Godspeed, Anatoly & Valentina!

The Russian tour group members were complete, including some spouses and parents, when the despedida dinner was convened recently for the outgoing Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Anatoly Nebogatova and his dynamic wife, Valentina Nebogatova. We managed to come from all over, specifically Baguio and Cebu, just to bid a formal goodbye to this very special couple whose warmth and friendship meant much more than any international concordat.

Former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Francisco Alba, together with gracious wife Tess, opened up his gorgeous apartment in a plush high-rise Makati address for our informal get-together. It was actually the group's first reunion since the trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg in September. Official caterer was Barbara's, a ritzy restaurant owned by the sister of Sec. Richard Gordon. However, the group members managed to bring something from home to enliven the party.

Atty. Ernie Limkakeng and wife Meriam brought lechon direct from Cebu, while Gem and Jeremiah Datu asked her mom to prepare dinuguan a la Iggy's, a Baguio specialty. Mariel Tayzon took time to share her delicious galantine.

Armi & Sonny Garcia brought copies of the family-owned newspaper Sunstar Daily that published an article about the Russian trip, for everyone to keep. Armi also presented each female member a piece of Pan Art jewelry, according to specifications we filled up while in Russia. (Thank you, Armi!). Gem also gave each of us a sample of her famous French salad dressing.(Healthy living, eh Gem? Salamat)

After much banter - something we missed after more than a week of daily ribbings while on tour - we settled down to formally present the honorees with our parting gifts of two oil paintings by Filipino masters, as painstakingly prepared by Editha "Baby" Buñag. The canvasses depict aspects of Filipino life, like Malang's "pabitin" in a fiesta setting.

After showing their appreciation of our gifts, Valentina assured us that it was "not goodbye" since she promises to arrange another trip to her beloved Russia sometime soon...da, da!

Spashiba!