I try not to miss the national day celebration of Italy because the embassy here always comes up with something creative that showcases the magnificent Italian culture.
Under the energetic Ambassador Rubens Anna Fedele, receptions are not confined to hotels. Last year, it was held at the Metropolitan Museum which at that time had a superb exhibits of old maps. Guests had the pleasure of viewing the maps while having cocktails.
They had a recipe book of Italian dishes and a directory of Italian restaurants in Metro Manila.. Then there was the concert of music by Italian composers.
This year, the June 2 celebration was held at the elegant Casa Manila in Intramuros. This time the concert featured not only music by Italian composers ( Bellini, Donizetti, Puccini,Verdi) but also other European composers (Bach, C. Chaminade, G. Faure).
The featured artists – Italian Andrea Spolti and our very own Rachelle Gerodias even performed Bituing Marikit, Nasaan Ka Irog, Mutya ng Pasig.
Another featured artist was a young flutist, Raymond Sarreal who was such a delight to listen to.
Sarreal has garnered several first prizes in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. He is principal flute of the of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rachelle Gerodias, the country’s most sought-after soprano, was enchanting to listen to and to behold. When she was singing excerpts from Don Pasquale, La Boheme and La Traviata, she was a sultry Italian woman. When she sang the Philippine classics, she turned demure.
When we congratulated Rachelle after the concert, she said she was having a little difficulty because the air in the room was dry.
For the occasion, the Italian embassy brought to Manila the 38-year old Andrea Spolti who said he liked Casa Manila the moment he stepped into its Spanish-time Philippines ambiance.
Born in Bergamo, Italy, Spolti currently lives in Honolulu where he is attending a Master in Piano Performance at the University of Hawaii. He was recently awarded with a $6,000 John Young scholarship for the composition of his Queen Concert for piano and orchestra.
Spolti is not only an accomplished musician. He is also a professional journalist – a music critic for the newspaper L’Eco di Bergamo.
I look forward to next year’s event.
Hmmm… Ellen, did you get to hear about the latest on Berlusconi’s “escapades”? (wink, wink!)
Yes. What is that, middle age lust? or middle age insanity?
Ellen, was there an official representative from the Philippine government?
Yes, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin gave the toast for the Philippine government. I saw a number of government officials there.
Sorry for being too inquisitive, but did they appreciate Italian culture? Were they enchanted? Was there any faux pas? How did they behave particularly with regards to etiquette?
By the way, I forwarded to you the etube on the 3 young Italian tenors who are really awesome.
Boyner naman. It’s not fair to look down on all government officials. Our foreign service officers are accomplished diplomats.
Ellen,
Berlusconi is way past middle age — at 72, he’s more like into pre-senility already!!! Besides being embarassingly lusty, he’s also corrupt.
The man is a big joke here but seems the Italians love him — they keep voting him and his party into power. His party ran away with the European elections again. Anywhere else in Europe, he would have been ousted with a good kick in the butt. Italians are very strange. They have the unique ability to combine medievalism with modernism and the result is Berlusconi. Hahaha!
Ellen is right, “Our foreign service officers are accomplished diplomats.”
At least most of those I’ve met are… There are some (like former ambassador to France, Manalo who was a career diplomat I think) who are unfortunately a huge blemish to the struggling Philippine diplomatic corps.
Yeah, Anna, and don’t forget Conchitina Sevilla’s hubby Joseph Bernardo who abused the privileges of his Ambassadorial post in Spain a bit too far and even applied for Spanish citizenship. Such a traitor. He was also responsible for Gloria’s award from the university in Alcala for “defending” human rights. LMFAO!!!
I also know personally his predecessors Don Juan Rocha and Isabel-Caro Wilson, real Spanish decendants who are both accomplished industrialists and businessmen, both class acts who despite whatever benefits their eco-soc-pol standings would get from it, were never tempted to get dual citizenships.
Tongue,
Yes nga pala… Ambassador pa ba yang stupidong ambassador na yan?
Si Manalo naman, iyong dating ambassador sa France… speaking of one un-accomplished diplomat, she was really short in terms of social or diplomatic polish. She would scream, cuss and act more vulgarly than any two bit hussy there is around.
That woman even had a slapping match in public with her husband!
I don’t know how she managed to land a top job in the foreign affairs dept later on.
One of my favourite RP envoys was Philip Mabilangan.
One of my least favourites was thieving Espiritu who was posted in London. I thought he was a real jerk — but to be fair, he wasn’t really a career diplomat.
Cristine Ortega I think is simply just your regular civil servant clerkish type of diplomat (sorry about that Ellen, I know she is your friend…)
Ellen, there are two kinds of people in the government whether in the foreign service or other departments. The ethical ones mostly career officials who rose from the ranks and the unethical ones comprising of political appointees and civil service eligible but chose to get ahead of the rest by playing politics.
Since that sociopath evil bitch was in power, the DFA has been used by her as dumping ground for patronage like Davide, Cristina Enrile,the generals etc etc without any objections from our accomplished diplomats. It failed miserably together with OWWA in helping distressed OFWs. During the outbreak of fighting in Lebanon, our ambassador in Beirut complained that his home office has not sent any money which of course wwas denied by Usec Conejo who is himself of questionable character.
This evil regime has bastardized all institutions that many of those who we think or knew as good people have either been influenced or have stayed passive.
Re Berlusconi,the guy has the human touch…including you know what and Italians are romantic people. Its his caring attitude that made him dear to his people. Remember how he offered his home for the earthquake victims?