Another surprise: UN Coordinator of the UN System Philippines Deborah Landey beautifully sang "Maalaala mo Kaya" with a Filipino chorus composed of Carrie Bautista, Karla Santos, Chit Gohu, Nori Ongsiako, Ophie Bakker, Evie Costa and Helen Ong.
The five Cabinet Secretaries then delivered short talks long in substance as did the women ambassadors: Brunei’s Munah Dato Elias, Palau’s Anita Suta, Singapore’s Kheng Hua Lim, Thailand’s Busba Bunnag and Switzerland’s Lise Favre who announced that a thousand women all over the world would be receiving Nobel Prize Awards.
Spouses of newly-arrived heads of missions were each given likewise five minutes to amuse the audience with personal impressions and experiences. Doing so were Johanna Montero of Chilé, Folu Kuku of Nigeria and Joan Gamiandu of New Guinea.
Other diplomats present included Soomch Philakone of Laos, Phan Thi Loan of Vietnam, Carolyn Dimond of the UK, Nilufar Zaman of Bangladesh, Gul Tanghe of Belgium, Vicky Zaide, wife of dfa’s chief of protocol, Jose Zaide. Among the non-diplomats were SSS President Cora de la Paz, Florinda Kasten, Carlyn Manning, Bambi Harper, Tessie Luz, Bobbit Goudsmit, Grace and Manny Freires.
As guest speaker, Augusto Villalon, eminent architect, confessed he knew next-to-nothing about Ikebana yet gave a remarkable speech on Filipino sensitivity and love of beauty. Other guests of honor were Mme. Tokik Takano, wife of the Japanese ambassador and I. Mme. Takano must surely be an authority on Ikebana but she speaks little English. Being involved in culture and the arts, I was also invited to be a guest of honor although what I know about Ikebana won’t even fill a tiny flower vase. Instead of the usual ribbon cutting, we lighted ceremonial candles to open the exhibit.
Among avid Ikebana "disciples" present were grande dame Pacita R. Philips, Rose Laurel Avanceña, Mila Sumulong and Nancy Uy. Their enthusiasm makes me want to learn flower arrangement in the exquisite Japanese manner.