Reminiscing of a Paradise, a very Successful Book Presentation
Portrait Photographer Roberto Aceves Opened New Studio
Roberto draws the subject’s best features and creates an image that people are proud to show
On Tuesday, August 17, the presentation of Doña Josefina Cortes de Torres’ book “Recordando un Paraíso” (“Reminiscing of a Paradise”) took place at the Krystal Hotel’s Jalisco Ballroom.
Presenting the book were three personalities of the Puerto Vallarta society, all of whom are Vallarta Award recipients. They are Maria Jose Zorrilla, Nacho Cadena and Luis Reyes Brambila.
A great number of Vallartenses, both native and adopted, crowded the ballroom, thus showing the great love they all have for the first nurse ever in Puerto Vallarta. Proof of it was the standing ovation with which Doña Josefina was received as she entered the ballroom. Among those in attendance, many familiar faces could be spotted; US Consular Agent Kelly Trainor, several City Council members, artists, writers, along with personalities from the Puerto Vallarta society gathered at the event.
There are many aspects of the event to remark upon. On one hand, the book is the work of a 92 year old woman, and it is made up of materials and photographs lovingly, carefully collected, classified, and composed over a forty year period. All those materials have been the foundation for books by other authors, and historians along this period.
Doña Josefina, or Pina, as she is affectionately called, was born in the time when today’s Puerto Vallarta was still called Puerto Las Peñas. There is no doubt she has witnessed the events that have shaped the history of the city and its society.
At 92, Doña Pina set out to write the book with the help of her daughter, Maria Elizabeth, with editing by Gabriela Scartascini and a prologue written by Octavio Gonzalez Lomeli.
Doña Josefina’s work is a multifaceted mosaic. The commentaries expressed by presenters proved it. They all spoke highly of the book, and emphasized its importance as testimony of the history and the society of Puerto Vallarta, and as a call to today’s generations to preserve the legacy from previous generations whose hard work and generous, hospitable spirit was the foundation on which today’s Puerto Vallarta was built, a city that has sheltered so many new inhabitants coming from the four corners of the country. Nacho Cadena posed the question. “What have we done to preserve the legacy that we inherited for free from past generations?”
Doña Josefina took the floor to express her thankfulness and to comment as to how this book came to be. She thanked all those who encouraged her to write, who used to tell her: “Well, if you can’t sleep, set out to write”. She also thanked the Krystal hotel for hosting the event. Again, she was rewarded with a standing ovation.
After the book presentation, all in attendance enjoyed cocktails and canapés at the ballroom’s foyer.