Ole! Flamenco mania & the biggest paellas!

Talk about having a global view of the arts and culture, and Manila has got it all. Despite economic misfortunes and political chaos in the country, we like to think that we’re still lucky, yes, oui, hai, si!

Every year, we have the French Spring Festival for glimpses of Parisian art, music, couture and cuisine courtesy of the French Embassy, without having to fly to Paris. The Japanese Embassy, likewise, regularly treats Manilans to the Land of the Rising Sun’s bright fare, from noh dramas to anime art. Both young and not-so-young music lovers still can’t forget that Michael Bublé, the F-4, and Dionne Warwick were in town recently. Next week, Sergio Mendes will be performing at Star City.

Film buffs relished the recent CineManila treats at Glorietta and Greenbelt, notably the awardwinning City of God. Ayala Cinemas never run out art films to show. At The Podium, there is an ongoing Cine Europa Festival, open free to the public. Now more than ever, Manila has become a more exciting place for culture vultures.

Now comes iFiesta! 2003, a Spanish month-long festival that will remind us of the richness of the culture that we have embraced – and that has embraced us – for the past hundreds of years.

Presented by the Spanish Embassy, headed by its muy simpatico Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz, and its cultural arm, Instituto Cervantes led by Javier Galvan, iFiesta! 2003 covers the essence of our very Hispanic soul, from flamenco to paella to Federico Garcia Lorca. No, Julio Iglesias isn’t coming, neither is his son Enrique.

But Ambassador Sagaz promises a muy grande treat this year. A workaholic who, as early as 5 a.m., surfs the Net before going off for his morning exercises (he’s a fighter both in the tennis court and on the golf course) and then to work, the Spanish Ambassador is proud of the balanced mix of art, cuisine, music, dance, film, theater and poetry offerings this October.

This early, tickets are selling like churros for the Concierto Flamenco at Meralco Theater on Oct. 3 and 4. "I am watching this flamenco concert on Oct. 3 and Sergio Mendes on Oct. 4," Ambassador Sagas smiles. "The flamenco concert is a must-see!" As if you didn’t know, the flamenco has become a world craze.

Looking at the iFiesta!2003 calendar, we can almost hear the Spanish guitars strumming. And smell the giant paellas, the biggest ever in Manila!