Fil-Am author Cecilia Brainard creates ‘Philippine #MeToo Accounts’

She invites abuse survivors to document their experiences in the wake of ‘Junglegate.’

Veteran Filipino-American author Cecilia Brainard invited Filipinos here and abroad to come forward with their accounts of abuse—launching what appears to be the first dedicated project by a prominent writer to collect and publish survivor accounts.

In a Sept. 22 post, Brainard said “Philippine #MeToo Accounts” will initially be published on her blog, with the possibility that the essays will later be collected into a book.

She said the essays may run from 2,500 to 5,000 words, and contributors should not name the alleged perpetrator.

Survivors, regardless of gender or occupation, are encouraged to recall details of the abuse, including where and when it happened, their aspirations, and the people they were with, “without being too graphic.”

Brainard also asked contributors to write about how they felt while the abuse was happening and afterward, how they dealt with the experience over the years, and how they are doing now.

She said the accounts will undergo review by two lawyers in her family amid concerns over libel.

Brainard set an Oct. 15 deadline, although she noted that survivors may submit their pieces “as soon as ready.”

The initiative marks a rare, concrete effort to give survivors a dedicated platform to document and share their experiences in the wake of the “Junglegate” scandal in Philippine literary circles.

The controversy began with the planned republication of Alfred “Krip” Yuson’s “Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café” by Exploding Galaxies, a publisher focused on “rediscovering lost classics of Philippine literature.” The publisher later canceled the republication following public backlash.

The backlash followed the resurfacing of allegations of misconduct against Yuson. No formal cases have been filed against him, and he has not publicly responded to the recent allegations. His 2011 plagiarism controversy has also resurfaced amid the renewed scrutiny.

As the controversy grew, more writers and former workshop participants came forward with their own experiences and concerns.

Poet Ramil Digal Gulle has called on writing workshops to “seriously vet” panelists beyond their literary credentials and adopt clearer safeguards, including formal boundaries and penalties for predatory behavior toward young writers.

A Sept. 10 Facebook post also accused a literary figure in Albay of years of inappropriate behavior toward women, claiming that those who experienced it stayed quiet because of his influence.

The post shared screenshots of the literary figure’s public Facebook posts over the years. These included jokes comparing women’s nipples to onions and calamansi, a meme claiming that staring at women’s chests extends one’s lifespan, posts featuring women in revealing clothing, and another saying he could “undress anyone in my mind.”

The Tabaco Writers’ Organization condemned incidents of abuse in Albay, saying there is “no place in the organization for personalities who use their power, influence, and reputation to abuse others.”

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