Bastille Day and Swiss National Day Year 9

Marco Polo Plaza continues the happy tradition of celebrating the Swiss National Day, with the latest celebration happening on August 8.

Most significant during the celebration was the "ringing of the bells from Zofingen" and, of course, the honorable and precious presence of His Excellency Ivo Sieber, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines.

At dinner time, hundreds of guests were seen enjoying the super-super food served… a wonderful spread of authentic Swiss culinary specialties from A-Z, showcasing the Alpine-dried beef, chocolates, cheese fondue and raclette (oh we loved the raclette!), sausages and Zurich-style sliced meats.

Though at first the weather was not cooperating well, the night of fellowship was wonderful with a lot of bringing home handsome prizes won from the raffles. Congrats!

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From the other side of the city, it was a double celebration, sort of, when Honorary Consul of France, Michel Lhuillier and his lady, Amparito Lhuillier, and Alliance Francaise de Cebu's Mr. Louis Thevenin hosted cocktails and dinner reception to mark the National Day of France and to bid farewell to His Excellency Ambassador of France to the Philippines Gilles Garachon. It was a well-attended affair with the presence of government officials like Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale, Rep. Raul del Mar, Board Member Paul Alcoseba, businessmen and some prominent members of the community. Kudos to Louis Thevenin of Alliance Francaise who made the affair a successful one.