A landmark coffee table book on Parañaque City is set to be launched on June 28, 2016 at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino along Aseana Avenue, Parañaque City.
This was announced by Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez who describes the book published by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. as “a fitting celebration of our rich history and heroic past, cultural heritage and traditions, our religiosity and dynamism as a people and as a city.”
Written over a span of two years by Melandrew T. Velasco and his MTVi book team, the coffee table book has been assembled to provide the reader not only with a guide to the landscapes of the city but to acquaint them with the colorful history and impressive development of the former Spanish-era pueblo as well.
The author is the family biographer of former President Fidel V. Ramos. He has also penned biographies of illustrious men and women in the country and has published books for the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV). This book on Parañaque City is his third venture into coffee table books for local government units following earlier books namely: “Pasay: A Royal Kingdom’s Evolution to a Travel City” published in December 2013 and “Nueva Ecija: New Era of Peace and Progress” in March 2015.
“Parañaque: From A Pueblo to A Mega City by the Bay” is divided into chapters starting off with Parañaque’s history and its famous historical infrastructures and relics. A chapter dedicated as a tribute to Parañaque’s leaders precedes the chapter on the city’s newly reelected executive, Mayor Edwin Olivarez. Aside from providing the mayor’s profile, it likewise tackles the Bagong Parañaque program of government that has reaped for the city recognition and awards in local governance.
Because cultural traditions are important in the development of the community, the book has a chapter on the city’s most cherished customs such as the Sayaw ng Pagbati, Caracol Festival, Lambat Festival, Komedya, Bulungan sa La Huerta and the internationally famous Sunduan Festival. Readers will get to know Parañaque’s art and homegrown artists. A chapter on the city’s food specialties and places where one can indulge in a unique culinary experience is also included.
Of paramount interest is the book’s chapter on the new Parañaque and its transformation into a tourism and trade center. The chapter identifies to the reader delightful places that reinforce why Parañaque is more than just a city.
The book ends with a brief write-up on those who supported the publication of the remarkable coffee table book: Generika Drugstore, MacroAsia Corp., Pagcor, Solaire Resort & Casino, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. S & R Membership Shopping, Columbia Airfreight Complex Corp., Tiger Resort, Leisure & Entertainment Inc., PCCI-Parañaque, Miascor Logistics, PLDT, Maynilad, BF Parañaque Entrepreneurs & Business Club Inc., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Philippines, Meralco, City of Dreams, Asean City, Ayala Malls, Azure Urban Resort Residences, SM and San Miguel Corp.