Strings & songs for a warm send-off
“We only part to meet again.” — John Gay
It was a unique and wonderful evening full of surprises when Indonesian Ambassador Yohanes Kristiarto Legowo hosted a farewell dinner at his posh residence for Brazilian Ambassador Alcides Gastao Rostand Prates and Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad and his wife Datin Seri Dato’ Zainab Abdul Kader.
After partaking of modern international cuisine and excellent service from The Heritage Hotel, all the guests, either as a solo or with the group, gave their renditions of popular songs. The surprise of the evening came at dessert time when the host, Ambassador Legowo, sang Elvis Presley songs and our very own Saan Ka Man Naroroon with a string trio. Not to be outdone, Ambassador Prates responded with his rendition of Dahil Sa Iyo. Multi-talented STAR editor-in-chief Ana Marie Pamintuan was a revelation, too, as she accompanied the string trio with her own classic guitar renditions of several songs. Our dearest friends from South America — Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga Lorca and his wife Paulina, Argentine Ambassador Joaquin Daniel Otero and wife Marta — also gave beautiful performances of Latin, American and Spanish songs.
Kudos to Ambassador Legowo for a night to remember!
GREETINGS
Happy birthday to our celebrators today, Rina Lopez Bautista, business whiz Robina Gokongwei-Pe and my twins John and Michael.
Advanced birthday greetings to Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr., Henry Zabarte, Christian Monsod, Dr. Ramon Batungbacal and Menchu Romero, July 16; Menchu Katigbak, Celine Bautista, Joshua Leveriza, businessman William Cu-Unjieng, Fred Elizalde and Claudio de Luzuriaga, July 17; Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Sixto Orosa III and lovely Mary Ann Ojeda, July 18; columnist Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil and businessman Oye Fores, July 19; society photographer Baron Patrick de Koenigswarter, Rustan’s and Store Specialists, Inc.’s Nedy Tantoco, Emil Yap III, Dennis Ladaw and Katrina Palafox, July 20; and Corito Galvez de Claro and Oli Laperal, July 21.
So, how was your week?
(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)
