The Splendor of Song

The farewell dinner socialite-philathropist Rose Marie J. Arenas and Mandarin Oriental GM Helmut Gaisberger tendered for French Ambassador Gilles Chouraqui at the Fontaine Room seemed an overly formal one–until Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard started to sing La Historia de un Amor to the accompaniment of the incomparable "dancing violinist" Jay Cayuca and pianist Livia Gloria.

The ambiance changed immediately with the splendor of song electrifying the listeners. Forthwith, the hand microphone was passed from guest to guest, and the hostess herself, upon everyone’s insistence, obliged with several kundimans. The characteristically quiet Jimmy Laya was persuaded to render an Ilocano song.

Surprise of surprises, Ambassador Choraqui chose no less than Edith Piaf’s signature piece La Vie en Rose. In fact, the shy, soft-spoken ambassador sang it twice, just to be sure he was rendering it to perfection! All along there was likewise a clamor for the equally shy Mr. Gaisberger to sing for his supper–incidentally, a superb epicurean menu served with typical efficiency–and giving in, he finally sang, or rather crooned, One Enchanted Evening. Even the Saudi Arabian Ambassador Mohamed Al-Ghamdi interpreted a number from a popular musical, with Rose Marie dictating the lyrics. While Mr. Ghamdi gamely carried on, he momentarily put on hold our current "negotiations" for an oil well he was to gift the Philippines through me. Before the dinner ended, however, the witty, genial ambassador assured me, with Mr. Gaisberger as chuckling witness, "You can pick up the oil well anytime. It’s ready."

To our immense pleasure, Rose Marie Arenas sang a few more kundimans, translating the words to Mr. Chouraqui, thus leading Ambassador Herbert Jess to observe, "Filipino songs are so romantic," his wife Micheline heartily agreeing.

I quickly informed Mr. Chouraqui across from me, as well as Mr. Gaisberger beside me, that Rose Marie’s mother, the tall, regal Remedios Bosch Jimenez, was the best dramatic soprano the country has ever produced. The splendor of song suffused the air once more when Sr. Hubbard obliged with Besa Me Mucho. How Malaysian Ambassador Tautik Mohammed Noor, Tony and Marilen Guisande, Deputy Head of Mission Vincent Hommeril, and not the least, my colleagues, the lovely Bambi Harper and the irrepressible Glenn Gale thunderously applauded along with the rest!

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Music will continue to resound at the Mandarin Oriental with internationally acclaimed Austrian pianist Franz Langer regaling guests at the Tivoli nightly (up to April 20). Guests will listen to masterpieces culled from operas, operettas and musicals, while relishing a new Asian cuisine.