Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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) Magdalena (novel, Plain View Press, 2002); University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2016); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021) The Newspaper Widow (novel, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2017); (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2021) 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) Woman With Horns and Other Stories (short story collection, New Day Publishers, 1988; (PALH/Philippine American Literary House, 2020) 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) 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)