AT HOME WITH AMBASSADOR LUCA FORNARI & SILVANA FORNARI: Diplomacy, Italian-style

Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari has a modest proposal for Filipinos. Why not export their most recent commodity to the world — clean, honest elections?

Come again?

“This is something you can export!” the newly arrived ambassador says, seated with his wife Silvana in the ample sala of their residence in Dasmariñas Village. The diplomatic couple recently watched the presidential polls unfold on TV, you see, and the ambassador was struck by the economic possibilities. “You have an incredible know-how, tested on 50 million people, with an enormous rate of success,” he says. “This can be an extraordinary occasion to copy the methodology of your elections — not just the machines, because you can have the best machine, the best Ferrari, but if you don’t know how to drive it, it’s a piece of junk — and teach others how to do it.”

It may seem ironic — the Philippines poised to teach the world how to run fair, smooth elections. Maybe a tad overly enthusiastic. But the new Italian ambassador is an enthusiastic man.

The diplomatic couple are in the process of moving in for a four-year posting in Manila: moving boxes are tactfully out of view, so the sala of the post-colonial home has a spacious air, dotted with curios and conversation pieces. Standing at the center table, flanked by white pillars, is an aged maquette of King Makuba, ancient ruler of Zaire (now the Republic of the Congo), one of Fornari’s past posts: “In the morning, I ask him advice for the day.” What was the most important advice he gave upon arriving in the Philippines? “To enjoy,” the Ambassador replies, smiling.

The foyer floor is decorated with an ornate Persian carpet from his stay in Iran; an old-fashioned diving helmet (the “pièce de résistance,” says this professional diver) sits beneath an ornate wooden table, a present from the harbor authorities in Bandar Abbas, Iran, after he dove to see their boat wrecks; above it sits a piece of “recycled art”: a red plastic penguin, four feet tall, illuminated from within.

Since arriving two and a half months ago, Ambassador Fornari and his wife have had a chance to meet with heads of communities around the Philippines to discuss the 1,000 or so Italians who live and work here. No one, surprisingly, brought up security concerns with the new ambassador. “Most are priests and nuns,” he notes. “Some businessmen; not a lot, certainly a fraction of what I was hoping. But now we will work to increase this dramatically.”

Today, the Fornaris are here to talk about something festive, though: June 2 is Italy’s National Day, and the Embassy of Italy in Manila — along with Rustan Commercial Corp., Metrobank Card Corp., Sofitel Philippine Plaza and other major sponsors — is bringing in world-renowned violinist Uto Ughi to perform a free concert with pianist Alessandro Specchi at the CCP Main Theater this coming Wednesday, 8 p.m. Nedy Tantoco, president of the Philippine-Italian Association, is the embassy’s partner in this cultural event.

Other upcoming activities to boost Italian-Philippine ties include the Silent Film Festival in August, which Italy will open accompanied by a Filipino ensemble providing the soundtrack; there’s the popular Italian Film Festival at the Shangri-La Plaza in October; a week of activities at Museo Pambata for children in need, organized by the European embassies in the Philippines; and an Italian language week also in October featuring an appearance by popular sociological writer Beppe Severgnini.

But it’s the Uto Ughi concert that will kick off Italy’s presence in Manila this year. “He is not just a great violinist, but maybe the world’s greatest,” says Emanuela Adesini from the Embassy of Italy to the Philippines. “He is recently touring the Shanghai World Expo, so he accepted to come here and perform for our National Day, so it is a great success for us.” Expect a concert not only studded with Italian composers like Paganini, but Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 47 from La Maggiore; Wieniawski’s Fantasia Su Temi del Faust Op. 20; and Camille Daint-Saens’ Introduzione e Rondò Capriccioso.

Over a lunch spread of calamari, fried and battered prawns and babà — a popular rum cake from Naples — the Fornaris talk about increasing cultural exchange between two countries so much alike.

“I would like to share with the Philippines the Italian way of life, because I think we have an attitude that is the same,” notes Madame Silvana (whose name means “woods”). “We have something in common with each other. It probably comes from your religion. Spain has been present in your country, it is also a Mediterranean country, and we feel at home here.”

Welcomed with flowers and gifts from “friends we did not know we had” here, the couple note that the Philippines may be a hardship post, but it is already close to their hearts. (Actually, the “hardship” label refers to how far away a posting is from a diplomat’s home country, “not because of conditions of life.”)

Coming from one of Europe’s strongest economies (Italy is sixth in the world), it’s not surprising the Fornaris see opportunities for greater economic growth here. “You need direct flights to Manila!” exclaims Mme. Fornari. “Not so much for businesspeople, but for tourism.” Currently Italian tourists have to fly out of Manila to beach destinations, “So they tend to go to Thailand instead. If you start having charter flights here, 300 people a day, you have to have the infrastructure for this.” (Note to future DOT chief: direct flights from Italy and other European countries.)

Of course, Ambassador Fornari can’t help comparing Italy’s strong manufacturing base with the Philippines. “We have brands we export — Ferrari, Prada, furniture. This boosts our economy. Here, there are not a lot of small and medium enterprises. Here, it’s focused on commerce, trade, huge malls, the biggest in Asia. But what you don’t see is manufacturing, producing goods,” other than the odd pedicab manufacturer or furniture maker.

Which is why he’s so enthusiastic about the recent elections.

“The great result is now you are the first country in the area that has experience with automation of the vote,” he says, envisioning teams of experts walking other democracies through the process. “This is something you can export. In Italy, we don’t have automated elections. In Spain and England, long queues, some people didn’t vote. Now, after this experience, Europe will start to think very concretely in terms of automization.”

And they’ll have the Philippines to thank — and pay — for it.

Manila will be Ambassador Fornari’s final posting, as he nears retirement age. He has had a long career stationed in Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of the Congo, Geneva and the United Nations. Manila seems a fitting finale to his diplomatic travels. “Unfortunately, I am getting close to retirement, age 67, so we will stay here for no more than three years.”

“Or forever,” adds Madame Silvana with a laugh.

Ambassador Fornari shrugs and smiles. Let the man settle in first; then you can discuss “forever.”

* * *

World-renowned violinist Uto Ughi performs with pianist Alessandro Specchi at CCP Main Theater, Wednesday, June 2, 8 p.m.

Admission is free, subject to availability. For reservations, contact Susan Ortiz, Embassy of Italy Marketing Department, at 832-1125, loc. 1800 to 1808.