Yes. My family of four are now here down under where kangaroos are the kings of the outback roads and the fact that koalas are not real bears is no longer unheard of.

Yet the Philippines is an inherent part of my being, too, in more ways than one. One would and should never forget one’s roots. In life, we take with us what’s good (as well as leave behind and learn from what’s not so).

For the first time in years, I’ve been able to search for and find the time to finally carry out my long-delayed plan to read noteworthy pieces written by Filipino authors. These works are not my childhood’s Florante at Laura or El Filibusterismo, but they are culturally valuable pieces nonetheless albeit on another plane.

Here’s another one of my recent top picks:

A Cultural Literary Treasure

Out of Cebu: Essays and Personal Prose by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A compilation of the esteemed author’s previously published articles, it is so rich in personal, historical, and culturally-significant trinkets of thoughts. A daughter of Cebuana mum, the wife of a pure-bred Cebuano, and also a migrant like she is, I could really relate to and appreciate every detail. Other than one awkward but not incorrect word, this third Filipino author’s book on my list is virtually flawless.

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