Focus on the Spanish Envoy

With Spain assuming the presidency of the European Union Council, Spanish Ambassador Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja hosted a reception at the embassy residence for European ambassadors. Señor Pantoja will be representing the Spanish presidency of the European Union for six months, the prestigious post being rotated among the member states.

In the Asia-Pacific region, which includes the Philippines, of course, the Spanish presidency has developed a specific strategy whose objectives range from poverty alleviation to the support of democratic institutions and promotion of good governance. Needless to say, all this will elate Ate Gloria.

"Under the Spanish presidency, the European Union will become more visible here," Señor Pantoja said. He is very keen about having us know more of what the EU is doing for our country, particularly in development assistance. "With respect to the EU and the Philippines, the Spanish presidency aims to maintain a dialogue on the highest level of authority with the Philippine government, and to increase mutual awareness between the two parties," the Spanish envoy added.

That’s the official news. Now for the "unofficial". As Señor Pantoja and I chatted briefly, he said he has started rehearsals for "Bravo Zarzuela!" he is directing for production at the CCP. A celebration of music and dance, it will feature Spanish and Filipino performers and a Spanish conductor wielding the baton over the PPO. Like the EU agenda, the spectacle will be an interaction between Spain and the Philippines.

I told Señor Pantoja that during the Spanish colonial regime, Spanish companies staged zarzuelas in Manila, and with the coming presentation he will direct, the zarzuela will have come full circle!

I gathered from the genteel French Ambassador Gilles Chouraqui that he spent the holidays skiing with his family in Switzerland in sub-zero weather. And here we were "shivering" in 23° Celsius!

Instituto Cervantes director Javier Galvan, an eminent architect, is collaborating on a project with our own distinguished architect Lor Calma. When finished, it will certainly be worth seeing–if you can go to the Caroline Islands.

German Ambassador Herbert D. Jess hopes the world economy improves so his embassy can again sponsor the visit of German artists and groups like the magnificent Justice Frantz Chamber Orchestra.

Welcome to Jill Westaway, the new British Council director. Being the very picture of competence and confidence, she will surely be a worthy successor to the hard-working, amiable and witty Rodney Bell.

For more "unofficial" notes, Dutch Ambassador Theo Arnold, British Ambassador Alan Collins, Dutch Second Secretary Maurits ter Kuile and Instituto Cervantes’ Francisco de Blas (all over six feet) were easily the reception’s towering figures. In any case, all guests–tall, short, or medium height–relished the buffet’s supremely delicious paella.