Fiesta!

The atmosphere was expectedly festive at "Fiesta!" which opened the month-long Spanish Festival of Culture and the Arts. As is usual at fiestas, the men came in shirt-sleeves; the women in elegant evening gowns. A striking example of the latter was grande dame Leonor M. O’Leary whose delicate, lace-and-silk baro’t saya was enhanced by the most exquisite piece of antique jewelry you’d ever hope to see.

Lining the cobbled path to the Casa Blanca of Hotel Intramuros were some eight huge, piping hot paelleras for the guests who, while waiting at round tables for the piece de resistance, listened to welcome remarks from Ambassador Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja, Instituto Cervantes head Javier Galvan, Cultural Officer Francisco de Blas and former Ambassador to Spain Johnny Rocha.

Johnny mischievously asked the audience, "What is the greatest punishment for bigamy?", quickly answering his own question thus: "Two mothers-in-law." During the brief talks the women kept chatting merrily, even after Johnny smilingly commanded: "Shut up!" For his part, Ambassador Rodriguez, with feigned severity, warned them that if they did not keep silent they would not be served paella and would be barred forever from future fiestas. Do you think that warning stopped the women from chattering? No!

Johnny continued, nevertheless, enumerating and describing the various kinds of paella, thus whetting the guests’ appetite even more. Judging by everyone’s exultant mood, "Fiesta!", the series of performing and visual arts presentations for October would certainly be as resoundingly applauded as the evening’s paella.

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The celebration of German Unity Day, which was hosted by Ambassador Herbert and Michelline Jess, seemed like a fiesta, too. Guests filled the living room, the terrace and the sprawling lawn, moving from one to the other.

It was delightful listening to French Ambassador Gilles Chouraqui and British Ambassador Alan Collins exchanging notes on the performing arts, with Swiss Counselor Peter Casaulta and Tony Rufino listening intently. It would have been equally fascinating had gourmet Fred Fricke and scientist Modesto Chua exchanged notes on their respective interests.

The moment I saw Troy Conine of Mandarin Oriental, I felt assured that all present would be served a splendid buffet along with excellent wines.

I caught a glimpse of the charming and suave Peruvian Ambassador Julio Cardenas Velarde, Belgian Ambassador Roland and Sylvia van de Remoortele, adb’s Hans Peter and Mrs. Brunner, my young and pretty colleague Butch C. Bondol and STAR’s own evp the vivacious Grace Glory Go.