PRESS RELEASE                                                                      
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                        *      Tel. No. 834-4000                                 *     www.dfa.gov.ph
SFA-AGR-648-04                                                                                                                                                                       14  October  2004

FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTISTS TAKE LIMELIGHT IN MULTI-BOOK LAUNCHING
AND LITERARY/VISUAL ARTS EXHIBIT IN SAN FRANCISCO

 
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA, informed the Department of Foreign Affairs that various Filipino American artists were presented to the American literary community at a book launching and literary and visual arts display held at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center building on 1 October 2004.

The event, organized by the Consulate General in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Philippine American Press Club, USA, featured the launching of the book of the late Wilfrido D. Nolledo (1933-2004) titled, “Cadena de Amor and Other Short Stories”.    Consul General Rowena Mendoza Sanchez reported that the works of the following Filipino artists were also launched: Michelle Bautista, Oscar Penaranda, Barbara Jane Reyes, Tony Robles,  Leny Strobel,  Eileen Tabios, Jean Vengua and Marianne Villanueva, for literature; and Mel Vera Cruz, Vics Magsaysay, England Hidalgo and Melissa Nolledo-Christoffels, for visual arts.

“Cadena de Amor” is a collection of Nolledo’s stories published in various magazines in the Philippines, Asia and in the United States.  Most of his writings have won prizes in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Competition and in the Philippines Free Press.  The titles of his other works include, among others:  “Rice Wine”, “The Last Caucus”, “In Caress of Beloved Faces”, “Kayumanggi”, “Mon Amour”.  Mr. Nolledo was represented during the launching of his book by his children, Mellisa Nolledo-Christoffels and Ruel Nolledo.  Ms. Ninotchka Rocha  spoke on the work of Mr. Nolledo.

In her welcome remarks, Consul General Sanchez said, “… the undertaking of these socio-cultural projects helps contribute to the enhancement of the awareness and pride  in Philippine arts and literature”.

Hon. Roberto M. Pagdanganan, former Secretary of Tourism and currently Chairman and President of the Philippine International Trading Corporation. was the guest speaker.  He spoke with great pride of the talents of the Filipinos in music, arts and literature  worldwide. “ Napakagaling po talaga ng Pilipino!,”  Mr. Pagdanganan emphasized.

The Consulate General choir serenaded the audience with patriotic songs. END

(see related photo release)