Sundries

The word "tea" immediately conjures the images of British Ambassador Alan and Anne Collins and their children, members of the Philippine-British and St. Andrew societies–all good Britishers who, one dares presume, would rather miss breakfast, lunch and supper than a cup of freshly brewed tea.

These loyal subjects of the Queen will surely welcome the news that communications director of Makati Shangri-La Marc de la Cruz has initiated high tea every Saturday, 3:30 to 5:30 pm, at the hotel’s lobby lounge.

Guests can choose from at least 26 varieties of tea–that’s what PR director Joy Wassmer says–and help themselves to a lavish buffet spread consisting of English tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, pancakes and waffles, sliced smoked ham, tartlets, samosas and chicken wings.

Tea time also means having the 16-member Soleil Harmonic Ensemble regaling guests with light favorites from My Fair Lady, Phantom of the Opera, etc. Can you think of a more relaxing manner of sipping tea on a weekend?

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The young, personable deputy head of Mission Joar Strand did the honors as host during Norway’s National Day reception at the Mandarin Oriental ballroom in the absence of Ambassador Paul Moe who was abroad.

Spanish Ambassador Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja and I met at the elevator enroute, having just come from another celebration. Among the guests I saw drinking or nibbling were Narda Camacho, Evie Costa, Beth Day Romulo, Ramon Ilusorio (now honorary consul of Finland), Frank Evaristo and Mila (Mrs. Bob) Garcia whose son directed "Miss Saigon" and "Rent" in Singapore with singular success.

Standing out for his colorful kilt was Scotsman Tom Morris who came with his lovely Norwegian wife Cornelia. A pity I couldn’t stay long enough to enjoy the witty, humorous sallies of Tony Rufino.

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The lively wine-tasting at the residence of Canadian Ambassador Robert and Marilyn Collette did not turn me into a wine connoisseur but I did learn from Tim Ellison who brought red and white wines from Canada’s Domaine de Chaberton and Gray Monk Winery, to examine the color, taste and smell of wine before drinking it. Mr. Ellison had a clever ploy that night. He claimed he still looks young at 65 (he’s actually 35) because he drinks Canadian wines. Taking the tip from him were Chargé d’Affaires Michael and Karen Malinowsky, Singaporean Ambassador Jacky Foo, Robert Burley of the embassy staff, Paz Yuchengco, Beth Romulo and Tony del Rosario.

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Loren Legarda-Leviste, admired the world over for her tenacious fight to save our forests and marine resources, was conferred the coveted Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement by the UN in Turin, Italy. Loren is in distinguished company. Since the inception of the award in 1987, 685 individuals and organizations have received it. Among her fellow awardees are the former Prime Minister of Norway, Go Harlem Brundtland and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Complementing Loren’s award is the Likas-Yaman (National Treasure) award from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Last year, she was elected a Global Leader for Tomorrow (glt) by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. One of her current projects is Green Philippines which aims to create 1,600 forest parks in urban areas nationwide, and to develop the north and south expressways into a greenbelt by planting a million trees in 90 days.

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Peruvian Ambassador Julio Cardenas made his country’s presence felt with the recent exhibition of paintings by 39 Peruvian artists at the Met. Titled Circunstancias de la Vida, the exhibition, co-sponsored by Instituto Cervantes headed by Javier Galvan, showed fascinating facets of Peruvian life and culture.