MEMORIES OF A MILESTONE

30 June 2012. Powerbooks, Greenbelt 3. Exactly a year ago when one of the items in my bucket list was crossed out — a book launch. It was not exactly MY book or a book that I authored but I was a CONTRIBUTOR – which for me is already — a MILESTONE

What a great feeling to be a part of this book project!

Signing the book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That day was the launch of Magnificat: Mama Mary’s Pilgrim Sites, an anthology of Marian pilgrim sites, collected and edited by Ms. Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard, a Filipina award-winning author of books currently based in California.

Magnificat book cover

This book put together the experiences of Marian devotees in 24 Marian pilgrim sites all over the world – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, India, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United States, and some sites in the Philippines. Contributors recount their life-changing stories from the sites where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared or where miracles have occurred. Aside from the true accounts of each pilgrim’s visit, the anthology also serves as a guide for other Marian devotees who are interested to take a journey to the sites.

Magnificat Team with Ms. Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard, the editor

I would forever be grateful to Ms. Brainard, who liked my essay on Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, my own Marian site experience, and found it worthy to be a part of the collection. This piece is my own little way of honoring Mary, our Mother.

With Ms. Brainard, award-winning Filipina author based in California

Other contributors include Mr. Jaime Laya, former Central Bank Governor and Ms. Ma. Ceres P. Doyo, staff writer and columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

With Mr. Jaime Laya, former Central Bank Governor, and Becky Boco, a friend from Tacloban City

I was so happy to see two of my friends, Tito De Jesus, and Becky Boco, who took the time off from their busy schedules to share this momentous event with me.

With my friends Becky Boco and Tito De Jesus

For those of you who want to get a copy of the book, you can visit any branch of National Bookstore or Powerbooks to grab one.