Priorities

In Ambassador Terry Baker’s message for the recent Waitangi Day celebration held in the embassy residence, he said he and his wife Jan would be bidding farewell to the Philippines this year. When that actually happens, they will be leaving many forelorn friends, both Filipino and foreign, they being one of the friendliest, warmest, most charming yet candid couples along embassy row.

Ramoncito Bernales, NZ’s Trade Commissioner to the Philippines, said in his own message: "New Zealand is a modern, educated, multicultural nation with a vibrant and sophisticated way of looking at things. It has a freshness of ideas–the freedom to do what has never been done before. It’s demonstrated to the world that it is at the cutting edge of knowledge and creativity."

Ambassador and Mrs. Baker are certainly the best representatives of their country, and the endless stream of guests who attended the reception were certainly aware of this.

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The vivacious and energetic French Ambassador Reneé Veyret hosted a reception-concert at her residence during which she conferred the rank of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit on Jacques Branellec, the enterprising managing director of Jewelmer International Corporation. Among those present at the ceremonies were German Ambassador Herbert and Michelline Jess, Counselor Franck Herbert and Alliance Francaise Director Raymond Philippe.

Before the rites, the young talented pianist Chloe Canton gave a mini-recital. Chloe, who is finishing her MA degree at the UP under Jovianney E. Cruz, gave a solo concert last year in Britanny, France.

The well-attended cocktails ended with a lively jazz session featuring the Subconcept headed by the awardee’s son Jacques Christophe Branellec who at 16 has already a command of the soprano, alto, baritone and tenor saxophones. Also enlivening the scene that night was the Jewelmer Jazz Band headed by pianist Jun Cadiz. Needles to add, a merry time was had by all, with classic music lovers becoming jazz converts overnight.