Surprises

After having attended a series of Narda Camacho’s bienvenidas-despedidas for just arrived and soon-to-depart ambassadors’ wives, one expects surprises. At her last hail-farewell social, in the Manila Polo Club Turf Room, unsuspecting guests were made to "sing for their merienda", among them Tereret Tambunting Liboro, Consul Fortune Ledesma and, not the least, ambassadors’ wives Marianne Hubbard (Mexico) and Clara Colesanti (Italy).

Late arrival Lulu T. Castañeda, still huffing and puffing, told the effusive, irrepressible emcee (Narda herself, who else?), "I’ve just come from Alabang." That didn’t excuse Lulu from singing a song, which she gamely did. Bong Infante was the marvelous piano accompanist for the warblers who included Cora Serrano.

That afternoon, three women proved themselves the equal of men: Ambassadors Irit Ben-Abba (Israel), newly arrived Narvekha Sharma (India) and Busba Bunnag (Thailand). Other spouses of heads of mission present were soon-to-leave Nahar Farooq, Bangladesh; Wang Suoxiu, China; Nan Phaung, Myanmar; Soomchit Philakone, Laos; Brigitte Rosting, Denmark; Piiju Anttola, Finland; Myriam Ara, Japan; Irmgard Krepela, Austria; Michelline Jess, Germany; Khov Sang Ek, Cambodia; Grace Inije, Nigeria; Lena Hankansson, Sweden; Kessara Arnold, Netherlands; Susie Baumann, Switzerland.

Narda will offer surprises galore, likewise, when ambassadors and their ladies will be singing for a cause at a program she’s organizing, with proceeds going to the civic projects of the MM Council of Women she heads. We predict a windfall: who wouldn’t want to hear the envoys demonstrating varying degrees of vocal skill–or enthusiasm, at least? It will all be in the spirit of fun.

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New Zealand’s Waitangi Day celebration held a few surprises, too. After congratulating Ambassador Terry Baker and his jovial, effervescent wife Janet–among the friendliest in diplomatic circles–I told Defence Attaché Group Captain Jim MacMillan how daunting he looked with his gold braids, medals and military epaulet. Quick as a flash, he replied wittily, "Without them, I’d look like a waiter."

Another surprise was the perfect, fluent Tagalog of Miriam C. Watson who put to utter shame many Filipinos present (myself included). Ms. Watson is a lay missionary of the Children’s Bible Ministries–that’s why.

On my way out, I saw the affable Honorary Consul to Finland Ramon Ilusorio in his signature attire: barong tagalog without a single embroidered stitch. That was no surprise.