Pre-Yuletide Celebrations

The elegant residence of Italian Ambassador Umberto and Clara Colesanti resplendently shone with Christmas decor for the conferment of the Commander’s Cross, Italy’s highest award, to Lina Paolini Lorenzo. Her 50 years of dedicated, tireless service to the Philippine Italian Association (pia), particularly her "significant contribution towards upholding the prestige of Italy abroad" as also her volunteer work for the pia, including the teaching of Italian to Filipino students, were cited by Ambassador Colesanti.

Earlier, Mrs. Lorenzo, widow of the eminent Filipino painter Diosdado Lorenzo, received the Medal for Culture (1964), the medal with rank of "Cavaliere" (1973) and the medal as Official Knight (1984). Present at the ceremonies were pia officers and members, and special guests Commander Francesco Tedeschi, Jakarta-based concurrent Military Attache to the Philippines.

The Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Oriental echoed and re-echoed with favorite Christmas classics, Broadway hits, arias from operettas and Filipino love songs at a pre-Yuletide celebration. Concert director Franz Langer, pianist, singer, conductor and creative director, wielded the baton for soprano Deeda Barretto, tenor Jonathan Badon, the LP Christmas Chanticleers chorale, the Sonata String Quartet, pianist Voltaire Poceo and guitarist Egay Villarino.

GM Helmut Gaisberger received compliments for having heralded the Yuletide season way ahead of the others. His wife Vina was seen heartily applauding along with members of the diplomatic corps, the press–Julie Daza, Glenn Gale and Chona Trinidad, among them–socialites Nedy Tantoco, Rose Marie Arenas, Diana Jean Lopez and Lindy Jalbuena, former models Tonette Salcedo and Minnie Jentes, former Austrian Trade Commissioner Gustav Jamnig, Robert and Wanda Lane of the US Embassy, and scores more.

Brilliant painter Ted Luna, of the UP College of Fine Arts, is currently holding an exhibition titled "Celestial Playgrounds 2" at the L.A. Workshop Gallery in Parañaque. Ending Dec. 30, the display of digital art prints of 50 editions each is drawing painters, art lovers and art students, most of whom are attending the yearly workshops conducted by painter Luna at the gallery.

N.B. Guilly and Maloy Luchangco, not Golangco.