateneo, 2000), On a Bed of Rice (Anchor 1995), Songs of Ourselves (Anvil 1994), Making Waves (Beacon Press 1989), among others.[1][2][13][14][15][16]
Selected works
Novels and short story collections (writer)
- Acapulco at Sunset and other Stories (short story collection, Anvil, 1995); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020)
- Angelica's Daughters, a Dugtungan Novel (a collaborative novel co-authored by Brainard, Cuizon, Evangelista, Montes, and Sarreal, Anvil, 2010) [17]
- Magdalena (novel, Plain View Press, 2002); University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2016); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021)[18]
- The Newspaper Widow (novel, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2017); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021) [19]
- Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (short story collection, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2021), (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021).
- Vigan and other Stories (short story collection, Anvil, 2011)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (novel, Dutton, 1994), which first appeared as Song of Yvonne; (New Day Publishers, 1991) (Plume paperback, 1995); (University of Michigan Press, 1999); (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2019) [20]
- Woman With Horns and Other Stories (short story collection, New Day Publishers, 1988; (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020) [1][2][3]
Short story collections (edited)
- Ala Carte Food and Fiction (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2007)
- Asian and Philippine Folktales: Retellings by PAWWA, (Edited by Brainard, PALH, 2022)
- Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America (Anvil, 1998; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021)
- Fiction by Filipinos in America (New Day, 1993); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020)
- Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults (PALH & Anvil, 2003) [21]
- Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults (PALH, 2010)
- Growing Up Filipino 3: New Stories for Young Adults (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2022; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2023)
- Seven Stories from Seven Sisters: A Collection of Philippine Folktales (Co-editor, PAWWA, 1992)
- The Beginning and Other Asian Folktales (Co-editor, PAWWA, 1995)[1][2][3]
Non-fiction collections (edited)
- Behind the Walls: Life of Convent Girls (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2005)
- Finding God: True Stories of Spiritual Encounters (Edited by Brainard and Orosa, Anvil, 2009)
- How I Became a Writer: Essays by Filipino and Filiino American Writers (Edited by Brainard, VIBAL Foundation, 2025) [22]
- Journey of 100 Years: Reflections on the Centennial of Philippine Independence (Edited by Brainard and Litton, Anvil, PAWWA, 1999)
- Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites (Edited by Brainard, Anvil, 2012; PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2024)
- Step Into Our Kitchens: Theresian Recipes and Tales (Edited by Brainard, VIBAL Foundation, 2025)[23] [1][2][3]
Non-fiction (writer)
- Cecilia's Diary: 1962-1969 (memoir, Anvil, 2003)
- Fundamentals of Creative Writing (Anvil, 2009)
- Fundamentals of Creative Writing, Revised and Expanded Edition (PALH, 2024)
- Magical Years: Memories & Sketches (PALH, 2020)
- Out of Cebu: Essays and Personal Prose (personal essays,University of San Carlos Press, 2012)
- Philippine Woman in America (New Day Publishers, 1991)[24][1][2][3]
In translation
- Magdalena (Translated into Arabic) (Egyptian Office for Publishing & Distribution, 2025)
- Magdalena (Translated into Greek) (Lemvos Editions, 2025)
- Magdalena (Translated into North Macedonian) (Bata Press, 2025)
- Magdalena (Translated into Portuguese by Isabela Figueira) (Editora Rua du Sabao, Brazil, 2026)
- Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (Translated into North Macedonian) (Bata Press, 2025)
- Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (Translated into Portuguese) (Editora Rua du Sabao, Brazil, 2025)
- The Newspaper Widow (Translated into Arabic) (Egyptian Office for Publishing & Distribution, 2025)
- The Newspaper Widow (Translated into North Macedonian) (Bata Press, 2025)
- The Newspaper Widow (Translated into Portuguese by Isabela Figueira) (Editora Rua du Sabao, Brazil, 2026)
- The Newspaper Widow (Translated into Serbian) (Agora, 2025)
- The Newspaper Widow (Translated into Slovenian) (Super založba, 2025)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into Arabic) (Egyptian Office for Publishing & Distribution, 2025)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into Azerbaijani) (Qanun Publishing House, 2026)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into Japanese by Takuya Matsuda, Ph.D.) (Genki shobou, 2025)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into North Macedonian) (Bata Press, 2025)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into Portuguese by Isabela Figueira) (Editora Rua du Sabao, Brazil, 2025)
- When the Rainbow Goddess Wept (Translated into Turkish—Gokkusagi Tanricasi Agladigund—by Fusun Talay) (Bilge Kultur Sanat, 2001)
Awards
- Recipient 2026 Carlos Bulosan Book Club Award
- Recipient 2024 Travel Grant as part of the Philippine Delegation to the Frankfurt Book Fair from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) of the Philippines
- Winner 40th National Book Award, Best Book Short Fiction English, for Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (2023)
- Winner Cirilo Bautista Prize for Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (2023)
- Top Hat Award from the Philippine American Business Improvement and Development (2015)
- Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives (Juan Vargas) (2015)
- Gintong Aklat Award (Golden Book Award), for Finding God: True Stories of Spiritual Encounters (coeditor) (2009)
- Gourmand Award, for Ala Carte Food & Fiction (coeditor) (2008)
- Certificate of Recognition from the Cebu Provincial Government (2006)
- Amazing Alumni Achiever Award from Maryknoll College, QC, RP (2003)
- Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate, 21st District (Jack Scott) (2001)
- Filipinas Magazine Achievement Award for Arts and Culture (2001)
- California State Summer School for the Arts Award (2000)
- Outstanding Individual Award from the City of Cebu, Philippines (1998)
- USIS Travel Lecture Grants (1995 & 1997)
- Makati Rotarian Award (1994)
- Literature Award, Filipino Women's Network (1992)
- City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation (1992)
- Brody Arts Fund Fellowship (1991)
- Special Recognition Award, Los Angeles Board of Education (1991)
- City of Los Angeles Cultural Grant (1990–91)
- California Arts Council Artists' Fellowship in Fiction (1989–90)[1][2][3][25][26]
