It was wet, windy and cold outside as Typhoon Feria was doing its worst–Signal No. 2 was up in Manila–but inside the US Embassy ballroom and chancery it was warm, literally and figuratively. Charge d’ Affaires Michael and Karen Malinowski and Con. Gen. John and Nancy Caulfield warmly greeted guests headed by VP and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona, Jr. and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Apostolic Nuncio Antonio Franco. The national anthems of America and the Philippines were rendered in a stirring manner by William Boyle and Bituin Escalante, respectively, after which an impressive marching of colors followed. Although many were kept at home by the threat of rain and floods, a sizeable crowd gathered nevertheless, to help celebrate the 225th anniversary of US independence.
Among those seen raising their glasses of wine for the toast were former President Fidel V. Ramos with his usual unlighted cigar, Justice Jose Pardo, former DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim and Ruth Kurzbauer. Russian Ambassador Anatoli Khmelnitski and his wife Valentina were seen enjoying themselves as indeed all others present were. The most interesting American was Frank Jenista who first arrived in the Philippines when he was three; he has come and gone to the Philippines and keeps coming back so often that he calls himself a balikbayan in his fluent Tagalog. Frank, currently Press Officer, says he enjoys being in the Philippines more than he can say Mabuhay to US-Philippine friendship!