Uniquely Phil-German

The guests Ambassador Herbert D. Jess invited to the conferment of the Commander’s Cross on your Table Talker were evenly divided between the Filipinos and the Germans. Symbolizing this congenial arrangement were former Ambassador Klaus Zeller and his wife Pinky del Rosario, Gallery Curator Rudolf H. Lietz and his wife Elizabeth San Pedro, Sr. Mary Placid, SSC Dean of Music, whose companion was German Benedictine Sr. Mary Berkemayer. German embassy officials complemented local personalities in the diplomatic and cultural fields. German executives likewise complemented their Filipino counterparts.

The surprise program Ambassador Jess graciously presented featured leading soprano Rachelle Gerodias who sang lieder by Schumann and a kundiman by F. Santiago, to the accompaniment of pianist Najib Ismail.

During the rites, guests witnessed a unique Phil-German joint venture: When Ambassador Jess seemed to be taking a bit of time as he was pinning the heavy cross on the awardee’s lapel, Chloe Periquet quickly came to his rescue by unlocking the medal–to the relief of the Phil-German audience and the mild amusement of Mrs. Micheline Jess.