Colorfully Caribbean

Vivacious hostess Narda Camacho was in virginal white, looking like a debutante, but the two huge pink-and-red flowers in her hair reflected the Caribbean motif of her birthday celebration at Shangri-La’s Rizal ballroom. Indeed, the imaginatively designed invitation by Manny Baldemor already conveyed ambiance.

Narda’s own daughters Chacha, Marissa and daughters-in-law Techie, Vinia and Kim, wife of Finance Secretary Jose "Lito" Camacho, were colorfully garbed, as were many of the 200 guests. Even the waitresses were in costumes! It took me half an hour to adjust the fancy diamond butterfly brooch on my flower-appliqued blouse so the butterfly would appear to be smelling the roses. But nobody complimented me on my clever idea. By contrast, we all admired the magnificent, diamond-studded turban and glittering satin costume of Hans Kasten who impersonated the Maharajah of Jaipur come to visit his palace in the Dominican Republic. (My geography sounds wrong here but never mind.)

Anna L. Litton would have won a prize as the cutest Caribbean lass with a bright kerchief around her tiny head. George Litton, her witty husband, was the evening’s most "logical" guest, he being the actual Consul of the Dominican Republic. Fortune Ledesma really captured the Calypso spirit gyrating her hips, as did Tereret Liboro, Evie Costa, Cez Manalo and Nori Ongsiako in their exhibition dance to the music of the Salsa band.

Later, on the dance floor, were seen Ambassador Ulf and Lena Hakansson who literally towered above the other couples, including Sen. Manny and Cynthia Villar, Lito and Kim Camacho, Ambassador Jacky Foo and his petite wife Dr. Yumian Su, the Wilfrido Villacortas, and scores more partnered by male or female dance instructors hired for the occasion!

Heading toward the buffet of spicy Caribbean cuisine were Czech Ambassador Stanislav Slavicky and son Mark whose barong was as close to being Caribbean as it could get, and Bambi Harper whose flowing grey-blue gown made her look like an Inca high priestess. The eye-catching Caribbean motif, conceptualized by Marissa and Chacha, was most perceptible in the banana trees and coconut fruits everywhere, and in the table setting complete with rare Thai sea shells.

Among the big complement of diplomats were Ambassadors Ina Vekal (Turkey), Carmen Lynam (Chile), Ek and Mrs. Sereywath (Cambodia), Ramon and Mrs. Medina (Cuba), Robert and Marilyn Collette (Canada), Enrique and Letty Syquia (Malta), Salah Al-Samarmand (Iraq), Phiane and Mrs. Philakone (Laos), Hasan and Mrs. Sarmand (Pakistan), Anatoli Khmelnitski (Russia), Nguyen Thac Dinh (Vietnam), Consuls Cedra Eton and Noami Sehzer (US). Government officials were headed by Paeng Buenaventura who came with wife Marivic, Mr. and Mrs. Titus Villanueva, et al.

In Caribbean costumes or otherwise were Paz Yuchengco, Ado Escudero, Baby Arenas, Lulu Castañeda, Helen O. del Rosario, Tessie Luz, Al and Nena Casimiro, Mr. and Mrs. Turhan Mangun, Thelma Gana, Adelina Rodriguez, Lita and Emy Faustino, Mr. and Mrs. Diosdado Macapagal, Jr., Odette Alcantara, Chit Macapagal, and the Nemesio Medinas. Did Manny and Dell Baldemor watch the ballroom dancing which lasted up to one in the morning? By then, I was already back home dancing the Calypso better than everyone else in my dreams, I am a brilliant dancer–fully awake, that is–or didn’t you know?

* * * Austria Gifts RP with a March

During a call on National Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Austrian Ambassador Christian Krepela presented him with a musical score of the famous "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss (see photo at left). The march, played the world over, will be part of the repertory of Camp Aguinaldo’s military band. Strauss, father and son, are known for their even more famous waltzes including "The Beautiful Blue Danube".