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Creative Writing Workshop by Cecilia Brainard, April 19, 2025

Join Filipino Author Cecilia Brainard on Saturday April 19, 2025 for a two-hour Creative Writing Workshop at Echo Park Branch LA Public Library, 1410 W. Temple Street, LA 90026.

The two-hour workshop will look at the fundamentals of creative writing, including character, conflict, plot, and there will in-class exercises, all in a fun and supportive environment. 

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the author and editor of over 22 books. She has written three novels: When the Rainbow Goddess WeptMagdalena, and The Newspaper Widow. Her recent books include Fundamentals of Creative WritingRevised and Expanded Edition, and Growing Up Filipino 3: New Stories for Young Adults.

She has received several awards, including an Outstanding Individual Award from her birthplace of Cebu Philippines, a California Arts Council Fellowship, a Brody Arts Fund, several travel grants from the US Embassy, the 40th National Book Award and the Cirilo F. Bautista Prize.

She has taught at UCLA, USC, the California State Summer School for the Arts, the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension and she continues to lecture and perform in literary arts venues and universities. 

Book Launch: “Tinipong Tinig ng Kababaihan” by Nenita Pambid Domingo, March 15, 2025

Watch the Recording

Discussants:

  • Brandon J. Macapagal Reilly, PhD, was Nenita’s student in Filipino language and culture at UCLA. He is now associate professor at Santa Monica College.
  • Damon Woods, PhD., author of Tomas Pinpin and Early Survival in Early Spanish Philippines (University of Santo Tomas Press); The Philippines From Earliest Times to the Present (Association of Asian Studies, Inc.); Editor of From Wilderness to Nation: Interrogating Bayan (University of the Philippines Press).

About Ms Domingo: Nenita Pambid Domingo teaches all levels of Filipino language at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She obtained her PhD in Philippine Studies from the University of thePhilippines (UP) Diliman. She has taught at UP, Peking University, Loyola Marymount University, California State University, and the University of Southern California. Among her publications are “Anting-Anting o Kung Bakit Nagtatago sa Loob ng Bato si Bathala” (Amulet or Why the Tagalog God Bathala Hides inside the Stone), UP Press 2000; co-edited thetextbook and workbook “Tara, Mag-Tagalog Tayo! Come On, Let’s Speak Tagalog!; Concise Tagalog-English, English-Tagalog Dictionary, and Pocket Tagalog-English, English-Tagalog Dictionary (all published by Tuttle Publishing).

2024

Philippine Heritage Collection Open House – December 21, 2024
Exploding Galaxies Book LaunchNovember 16, 2024

November 16, 2024 (Sat): Exploding Galaxies publisher Mara Coson talks about the press and their two books, “But for the Lovers” by Wilfrido D. Nolledo, and “The Three-Cornered Sun” by Linda Ty Casper. With readings from both books. Watch the recording here.

Fil Am Veterans Celebration – November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024 (Sun): On the occasion of Veteran’s Day, FOEPL with other community organizations will celebrate and commemorate Filipino American Veterans of WWII at the Lake Street Community Center, 227 N. Lake St., LA 90026.

Book Launch: “Professional Lola” by EP Tuazon – July 20, 2024
Book Launch: “Paranaque to New York, 50 Poems” by Therese Rodriguez – June 15, 2024
Book Launch: “activist” by Warren Furutani – May 18, 2024
NEA Big Read: “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant” – Apr 20, 2024
Finding Poetry Everywhere & Anywhere (a writing workshop)- Apr 20, 2024
Book Launch: “La Vie En Pose” – Mar 16, 2024
Book Launch: “Music Heard in HiFi & Other Stories” – Feb 16, 2024
Bulosan: On American Democracy – January 20 & 26, 2024

2023

Filipino American Veterans Celebration – November 11, 2023
NEA BIG READ: “Interior Chinatown” – July and August, 2023
Environmental & Sustainability: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 – Jan to June, 2023
Celebration of Pride Month: summertime,summertine, take me to… – June 3, 2023
HUDYAKA: A Queer Filipinx Artist Showcase by Irene Soriano – April 1, 2023

Event Description: Queer merrymaking* with featured Filipinx musicians Jenny San Angel and Ara Chawdhury, alongside poets Jaime Estepa and Jade Phoenix, for a showcase of incredible songs and spoken word performances.

After the showcase, socializing with the artists, while DJ thatflypinay spinned a mix of music from queer R&B and hip-hop artists, allies and icons. READ MORE

Growing Up Filipino: Book 3 by Cecilia Brainard – March 18, 2023
More Info
Photo courtesy of Cecilia Brainard. Seated l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Ryo Alfar, Marilyn Alquizola, Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal; standing l-r: James Castillo, Rachielle Scheffler, James Bates, Jaime Geaga, Erlinda, David Rockello, Megan

Watch the Recording HERE

2022

NEA Big Read: “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui, Nov 19, 2022
NEA Big Read*Sat Nov 19*More Info *Echo Park Branch LA Public Library* 1:30pm
The Galedo Family Story: 100 years in America – Oct 12, 2022
Book Launch: “The Infernal Promise” by Dom Magwili, July 16, 2022

Event InfoWatch the Recording

Photos courtesy of David Kimbrough

Readings by Filipino American Authors – May 21, 2022
Historic Filipinotown Tour & Inauguration of HiFi Gateway – May 7, 2022
Flutter Free: Gil Mangaoang’s Memoirs (Book Launch) – March 19, 2022
Book Launch: “CONCEPCION” by Albert Samaha, Feb 19, 2022

2021

NEA Big Read: “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich, July 2021
Honorable Rob Bonta Appointed California Attorney General – April 2021

2020

America Is In The Heart a Webinar Class – July & August, 2020

2019

An Informance Event of Philippine Literature and Music feat. Ramon Acoymo – August 2019
NEA Big Read: “The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears” by Dinaw Mengestu, June 2019

By Dinaw Mengestu. Read MORE

Book Launch: “Hyphen-Me” by Benjamin Long, March 2019
Murals by Eliseo Art Silva – January 2019

2018

Cindy Domingo, activist and community leader in Seattle – March 2018
Book Launch: “A Time To Rise” by KDP Activists, March 2018

2017

Ermena Vinluan: artivist and filmmaker – September 2017
Carlos Bulosan Book Club Established – May 2017


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