‘La dolce vita’ set / Spanish, Portuguese fiestas in full swing

With the current Spanish and Portuguese festivals leaving art lovers hardly any time to catch their collective breaths, they’re being told an Italian festival is forthcoming.

Says Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti: "I wish this festival will be an occasion for a great number of Filipinos to enjoy the Italian lifestyle closely; in simpler forms, how to drink an espresso coffee or a glass of wine, or in more complex forms, how to furnish a house or replenish one’s own wardrobe." Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco describes the forthcoming festival, of which Rustan’s Makati will be a principal sponsor, as la dolce vita.

The most interesting event may not necessarily be part of the festival proper but it will entice music lovers; the Cante de Matale, an Italian Christmas musical featuring Francesco Fumarola, a famous protégé of Italy, Ambassador Colesanti on the piano, our own soprano Camille Lopez and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of its Italian conductor Ruggero Barbieri.

The Italian Expo will showcase the latest in Italian fashions; "A Taste of Italy" will offer a wide selection of pasta, sauces, olive oil, coffee, wine, cheeses and cold cuts.

At a grand lottery to be held from Oct. 29 to Nov. 30 lucky guests will win any o the following: a plane ticket to Italy via Air France and Alitalia, a Mediterranean Cruise for two via Princess Cruises, a coveted prize from the fashion houses of E. Zegna, Prada, Ferragamo and Tutto Moda, which latter house will stage a fashion parade.

Throughout, we are assured of "wonderful entertainment accompanying the festivities, and a grand time, Italian style", harking back to the carnivals and masked balls of Venice.

Meanwhile, culture vultures who are keeping track of the Spanish Fiesta will be flocking to the Verbena street party today at the Puerta Real Gardens, Intramuros. From 6 p.m. onwards, they will be watching our own flamenco dance groups and listening to Salsa, Latin and Pop-Rock bands. Manila-based Spanish restaurants will be setting up stalls and offering delicious Spanish dishes. Fireworks will enliven atmosphere, and revelers will be helping themselves to the biggest paella imaginable. In fact, a nine-foot paellera was ordered from Pampanga just to contain what might later be included in the Guinness Book of World Records!

On Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Brazos Abiertos (Open Arms), a collection of poetry in Spanish and English by Paulina Constancia will be launched at the Instituto Cervantes.

Teatro Dulaang UP will stage a Filipino adaptation of Lorca’s El maleficio de la mariposa (The Butterfly’s Evil Spell) on Oct. 22 at the RCBC auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Finally, on Oct. 23, in a return engagement, Ana Luisa Espinosa will give a recital of songs from some of the best Spanish zarzuelas. I heard her at the same venue last year and she was absolutely enchanting!

As for the current Portuguese Week, which opened Oct. 6 and ends Oct. 22, Ambassador Joao Cayetano da Silva reminds us that it is in celebration of the friendship between the Portuguese and the Filipinos which dates back to the 16th century.

An exhibition titled "Timeless Portugal", which consists of paintings by eminent global village artist Manuel D. Baldemor, may be viewed at the InterCon Lobby (Art Cafe) until Oct. 27.

On Oct. 21 and 22, the book The Philippines in the Portuguese Chronicles of the Sixteenth Century, published by the Portuguese Center for Southeast Asia Studies at the UST, will be launched, after which a dialogue between Portuguese and Filipino historians will follow.

Meanwhile, exquisite porcelain and crystal from Portugal are on display at Rustan’s Makati.

Beyond material considerations, a permanent link exists between the Philippines and Portugal. Catholic Filipinos believe that the miracles in Fatima were wrought by Our Lady, to whom they are deeply devoted.