On Wings of Song

In a new twist, Narda Camacho gifted her guests on her birthday with renditions of English and Filipino love songs at the Manila Polo Club. Further, Narda shared the limelight with Brunei Ambassador Munah Dato Elias and Consul Evie Costa, both of whom sang intermission numbers. Noted columnist Nestor Mata, a talented baritone, joined Narda in two duets: Romberg’s "Will You Remember?" and De Guzman’s Ma-ala-ala Mo Kaya? (Will You Remember?).

The audience consisted mostly of women ambassadors and ambassadors’ wives. Not a few of them were surprised that the celebrant could sing at all–and an entire recital at that!

After the sumptuous buffet dinner, many diligently followed the printed invitation "Ballroom dancing till you get exhausted". On leaving at one in the morning, they each received a CD of the recital–and mango seedlings! The best gift Narda herself got was of course the presence of all her six children.

Earlier, Narda had spouses of heads of missions gamely performing: Valentina Nebogatova gracefully twirled as a Russian dancer; Clara Colesanti tossed off two Italian songs in style; Mariana Hubbard (Mexican) gave soulful interpretations of two English love songs. Not to be outdone, Lulu Castaneda, Consuls Fortune Ledesma, Helen Ong and Evie Costa showed fluency in Spanish, English and Pilipino.

Foreigners and Filipinos co-mingled on both occasions: Muniz-Uz Zaman (Bangladesh), Stanislav and Binh Slavicky (Czech), Christian and Irmgard Krepela (Austria), the Mario Schuffs (Argentina), the Tin Tuns (Myanmar), Joao and Ulrike da Silva (Portugal), Aurora Sagaz (Spain), Mrs. Dinh Tich (Vietnam), Ambassador to Lao Antonio Cabangon Chua, Consul George and Ana Litton, Jo-Lynne Sutherland (Canada), Elsie Rekawa (Sri Lanka), Gul Tanghe (Belgium) and scores more.

Manilans included Japanese painter Dr. Teruko Haga, Florinda Kasten, Bambi Harper, Alice Briones–elected for a second and last term as CWC president– Paz Yuchengco, Tessie Luz and Cez Manalo.

* * *

The recital of eminent concert pianist Cristine Coyiuto at the CCP was a total contrast to Narda’s popular songs, with Cristine playing classical compositions. (See my review, STAR of Nov. 26). But Cristine’s two ensembles, like those seen at Narda’s celebration, were a perfect picture of understated elegance.