PCGNY.net | News Release

FILIPINA AUTHOR LAUNCHES BOOK IN BORDERS, NEW YORK

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE - NEWS RELEASE
14 November 2006

Consul General Rebong and Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria Thomeczek with Carissa

NEW YORK --- Over 200 guests from the Filipino community and local New York scene attended Carissa Villacorta's “Surreality” Book Launch Party, Reading and Signing Event at Borders’ flagship store in Park Avenue/57th Street on October 30, 2006.

Surreality is a collection of essays about contemporary life in New York from the perspective of a young Filipina. With a pulse on the heart of New Yorkers, her essays are completely relatable as she writes about timeless truths - matters obscured by our deluded quest for money or shoved aside by mundane priorities. Featuring titles like ‘Happily Ever Since,’ Time Is Gold, Money Is Paper,’ ‘Our 5-to-9 Lives, and ‘‘The Largest Rollercoaster in the World,’ the book is a collection of the author’s columns, also called “Surreality,” from the US-wide circulated broadsheet Philippine News, as well as previously printed articles from the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The book also features photos of New York spots (under the creative direction of John Paul Su) and was published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House in September 2006.

Numerous guests form a long line and ask the author to sign their books.

“Borders is the world’s largest books and music retail stores, with 1,200 branches across the US, Asia and Europe,” said Daryl Mattson, Borders' Marketing Manager for Events in Manhattan “Borders is pleased and proud to have played a role in facilitating the emergence of an important creative new voice from the Filipino American community. It was definitely a very large event in terms of turnout and book sales and we're very pleased and happy," added Richard Doyle, launch event coordinator at Borders Park Avenue.

The book /event was featured on the window and door display of Borders Park Avenue/57th Street

Guests at the 'overwhelmingly successful, and beautiful' event included Ambassador Romeo Arguelles from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague and Dr. Azucena Arguelles, Philippine Consul General in New York Cecilia Rebong, Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, other Philippine Consuls at NY PCG, Philippine Tourism Director Emma Ruth Yulo, ABC 7 News Reporter Nina Pineda, Former Miss Philippines Dindi Gallardo and numerous Filipino entrepreneurs, personalities, supporters and friends. The launch event was also featured in local New York papers/magazines AM New York and TimeOut New York and Filipino media like ABS-CBN International (The Filipino Channel).

Ambassador Romeo Arguelles from the Philippine Embassy in the Hague and Dr. Azucena Arguelles graced the reading/signing

Carissa Villacorta is an assistant at the Philippine Consulate General, handling community and cultural affairs. As a hobby, Carissa has also profiled Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario, Broadway stars Lea Salonga and Julie Danao-Salkin, Hollywood make-up artist Mally Roncal and PR maven Butch Meily for publications like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Filipinas Magazine and Philippine News.” Carissa is a talented writer. I am confident that she will make it big in this field. The very successful book launch at Borders made us proud.” said Consul General Rebong.

Former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario, NaFFAA National Chair Loida Nicolas Lewis and Officers from the US Embassy in Manila were among the guests at her Manila book launching last September 12th at the Filipinas Heritage Library in Makati.

The Philippine Embassy in cooperation with the Filipino American community of the Metropolitan Washington DC has invited Ms. VIllacorta to present her book in Washington DC on December 16, 5:30pm at the JW Marriott Capitol Ballroom Foyer. The book launch is being held as part of a Christmas Gala to benefit Bantay Bata 163.