A Very Focused Lady

Israel’s 54th Independence Day last month was celebrated at the CCP Little Theater lobby with Ambassador Irit Ben-Abba hosting a well-attended reception. This, quite uniquely, was followed by the incomparable performance of the internationally awarded Percaduo, the percussion team of Adi Morag and Tomer Yariv.

It was remarkable indeed that a beleaguered, embattled country–"with memories of centuries of persecution, of the devastating Holocaust and of decades of a crippling war"– could send the Percaduo here to remind the outside world of Israelis’ innate love for art and beauty.

Days before the concert, Mrs. Ben Abba held a press conference at her elegant apartment, presiding over it on a firm, highly focused manner which, in no way, deflected from her gentility, charm and utter femininity. Forthwith, the press carried on an incredible telephone interview with Adi in Copenhagen, Denmark; in her own remarks, the hostess elicited praise not only for the Percaduo but also for Israel; e.g., she pointed out that the huge red and green pepper on the luncheon table had been grown outside Manila through the help of Israeli agricultural experts. Consider the over six million inhabitants of tiny Israel and its limited resources against our over 70 million population and our vast natural resources! With Israel’s scarce water, every drop is precious, and its agricultural scientists continue to teach our farmers how to save water through proper irrigation.

The 44-year-old ambassador–she must be the youngest in the diplomatic corps–proved just as amazing after media directed their questions at her. They found out that she speaks English, Italian and conversational Chinese which she must have found useful as first secretary of the China Desk, Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa) and, even more, as minister-counsellor in Beijing.

Years earlier, as required by the state, she served in the army after high school in Tel-Aviv where she was born, later taking a cadet course in the mfa. She majored in East Asian studies at the Hebrew U. (Jerusalem) for an MA degree, graduating cum laude. What about her impeccable English? She owes that to her English studies in London.

In 1993, she was honored with the Prize for Excellence by the mfa’s director-general. Three years later, she was appointed director of South and SE Asia Division of the mfa’s Asia Department. For her next assignment, she came to the Philippines where, with her keen intelligence, tact, perception, diplomatic experience and skill, she is doing splendidly. At home, she is fully focused on her handsome, ten-year-old son Avner.

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The friendly attractive wife of Swiss Ambassador Werner Baumann, Susanna, has been the object of attention from her many Filipino women friends who have been feting her at farewell luncheons. Although I am a Filipino, I still find Filipino all-women luncheons an unparalleled experience for their chatter, laughter and unending merriment. The despedida for Mrs. Baumann at the Manila Polo Club was certainly characteristic.

The hostesses’ going-away gift was a handsome, elegant address book whose pages were interspersed with colored reproductions of exquisite Luna paintings. "We chose this gift," explained Lyn Liboro, youngest of the hostesses, "so you won’t forget us." Sure enough, way before the luncheon ended, everyone had put down her name and address!

Other diplomats’ wives present were Clara Colesanti, Marianne Hubbard, Irmgard Krepela and Brigitte Rosting. Other hostesses were Mellie Ablaza, Helen Ong, Tessie Luz and Nena Casimiro. A subsequent despedida for Susanna was held at Letty Syquia’s residence. And more "goodbye" luncheons followed. Now you understand why Manila’s social whirl is exactly that–a whirl!