Delightful Discoveries

It was far easier for media to meet US Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone than it was for him to meet the 30 or so of us who attended the cocktails hosted by Public Affairs Officer Dr. Michael "Mike" H. Anderson at his elegant apartment.

We discovered Mr. Ricciardone to be mild-mannered, soft-spoken, candid and forthright; his wife Marie, a molecular biologist, conveyed the impression of being shy, reserved and withdrawn which was just as well: the press is generally "frightened" by overly aggressive diplomats’ wives.

We found out further that Mr. Ricciardone, a summa cum laude graduate from Dartmouth College, has studied and taught in Italy and Iraq, and has traveled widely in South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East before entering the foreign service. Therein he later gained singular distinction for his work in Cairo, Amman, London, Turkey and Washington, and won awards for policy, program management and political reporting. Mr. Ricciardone speaks Italian, French, Turkish and Arabic.

Regarding colleagues and other guests, Alejandro "Andy" del Rosario is ambassador-designate to Hungary; the pretty TV personality Pia Hontiveros is unassuming and down-to-earth; the courageous investigative journalist Sheila Coronel is tiny and harmless-looking; US Consular Officer Martin Oppus is the nephew of the eminent soprano Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez whose performances I reviewed ages ago!

I chatted briefly with Anding Roces, Jarius Bondoc, Raffy Alunan III, Vergel Santos, Bambi Harper, Ma-an Hontiveros, Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Beth Romulo, Nelly Sindayen, Rod Reyes, Boo Chanco, and had a glimpse of our own valiant, nationalist Teddy Benigno.

To return to the guest of honor. When Mike asked him to say a few words, he began thus: "The Ambassador will now speak on press freedom." To this Mr. Ricciardone quickly added: "Also on responsibility and professionalism." So there, guys and dolls!

* * *

A totally different discovery was made by the "walkers"– the bubbly women who walk daily around D.V. with the legendary concert pianist Nena R. Villanueva. She gave them a preview of the concert she would be playing on May 14 at the Musee de L’Armee at the Invalides in Paris.

Dr. Meding Suntay who hosted the preview turned her music room into a veritable garden, with the flowers and ferns displayed amidst huge, priceless antique Chinese porcelain pots and vases which once belonged to her mother.

Nena’s brilliant playing was no discovery for me. I had written on her as a prodigy of ten rendering two full-length concertos!