A common bond

An intimate dinner was tendered by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto “Bobby” Romulo for US Ambassador Philip Goldberg at the Salon Carlos P. Romulo of the InterContinental Manila’s Prince Albert Rotisserie. 

Romulo recounted how many of Goldberg’s distinguished predecessors were also hosted by another Romulo in the same room. Beth Day-Romulo and lawyer Ricardo Romulo were among the guests who attended the dinner. Other VIPs in attendance were from the private sector like BDO Unibank Inc. chairman Tessie Sy-Coson, Ambassador Lani Bernardo and wife Conchitina, Araneta Group CEO, chairman and president Jorge Araneta with his wife Colombia Chargé d’Affaires Stella Marquez-Araneta, Megaworld Corp. chairman and president Andrew Tan with wife Katherine and Nationwide Development Corp. president and CEO Conrad Calalang and wife Jocelyn. 

Special guests of the evening were the current president of the US-Philippines Society and a former colleague of the guest of honor, Ambassador John Maisto and his wife, the former Nini Gaston of Bacolod, who was also in Georgetown University at the same time as Bobby. Another classmate present was former ambassador to the US Raul Ch. Rabe from Ateneo Law School.

Cheers to all!

A feast with friends

The very popular couple, former Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Yohanes Kristiarto Legowo and his lovely and charming wife Caecilia, gathered with friends for a special engagement at Umu restaurant, the pride and joy of Dusit Thani Manila. 

Everyone savored a sumptuous dinner at the restaurant known for its authentic Japanese cuisine made by Japanese chefs who ensure the dishes’ high-quality standards.

Dusit Thani Manila general manager Alex Willats and F&B executive assistant manager Chris Orta made sure everything was in tip-top “party order.”

Present at the affair were Indonesian Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Ade Petranto, former Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto Mayorga, Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar, Ambassador Theo Arnold, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Metrobank Foundation Inc. president Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña. 

Here’s to the good times!

GREETINGS

Happy birthday to our celebrators today, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu GM Hans Hauri, Veanna Fores, Jennifer Peña and Al Perez.

Advance birthday greetings to STAR’s Christine Dayrit and Mandarin Oriental’s charming communications director Charisse Chuidian, March 31; Arsenic Laurel, Raning Bautista, Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc.’s Marissa Oca and Suzie “Doyen” Moya-Benitez, April 1; Steve Cu-Unjieng and Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, April 2; Nerissa Carbonel Berba, beauty queen Gloria Diaz and Irene Martel Francisco, April 5.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)