Something old, something new

Instead of the usual cocktail reception, a vin d’honneur marked the celebration of Russia’s national day at the Makati residence of Ambassador Anatoli I. Khmelnitski and his genteel and gracious wife Valentina. The occasion also marked the 25th year of Phil-Russian diplomatic relations. (How does one say "Mabuhay!" in Russian?)

Present, among others, were Chief Justice Hilario and Mrs. Davide, Jr., former President Fidel V. Ramos, Secretary of Science and Technology Estrella F. Alabastro, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Franklin M. Ebdalin and not the least, Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco, dean of the diplomatic corps.

After the exchange of toasts between the ambassador and the undersecretary, the former conferred the Alexander Pushkin medal on UP Prof. Herman Bognot for his untiring efforts in propagating Russian in the Philippines.

Guests viewed with much interest the extensive photo exhibit showing the history of Phil-Russian diplomatic relations and listened, highly impressed, to the formidable interpretation of a Rachmaninoff piece by the Filipino Moscow-trained pianist Filmer Flores.

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When Thomasite teacher Mary Helen Fee wrote a diary recording her stay in the Philippines as one of 540 young American teachers who came to establish a modern public school system here, playwright Tony Perez based his brilliant monologue on the diary, which monologue was delivered by actress Irma Adlawan at the National Museum under the equally brilliant direction of Nonon Padilla. The diary described the native dishes Miss Fee ate in Capiz. Although the description was explicit–e.g., meringue and flan for dessert–she did not mention what menus were served on the US Army Transport Thomas from which ship the teachers derived their name, Thomasites. Although Miss Fee had some difficulty adjusting to native fare, she must have relished the menus served on board ship.

US Public Affairs Officer Mike Anderson has thoughtfully sent us copies of the menus served on Monday, Aug. 12, 1901.

Breakfast: stewed prunes/corn meal mush/cod fish cakes/broiled rump steak and mushroom sauce/mutton chops, fried liver and bacon/parsley omelet/sauté potatoes/hot rolls/buns/currant jelly/tea/coffee/cocoa. Luncheon: bean salad/onion soup/frankfurt sausage and sauerkraut/veal and ham pie/baked sweet and mashed potatoes/cold roast and corned beef/mutton/bologna sausages.Dessert: bread and butter pudding/stewed peaches/pastry/Edam cheese/crackers/tea or coffee.

Dinner: pickled red cabbage/gherkins/soup ala Reine/salt salmon bellies/egg sauce, potatoes/stewed tripe and onion/roast pork and apple sauce/chicken sauté/roast fillet of beef and roast brown potatoes/parnsips in cream/Macedoine of vegetables. Dessert: college pudding and sweet sauce/apple pie, orange jelly/canned nectarines/cheese and crackers/tea/coffee/cocoa.

Those nutritious and varied menus make me wish I had travelled with the Thomasites.

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The lively Latin spirit was old but the locale of the Cena de los Amigos was new. Conceptualized by Juan Carlos Diago, the cena, formerly held at Shangri-La Makati, was now at Casa Manila because the Traders Hotel, of which Señor Diago is currently the general manager, was undergoing renovation.

With the lovely Diana Diago as co-host, guests were given a pre-dinner tour of the colonial museum. As usual, "Cena" brought together the Spanish-speaking community consisting of residents from different countries and ranking executives of top corporations.

Among the guests were Charge d‘Affaires Carlos de Carvalho, Jerome Castro, Loic Daniel, Lucila Prieto, Juan Goldnick Brandt, Francesco Ottolini, Wilbert Haya Enriquez, Eva Vestraelen, and Kristopher McCahon.

The Spanish colonial setting of the patio made the gathering even more animado.