A Warm Welcome

There could not have been a warmer, more convivial "bienvenida" for Doña Mercedes Zobel McMicking than that hosted by the effervescent, vivacious Tereret T. Liboro and her mother Doña Nena Tambunting at the residence (read mansion) of Andy and Tereret.

Another grande dame, besides Doña Mercedes, was her namesake, Doña Mercedes Ugarte Gonzales, sister of the late nationalist Sebastian Ugarte.

Early arrivals were taken by Andy and Tereret to view the hundreds of icons and paintings in their bedroom overlooking the spacious manicured lawn and the sparkling pool. Forthwith, guests were kept busy greeting old friends like Jose Olbes–the perfect Spanish gentleman–who had just arrived from one of his regular, prolonged visits to Spain, former Ambassador Isabel C. Wilson, the well-loved Mercy Tuason and Guillermo Gomez whose dance students were very much a part of Bravo Zarzuela!

The grandes dames naturally reminisced about the golden past–do you recall how Doña Mercedes McMicking’s husband developed the former swamp that was Makati? Present at the bienvenida, in fact, were members of three generations, and you can imagine how varied their conversational gambits. At any rate, every woman present forgot watching her weight and keeping her figure with the following epicurean menu from the Le Soufflé Bistro: Smoked salmon and sauteed shiitake mushroom salad; double beef consommé; lechon de leche "Peking Style"; special pancit bihon with chicken, prawns and quails’ eggs. And for dessert, mango soufflé.

Conversation was lively and often amusing with Rosemarie Prieto recounting her cause-oriented community work and Nellie C. Delgado airing her nationalistic concern for the country’s plight. (One should never misjudge women who are generally perceived as ladies of leisure. Tereret herself has donated two buildings to the L.C. Gaches Village.)

The towering Chinese porcelain vases and other exquisite objets d’art served as topics of conversation as well; so did the "Buy Filipino" campaign. Menchu Concepcion was obviously doing her share by appearing in a beautifully embroidered green dress of native fiber, this accented by a large, matching handbag also of native weave. How effective the pretty genteel Menchu was as a promoter of Filipino products, how marvelously she was leading other women by example!

With the pleasant chatter, time went by fast; soon, everyone was saying goodbye to the wonderfully hospitable Tereret and her mother. But not before listening to Nori V. Ongsiako serenading, on the accordion, Doña Nena. Guests Marivic Concepcion, Gina T. Roxas, Chit Gohu, among others, lustily applauded.