Surprises

Never did the Shangri-La ballroom look more festive–with colored balloons and decorated buffet tables laden with Singaporean specialties. In his first public toast, DFA Secretary Blas Ople said that Singapore was no longer on the "Third World" list, a remark that must have gratified Ambassador Jacky Foo and his wife Dr. Su Yumian who were celebrating their national day. Both kept shuttling from one end of the ballroom to the other greeting well-wishers; e.g., "Mighty Max" Soliven, Carlyn Manning, Marianna Hubbard (wife of the Mexican ambassador), Janet Baker (wife of the NZ ambassador), Singapore Airlines’ glamorous executive Rita Dy. As I was leaving, Finance Secretary Jose "Lito" Camacho and his pretty Kim were hurrying in to meet the 8:30 pm "deadline". How challenging it must be for Cabinet members to rush out from drawn-out Malacañang meetings!

Finally, highly admired former US Counselor for Public Affairs Mike Anderson has a replacement in Ronald J. Post who, with his Korean (?) wife Gi Won, was welcomed at a reception by Ambassador and Mrs. Francis Ricciardone. Expectedly, most guests belonged to media: Alejandro R. Roces, Ana Marie Pamintuan, Pia Hontiveros, Cito Beltran, etc. Surprise guest was Gary Valenciano.

Narda Camacho, in her usual persuasive manner, gathered the newly-arrived women ambassadors and the wives of newly arrived ambassadors to the Manila Polo Club Turf Room for a welcome merienda. "Surprised" singers were Marianna Hubbard and Consuls Fortune Ledesma and Helen Ong. "Surprised" speakers were French Ambassador Reneé Veyret who in turn, surprised everyone with her disclosure that she had been awed by the Cordilleras on a visit here 20 years back; Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce who praised Filipino women for their enterprise and competence, adding that of the 180 Australian ambassadors only ten are women.

The week previous, Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba hosted a dinner for an eminent Israeli academician who gave a stimulating discourse on religion and democracy. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Ben-Abba brilliantly presented over television her country’s position in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The tall, dignified and beautiful guest of honor, Brunei Ambassador Hajah Maimunah Dato, had no impressions to air at Narda’s merienda, having been here for only a week. But she did enchant us with her grace, charm and modesty.

What began as cocktails with wine and cheese at Rockwell Club’s Fernando Restaurant ended as a full dinner at the adjoining Palm Grove. To the dual occasion, host Frank Evaristo had invited ambassadors or their deputies from France, the US, Mexico, Peru, Chilé, Nigeria, The Netherlands, Malaysia, Israel and Switzerland, and the Consul to Togo.

Also Justice Art Panganiban, Ado Escudero, Carlos del Rosario, Saeed Daot, usaid’s Joan Silver, among others.