Impersonators, Awardees

Over 200 guests greeted civic leader Narda Camacho "Happy Birthday", many of them coming, in the spirit of the costume-party, as impersonators. Ambassadors Ulf Hakansson (Swedish) and Alessandro Colesanti (Italian) were Arabs; so was Hans Kasten in an authentic Arab sheik costume from Egypt. Ambassador Wang Chungui (Chinese) and Joao da Silva (Portuguese) were instant Filipinos in their elegant barongs; Grace Inije (Nigerian), Ambassadors Maimunah Dato Elias (Brunei), Busba Bunnag (Thai), Mrs. Phiane Philakone, wife of Myanmar’s ambassador, and Valentine Nebogatova, the Russian ambassador’s lady, opted for their attractive native wear; British Ambassador Paul and Marilyn Dimond made a dramatic entrance as elegant figures of "The Roaring Twenties".

Consul Fortune Ledesma was a fetching Egyptian princess; Consul Evie Costa, in her flowing white gown, was off to London’s Ascot races; Mellie Ablaza nostalgically re-lived the days of Maria Clara.

Artists were not to be outdone: Manny Baldemor portrayed Juan Luna, no less; Ramon Orlina, carrying a basketball in one hand and a whistle in the other, was–you guessed it–a referee. Nemesio Mirando was a cowboy! Also conspicious by their presence were Tereret T. Liboro, Benjie Yap, Baby Arenas, Letty Syquia, Thelma Gana, Lulu Castañeda, Lina Aurelio, Teruko Haga, Babbit Goudsmith, Sang Ek, wife of Cambodian Ambassador Ek Sereywath, Conrado Escudero, Brazilian Minister Carlos Carvalho, Cez Manalo, Rep. Jesli Lapuz, Roberto and Helen Lim–all of whom were either spectators or impersonators.

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A totally different ambiance–call it an "academic" one–pervaded the awarding ceremonies at which French Ambassador Renee Veyret, representing her government, conferred the Ordre National du Merite as Chevalier on Parameswaran Ponnudurai, Agence France Presse bureau chief in Manila. During and after the rites, Mme. Veyret was an exemplary hostess, repeatedly saying, "I’m a housewife", and living up to the role by checking if every guest had a glass of champagne in hand, while also making sure everyone was doing justice to the buffet dinner.

In Mme. Veyret’s "hospitality" committee were First Secretary Martine Vasseur, Cultural Counsellor Franck Hebert, Alliance Francaise director Philippe Normand and Press Attache Benedicte Meysson.

Among those who witnessed the ceremonies were STAR’s pretty executive editor Ana Marie Pamintuan, Gaby Tabuñar, Severine (Mrs. Edouard) Mialhe and Joan Orendain.

Much earlier, Mme. Veyret likewise awarded Filipino achievers at the embassy residence. Heading the awardees was Dr. Isagani R. Cruz (Knight of the Ordre National du Merite) who gave an eloquent response on behalf of his fellow awardees: Corazon Alvina and Alan Cosio (Knight of the Ordres des Arts et Lettres); Ingrid Sta. Maria (Knight of the Ordre des Palmes Academiques) along with Erwin Thaddeus Bautista, Manuel Beaniza, Teresa Gaston, Victor Hermosisima and Alfredo Robles, Jr. Needless to add, Mme. Veyret was a most solicitous hostess.