The Israeli Embassy, led by its outgoing Ambassador Menashe Bar-On and his lovely wife Eti, entertained prominent members of the diplomatic circle and other VIP guests as it played host to festivities commemorating the 66th National Day of the State of Israel at the New World Makati Hotel recently.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario even shared an experience his grandfather, Judge Simplicio Sempio del Rosario, had when he was in Germany during the Kristallnacht or “Night of the Broken Glassâ€â€” a pogrom against the Jews in Germany and Austria. Del Rosario said his kindhearted grandfather offered two Jewish women jobs in the Philippines as he fled the country on a ship.
Renowned Israeli artist Tal Kravitz sang songs in Tagalog and Hebrew before an appreciative crowd. Some of the guests who attended the event were US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno and wife Agnes, Ambassadors Reuben Levermore of New Zealand, Josef Rychtar of the Czech Republic and Agnes Nyamande-Pitso of South Africa, Nigerian Ambassador Akinyemi Farounbi and wife Evelyn, Office of Middle East and African Affairs assistant secretary Petronila Garcia and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.
Shalom!
GREETINGS
Happy birthday to our celebrators today, Tara Litton, Marivic Concepcion, Miguel Vargas, Alan Antonio and Nards de Belen.
Advance birthday greetings to Jaja Ledesma, June 9; Sea Wind president Boy Jarantilla, Lita Carlos and tycoon Eduardo “Danding†Cojuangco, June 10; FCCP’s Mars Lambino, June 11; Lilibeth Virata and Tobias Perry, June 12; Robinsons Land president and COO Frederick Go, Tony dela Rea and Isel Litton, June 13; Caruso Ristorante co-owner Dario Gardini, June 14.
So, how was your week?
(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)