Congratulations, Don Juan Carlos!

One of the highest awards from Spain, the Encomienda al Merito Civil, bestowed by the King of Spain Juan Carlos I through Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz, was conferred upon Juan Carlos de Terry y Muñoz because of his commendable work for the good of the Spanish nation.

It was with a certain deja vu that I entered the home of the amiable ambassador and his lovely wife Aurora in North Forbes because it was in this same residence and in this same receiving room that our publisher Max Soliven received one of the highest awards from Spain. I also distinctly remember Mr. Soliven’s acceptance speech which was delivered in perfect Spanish.

The conferment ceremony for Don Juan Carlos was just as elegant, with a celebratory air that commemorated the long years of friendship between two great countries. It was attended by a select group of friends and family. The memorable event was capped with Spanish epicurean delights that included Manzanilla La Guita, Joselito Jamon Iberico, salchichon, vela de lomo, chorizo, croquettes, empanaditas and Ondarre Reserva from Rioja.

Our congratulations to Don Juan Carlos and to his family for being bestowed this great honor!

A Tribute To Dad

Your columnist has always been proud to be a father to five wonderful sons. Last Saturday’s episode of Oh Yes, Johnny’s Back! was our special tribute to Father’s Day. We rubbed shoulders with several great men who are also fathers – businessman Sander Tantoco; BMW Philippines corporate communications manager Lito German; Dr. Martin Camara; film director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna; and newspaper executive Dennis Valdes. We delved into how these debonair gentlemen were influenced by their fathers, and how they in turn raise their children.

The Federal Design Expo was once again the setting for our show. Federal Design Expo, the one-stop home building and furnishing warehouse superstore, features stylish designs for bedrooms, dens, living rooms and gardens. It also houses the Philippine showroom of MFI UK, the top kitchen specialist in Europe. Speaking of which, maybe your father would appreciate some classy and elegant furniture as a gift for Father’s Day. So drop by Federal Design Expo today – it’s the perfect place to buy that special gift for your dad!

Catch us on RPN 9 at 11 p.m., Saturday nights!

From Italy With Love

Something was definitely brewing at the Italian Ambassador’s residence recently because it was filled with persons of class. The Italian National Day was celebrated right at the home of dapper Italian Ambassador Umberto Colesanti, who was as usual the warm host.

The lucky invitees were treated to an evening of Italian hospitality by the kind ambassador and his lovely wife Clara. It was a singular chance to meet the VIPs of the diplomatic set. Impeccable wines and smooth conversations flowed as guests hobnobbed with Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan and pioneering business couple William and Florence Ko of premier Italian furniture store, FurnITALIA. Also seen were illustrious guests, Mexican Ambassador Enrique Hubbard, German Ambassador Herbert Jess and HSBC’s Warner Manning with wife Julie. Memories of Italy drifted in the air, as the colorful night drew to a close.