Diplomatic coups

"Very well-attended by friends," noted a leading Chilean newspaper of the 103rd anniversary celebration of Philippine independence which Ambassador Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Santiago, Chilé.

In fact the major dailies, including El Metropolitano and El Mercurio–which are read throughout Latin America–devoted considerable space to text and photos of the celebration. "Today, we honor our beloved heroes who gave their lives fighting for our country’s liberty and independence," said Mrs. Puyat-Reyes in her warmly applauded address before ambassadors of the US, Russia, Japan, China, France, UK as well as Asean, Latin-American and African countries. The presence of Chilean VIP’s, ranking government officials and other prominent members of the diplomatic community–totalling around 200–attested to the singular success of the noonday reception during which speeches of President Arroyo and VP and FA Secretary Teofisto Guingona were distributed, along with brochures depicting Philippine tourist attractions. The surprise of the affair was the presence of former Chilean President Eduardo Frei who never attends national day celebrations.

Mrs. Puyat-Reyes can safely attribute her success as a diplomat to her fluency in Spanish. In Chilé, she is called the "Latina of Asia" and the Asean ambassadors and their ladies regard her their professor. They even get together for weekly Spanish lessons she conducts!

If media coverage is a gauge of popularity, Mrs. Puyat-Reyes’ pictures, taken of her attending cultural, social, economic or diplomatic doings, appear almost weekly.

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It was the first time newly-arrived Ambassador Joao Caetano da Silva and his wife Ulrike marked Portugal’s National Day at their Makati residence, yet over a hundred came to honor the occasion. The guests included former President Fidel V. Ramos, Ambassador Domingo Siazon, DFA’s Lourdes Morales and Patricia Barrera, NCCA Chairman Jaime Laya, former Ambassador Isabel Wilson, scores of diplomatic representatives, ranking government officials and members of the local Portuguese community.

The weather cooperated wonderfully: after a heavy downpour, the skies cleared, keeping the garden tables with their exquisite candle-and-flower arrangements miraculously dry. Although the cocktails were to have ended at 6:30 pm, some guests tarried until ten amidst the warm conviviality. Red and white wine, and sweet port–a Portuguese trademark–were enjoyed particularly by the connoisseurs. If the gracious and amiable hosts were looking or counting, they would have noticed that guests kept returning to help themselves to the typical native delicacies such as codfish and prawn cakes.

No one went home empty-handed, each having been gifted with a special CD of Portuguese music and a background of Portugal’s National Day. Incidentally, the CD cover shows a Portuguese caravel (ship) and a picture of famed poet Luis de Camoes whose anniversary–he died on the 10th of June, 1580 was then being commemorated.

Hearty congratulations to Ambassador and Mrs. Da Silva for their outstanding "debut"!