For the second time, Sunshine Place has published a book written by members and participants of its writing classes. The first was Finding the Sun, launched in 2020, and recently, Reflections in Light and Shadow, An Anthology of Short Memoirs.
The memoir pieces were written by 18 participants of Sunshine Place Memoir Writing Class conducted by Professor Oscar Peñaranda. The collection consists of 57 essays and 14 poems that showcase the newly-discovered writing skills and talents of the authors, many of them already in their retirement age. In each of their literary pieces, the writers blaze a new path toward meaning and healing.
“All writings were so strong on theme, such as coping with loss and disaster, especially with life under this pandemic. How to look back so that one can move forward,” Professor Peñaranda said.
The writers are Linda Atayde, Suzie Benitez (+), Catherine Mijares Chua, Len Ferandnez, Adelaida Lim, Victoria Lopez, Dina D. Lucenario, Ma. Dolores Matias, Gloria Pe, Carminda Regala, Neny Regino, Mariquit Reventar, Winifred Samson (+), Flora Timoteo Sebastian, Mario Torrento, Jr., Dada C. Trillo, Ma. Susana Yap, and J’net B. Zulueta. Also included are works by Professor Peñaranda.
In Pamana: For Love of a Home, Victoria Lopez wrote about her memoirs at Casa Grande on Antorcha Street in Balayan, Batangas. “To me, the house on Antorcha Street is a pamana, steeped as it is in history and memories of the wonder days of my early childhood, and I hope to pass on this rich legacy to the next generation.”
One of Ma. Susana Yap’s pieces is A Tribute to Winnie. The title says it all—it is a tribute to Winifred Samson, one of the workshop participants who passed on before the book saw print. “We would never have met Winnie Samson had it not been for the Memoir Writing Workshop offered by Sunshine Place,” she wrote.
In her essay Friendship from the Heart, Neny Regino who was among those who read excerpts from their pieces, wrote: “It dawned upon her that Armand had been her guiding light during her stay abroad. … he would forever be a part of his life as the truest friend she ever had.”
Excerpts from their pieces were also read by Flora Timoteo Sebastian (Mother and Son), Catherine Mijares Chua (It’s not you, it’s Life), Mariquit Reventar (My Home Quarantine), Linda Atayde (Educating Nanay), Dolores Matias (Balangiga), Dada Trillo (A Woman of Substance), and Mario Torrento Jr. ( Someday I Will Come to Love My Name).
Pianist Rex Reventar and violinist Gerard Secillano rendered special numbers.