The unprecedented number included ambassadors and consuls, key government officials, top business leaders, other dignitaries and who’s who in social circles. Speaker Jose de Venecia, FA Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin, Ambassador-Protocol Chief Jose Zaide and their spouses led the government delegation. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Honorary Chairman Miguel Varela and President Sergio Ortiz Luis, Jr. (also the Romanian Honorary Consul) came with members of foreign trade councils under the PCCI wing. Members and officers of the Association of the Philippines headed by President Edward Ferreira, were in full force.
After his valedictory remarks (resoundingly successful), Ukrainian Consul General Oscar de Venecia, outgoing dean of the corps, presented a plaque of merit to incoming Vice Dean Vicente Carlos, Ivorian Honorary Consul, for outstanding hands-on leadership as corps secretary and as chairman of the evening’s resoundingly successful consular ball and the special activities committees.
De Venecia also awarded a posthumous plaque of merit to the late Chilean Honorary Consul General Arturo Rocha, former dean and active chairman of various committees. Ambassador Johnny and Pilina Rocha, and Arturo’s wife Marisa were all present. Vice Dean David Donahue, US Counselor for Consular Affairs, incoming dean, presented a plaque of merit to outbound Dean de Venecia for distinguished leadership.
The ceremonies preceded the special dinner of smoked salmon with carmelized mango and pearl grain salad with dill sauce/mushroom cream soup with morel powder/mango sherbet/duo of grilled beef tenderloin and sea bass with potatoes gratin and black truffle jus/dark and white chocolate mousse with dacquiose, with praline cream and vanilla sauce. Wine and liquor flowed.
What many regarded the most exciting of the many highlights was the raffling off of 28 prizes, with emcee Johnny Litton calling on Marian Hubbard, Consuls Fortune Ledesma and Evie Costa, Cha-cha Camacho, Ethel Timbol, among others, to draw the winning numbers. Honey Ilusorio, Ces Drilon, Bing Carrion, Maurice Arcache and Donnie Ramirez who were at our table were hoping to win. So were Max V. Soliven, Ambassador Preciosa Soliven and Gracie Glory Go who duly represented The STAR.
Dancing to the music of Nonoy Lopez and His Band followed, lasting till the wee hours of the morning, with women in long gowns and men in tuxedos and barong showing off their skill on the dance floor. The happiest, however, were those who won airline tickets, week-long Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian cruises and free weekend packages at top resorts such as El Nido and Aman pulo. The band, meanwhile, played on– and on.