22 ambassadors, one cause

They do more than just walk the tightrope of diplomacy. Some of them also walk the catwalk.

On May 28 at the ballroom of Marriott Hotel, Manila, 22 ambassadors (19 gentlemen and three ladies), 16 spouses and one special guest are going to sashay down the runway in the best of Philippine-made wear.

The special guest is tycoon Washington SyCip, who is also known for his sartorial flair.

The male models, who I heard are going to do a Hideo Muraoka before the klieg lights, are US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr., French Ambassador Gilles Garachon, Belgian Ambassador Christian Meerschman, Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-On,  Dutch Ambassador Ton Boon von Ochssée, Romanian Ambassador Valeriu Gheorghe, Indonesian Ambassador Yohanes Kristiarto Legowo, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tu, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Canadian Ambassador Chris Thornley, Panamanian Ambassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino, Egyptian Ambassador Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed Mohamed, Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq, Australian Ambassador William Tweddell, Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev, New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Brunei Ambassador Malai Halimah Yussof, South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso and Greek Ambassador Constantina Koliou. The spouses were organized by Gracita Sieber, the statuesque Filipino wife of the Swiss envoy.

The men will be garbed in barong Tagalog from SM’s Kultura Filipino.

The ladies will model the latest cocktail and long gown collections from the Ladies Fashion of the SM Store and Fashion Forum; as well as the Filipiniana collection of Kultura Filipino, the shop for all things Filipino that showcases local artistry and craftsmanship.

“We are amateurs with a cause,” says Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma, chairman of the fundraising event, dubbed “Global Fashion Flair.” Fortune was instrumental in bringing together the different sponsors, fashion designers and models for this affair, a project of Gretchen del Rosario, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, the International Bazaar Foundation (IBF) and the Spouses of Heads of Mission (SHOM).

The only “model” with experience on the ramp is Isabelle Garachon, the wife of the French envoy.

Get your own

The proceeds of this event will go to the philanthropic programs of the IBF and SHOM, such as scholarship of deserving indigent children, financial support for the elderly, and for abused and abandoned children. For ticket inquiries, please contact Michelle or Regie at 833-1320.

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The International Bazaar, now on its 47th year, was initiated in 1966 by Angela Valdes-Ramos, wife of then Secretary of Foreign Affairs Narciso Ramos, father of former President Fidel Ramos. On April 26, 1995, after 29 years, the International Bazaar was duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the International Bazaar Foundation, Inc. (IBF).

The current IBF president is Penny Farolan, wife of former Ambassador to Indonesia Gen. Ramon Farolan. The SHOM is headed by Paulina Mayorga Lorca, wife of Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga Lorca.

Over the years, the IBF has undertaken programs and projects through its various beneficiaries: scholarship grants to deserving indigent students, support for the elderly, abused and abandoned children and victims of natural disaster. 

Alliance Global and Megaworld Foundation are the leading major sponsors for Global Fashion Flair.

“This is a very good beginning,” according to Danny Madlansacay, the executive director of Megaworld Foundation, “because it brings together similar organizations and kindhearted individuals who have the vision in improving the lives of the less fortunate sectors of society.” Consul Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., vice chairman of Alliance Global was a strong influence in convincing Dr. Andrew L. Tan, chairman of Alliance Global, to participate as a major partner in the Global Fashion Flair.

(You may e-mail meat joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com.)