Shall We Dance?

Ambassador Christian Krepela, Trade Commissioner Wolfgang Harwalik, Mandarin Oriental GM Helmut Gaisberger, conductor Ernest Hoetzl–all fine Austrian gentlemen–chairpersons Fortune Ledesma and Helen Ong, among others, played hosts at the Johann Strauss New Year’s Gala Concert in the Mandarin Oriental ballroom.

With eyes twinkling, Mr. Krepela claimed that one guaranteed cure for a hang-over was listening to lively Strauss waltzes. After that epicurean dinner and a wide choice of drinks, male guests must have discovered the envoy’s wisdom as they listened to the MSO II, under the baton of Mr. Hoetzl briskly rendering Strauss masterpieces, these preceded by Mozart’s "Overture to the Marriage of Figaro".

In a sense, there were brief stop-overs in France, Spain and the Philippines when legendary yet still young pianist Nena R. Villanueva rendered, in a sparklingly clear, impeccable manner, pieces representing those three countries. A marvelous RP-Austrian interaction followed with Arturo Molina wielding the baton for Bernard Greene’s beautiful medley of Filipino folk songs. The evening in Vienna reached a rousing climax with the audience clapping their hands to the invigorating beat of "Radetzsky March"; e.g. Ambassador Enrique Hubbard kept time with his head while Kessara Arnold beat her right hand against that of her husband, Ambassador Theo Arnold!

For a while, I was momentarily transported to Sweden by Ambassador Ulf Hakansson who, throughout dinner, was unconsciously revealing his wit, charm, gentility, warmth and, above all, deep sense of humanity. When Mrs. Helen O. del Rosario asked him, "What is your beauty secret?"–the envoy looks at least ten years younger than his actual age–he graciously turned to his lovely wife Lena and said, "She’s my secret."

Director of Communications Charisse Chuidian, expertly handling arrangements, had Mrs. Thomas (Joan) Hubbard and Ambassador Domingo and Kay Siazon (president and founding chairperson of the Johann Strauss Society) expressly flying from Singapore and Japan, respectively! Among other familiar faces were Andy and Tereret Liboro, Letty Syquia, Alice and Miguel Guerrero, Cez Manalo, Olga Martel, the irrepressible wit Glenn Gale and Marietta G. Holmgren.

Completing the night in Vienna were tokens of exquisite red velvet boxes with petit point needlework and CDs of Strauss waltzes. Shall we dance?

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The names of Mercedes Zobel McMicking and Mercedes Ugarte Gonzales were interchanged last week. Elsie Gaches Village came out as L.C. Gaches Village.