Heading the honorees, of course, were the featured artists: the redoubtable pianist Cecile Licad and the likewise world-class singers Camille Lopez and Nolyn Cabahug. They really underscored Phil-Italian cultural interaction by rendering works of Italian composers or selections with Italian inspiration, all these played by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Italian conductor-music director Ruggero Barbieri.
Officers and directors of the PIA came in full force that evening, with President Nedy Tantoco receiving glowing praise from guests for the splendid way she lived up to expecta-tions, having drawn a full house to begin with.
The "enchanted" menu, prepared by the noted caterer Margarita Fores, offered pass-around antipasti of fried zucchine rings with balayan bagna cauda/butter tartlettes with savory kalamansi pannacotta and parma ham/crisp asparagus straws with caprino and a pecorino crust/lumpfish caviar and salmon roe foam with taro and potato chips.
At table, guests relished prosciutto di parma on a melange of tropical fruits/an open raviolo with shrimps, squid and Negros cross crab in a waterspinach mousseline, creamed fish, Capiz fish roe, leekhair/roast tenderloin with squash flower ragu, anchovy and garlic/green chive potato mash.
Mixed green salad was served with raw carrots, labanos curls and dalandan vinaigrette drizzle. Dessert was pili-nut millefoglie with mascarpone foam, poached with fresh and dried mangoes and figs.
During dinner, one kept seeing Phil-Italian ties: Italian Secretary-General Lina Lorenzo is the widow of Filipino painting master Diosdado Lorenzo; Ernesto Lagdameo, the late father of PIA director Tonet Lagdameo, was formerly ambassador to the Vatican and president of PIA; V-P (for socials) Silvana Diaz is married to a Filipino–Ramon Diaz.
After the epicurean Italian dinner, a special treat came with Camille and Nolyn singing a brief all-Philippine program of songs by Abelardo, and a duet by Velarde, with Lourdes de Leon as assisting pianist, thus complementing the earlier concert of Italian music interpreted by Filipino artists. It was an enchanted evening all over again! Stefania Guisto, wife of PIA director Rodolfo, had flown from Italy just for the occasion, and I wager she’ll be at PIA’s golden anniversary.