Press Release

THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN CHICAGO HOLDS A BOOK READING AND SIGNING EVENT WITH FIL-AM AUTHOR MIA MANANSALA

Ms. Manansala discusses her book “Arsenic and Adobo”. (Photo credit: Richard Osea)

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago held a book reading and signing event with Filipino-American award-winning author Mia Manansala on 09 August 2024 at the Consulate’s Kalayaan Hall. The event is the first in the series of book reading and signing events that the Consulate is arranging to celebrate and support Filipina voices in literature, and is in line with its Cultural and Gender and Development objectives.

In her opening remarks, Consul General J. Susana V. Paez underscored the importance of highlighting the best of Filipina talent and celebrating their achievements. The Consul General also expressed her appreciation to Ms. Manansala for partnering with the Consulate and for sharing her experiences as a writer.

Ms. Manansala is the Chicago-based author of the globally beloved Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. The series, which features Filipino-American protagonist Lila Macapagal and her extended family, explores aspects of the Filipino diaspora and Philippine culture while solving a mystery.

The first book in the series, “Arsenic and Adobo,” while unusually woven with racial and cultural nuances that are unfamiliar to the Western mainstream market, has managed to break through contemporary literature. Ms. Manansala has made a strong name for herself in the literary world and has received multiple awards such as the 2022 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, 2022 Macavity Award for Best First Novel, 2022 RUSA Reading List for Mystery, the 2021 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, among others.

Since the release of “Arsenic and Adobo” in 2021, Ms. Manansala has released three (3) other books in the series - “Homicide and Halo-halo,” “Murder and Mamon,” and "Blackmail and Bibingka.” The fifth book in the series, “Guilt and Ginataan,” will be released in November 2024. END

Consul General J. Susana V. Paez delivers her welcome remarks. (Photo credit: Cheryl Navarro)

Ms. Manansala signs copies of her books. (Photo credit: Richard Osea)