Celebrating Unity

On Germany’s national day, Ambassador Herbert D. Jess celebrated his country’s unification which began in 1989 with the breaking down of the Berlin Wall. At the exchange of toasts with FA Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin, Mr. Jess observed that "as friends, Germans and Filipinos stand united to strive for peace, freedom, justice and democracy, thus contributing to create a more stable and peaceful world".

In his own distinctively personal manner, Ambassador Jess has considerably furthered German-Philippine friendship with his generous support and patronage of scores of our performing and visual artists, among them the redoubtable pianist Cecile Licad and prodigious painter Manuel D. Baldemor, and more recently violinist "Chino" Gutierrez who performed at the Jess residence before the prodigy flew to Munich for further studies.

The age-old special relations between RP and Portugal were likewise strengthened by the conferment of the Order of Merit Award, Rank of Commander on Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco, president of Rustan Corporation by Ambassador Joao Caetano da Silva on behalf of Portuguese President Dr. Jorge Sampaio. The honor, one of the highest that can be bestowed on a non-Portuguese, is the highest ever received by a Filipino citizen.

Mr. Tantoco was cited for "his interest and affection for Portugal" and as a "promoter of Portugal’s best products in the Philippines". Reading a message of Secretary Blas Ople, Ambassador Jose Zaide, dfa’s Chief of Protocol, thanked the Portuguese government for honoring a Filipino citizen and paying him tribute for his share in the enhancement of relations between the two countries.

At the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Turkey as a republic, the personably Ambassador Tanju Sumer conveyed to this writer the following significant facts of common interest to Turkey and the Philippines: "The seven churches of Asia to whom St. John addressed his Epistles are in Anatolia. The original St. Nicholas, the Santa Claus Filipino children eagerly await at Christmas, lived and worked on Anatolia’s south coast. What makes Turkey so appealing to us is its dynamic fusion of cultures, old and new, Eastern and Western, modern and traditional. In this regard, Turkey holds more than a dozen international fine arts and cultural festivals yearly, and it is to be hoped some of our richly talented artists can participate in them.

As for the cuisine in the three aforementioned events, guests "raved" about the deliciously succulent German sausages, among many other epicurean dishes; Mrs. Caetano da Silva (Ulrike) served a feast which included Portuguese bacalao with red beans she herself specially prepared; the Mandarin chef offered a superb international menu at the Turkish reception.