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Visitacion "Chit"; de la Torre is one of the country's seasoned writers. Born in the mountain-cool Baguio City,
she grew up in sedate Sta. Ana, Manila, Philippines and now resides in cosmopolitan Makati. She tucked in her A.B. English-Journalism
course from St. Theresa's College, her Master of Arts in Linguistics from the Ateneo de Manila University and further honed
on Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines.
For some time de la Torre was identified with the academe; teaching in various colleges and universities. Her involvement
in publishing began at National Book Store where she was editorial consultant. In 1981, her first coffee table book, LANDMARKS
OF MANILA (1571-1930) was published by then Filipinas Foundation (now Ayala Foundation) of Ayala Corporation. She became
her own publisher with THE BARONG TAGALOG: THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL WEAR although by this time she had come out with several
titles; READINGS IN BILINGUAL PHILIPPINE LITERATURE: (several anthologies of the Filipino Essay, Drama, Short Story); READINGS
IN CONTEMOPRARY PHILIPPINE LITERATURE; PATTERNS OF PHILIPPINE LIFE (a collection of her essays on Philippine Life). A few
years later, she wrote AN ARTIST FOR THE WORLD (biography of former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Lucrecia
"Tita King" Kasilag and A MONOGRAPH OF THE CHRISTINA ART SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES); wrote and published ADVERTISING
IN THE PHILIPPINES; THE FILIPINO CHILD: IMAGES AND INSIGHTS; PAGDARASAL: THE FILIPINO CHILD'S PRAYER BOOK; FAITH ENSHRINED:
CHURCHES OF PANGASINAN; ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING OF PALAFOX ASSOCIATES; HISTORY OF DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT;
HISTORY OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION; GRACE AND MAGIC (a soul book); THE BARONG TAGALOG: THE CENTENNIAL EDITION, CULTURAL ICONS
OF THE PHILIPPINES, and THE FILIPINO WORKERS: GLOBAL CITIZENS (a book on OFWs). Her forthcoming titles include, THE ILOCOS
HERITAGE, LAS PINAS CITY THEN AND NOW, MOTHER AND CHILD IN PHILIPPINE ART; FESTIVAL OF FAMILIES: THREE GENERATIONS; THE GOOD
LIFE and two other commissioned works.
She manages her own publishing companies: TOWER BOOK HOUSE and VINTA PUBLISHING HOUSE. Tower Book House offers editorial
services (research, writing and publishing) and photography (documentary, events, weddings, debuts, product launching, tourism,
advertising, etc.
She organizes, as well, religious pilgrimages to Holy Land and Marian shrines in the Philippines, Europe and North America.
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