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edited by Marivi Soliven Blanco.
Announcements The Maryknoll High School Class of 1980 launches Speak Up, Woman at OJ’s Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City on Sept. 23 at 6:00 PM. Speaking from the heart, 28 women share intimare details of their lives uncovering personal experiences: poignant, authentic and ultimately empowering. They fought battles in corporate boardrooms, in bedrooms and in the hidden caverns of their psyches. Editor Marivi Soliven Blanco describes her classmates as "indomitable survivors, unfazed by life’s trials and proud of our triumphs.” All royalties derived from the sale of Speak Up, Woman will be donated to a selected charity of the MCHS 1980 nonprofit corporation, to be used especially for the empowerment of underprivileged women. Speak Up, Woman is a project supported by Dove See below on how to get your copy. * * * * The marvels of technology! A group of women who were classmates in the 80's brain-stormed on-line generating ideas for projects that would benefit underprivileged women. One classmate in NY suggested that she write about how she retired after 12 years in banking to sail around the world with her husband whom she had met in sailing class. Could others write about their lives, too? Over the several months, articles were exchanged by email from London, Dusseldorf, New Jersey, Seattle, Texas, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta and Manila and edited by Marivi Soliven Blanco in San Diego. The result is Speak Up, Woman an anthology of over 30 essays---some poignant, some hilarious, all of them inspiring and ultimately empowering for ALL women. These are stories of how women weave meaningful lives with threads of love and sacrifice, with strands of victory and pain, with strips of humor and purpose, with fibers of strength and wisdom. A celebration of the extraordinary tenacity of Filipino women! --- Karina David, Chairperson, Civil Service Commission Speak up, Woman is a project supported by Dove. For copies of Speak Up, Woman See below on how to get your copy. * * * * * *About the Book It has been said that women hold up half the sky. If this is so, what keeps women standing is their hope, their determination, their dreams, and their vision of lives well lived. The essays, written straight from the heart give voice to all of this, celebrating the experiences that any woman can relate to: birth, marriage, separation and death. If a woman has lived even half a life, she will see herself in these stories. Speak Up, Woman is an anthology of over 30 articles written by women who were high school classmates in the 80's. Twenty-five years since then, they have scattered all over the world, "living, loving, leaving and learning." The thirty-odd essays in this anthology describe – often in harrowing detail – the moment that each of the writers metamorphosed from girls into women as they experienced sex, childbirth, a breakdown or death in the family. The experiences are authentic, women-centered and ultimately empowering. They speak now for all the other women who suffer similar ordeals, yet remain unheard. All royalties derived from the sale of Speak Up, Woman will be donated to a selected charity of the MCHS 1980 nonprofit corporation, to be used especially for the empowerment of underprivileged women. How it All Began To raise money for charity and their silver jubilee, a group of friends brainstormed on-line generating ideas that would be fun and turn in a financial reward. One classmate in NY suggested that she write about how she retired after 12 years in banking to sail around the world with her husband whom she had met in sailing class. Could others write about their lives, too? Over the next few months, articles were exchanged by email from London, Dusseldorf, New Jersey, Seattle, Texas, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta and Manila and edited by Marivi Soliven Blanco in San Diego. The result is Speak Up, Woman an anthology of close to 40 essays---some poignant, some hilarious, all of them inspiring and ultimately empowering for ALL women. Meanwhile, a small band of volunteers used mouth and muscle to get a sponsor (it had to be Dove, of course), collaborate with a women's magazine (Me was an ideal match), entrust the cover and illustrations to a kind-hearted artist who worked pro bono and find a patient, understanding and flexible publisher who would deliver on time. These are stories of how women weave meaningful lives with threads of love and sacrifice, with strands of victory and pain, with strips of humor and purpose, with fibers of strength and wisdom. A celebration of the extraordinary tenacity of Filipino women! To order in Manila, they may contact: SPECIAL MENTIONS: About the Sponsor Creating this book required the help of a brand that has consistently advocated for the improvement of women’s lives and sustained the sort of inner beauty found in one’s character rather than external features. Because it promotes feminine strength and talent, Dove has been the ideal sponsor for a book that affirms the vitality and radiance of women. Dove pays tribute to the voices that Speak Up in this book, embracing the Filipino woman in the totality of her indomitable spirit. Dove celebrates Filipino women as they study, dance, fall in love, struggle and grieve. Dove salutes women who display courage and heroism in triumphs great and small. We thank Dove with its capacity to see a woman’s capability to be strong yet compassionate, focused and ambitious yet sensitive and even rugged yet remain feminine at heart. About the Cover Design The cover design and other illustrations used in this book are originals by Benjor Catindig of Creative 2.0 whose professional fee is also being donated to charity. Also read on how Speak Up, Woman was written. |
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