Arcadio “Dodong” Alegrado, former honorary consul general of Austria in Cebu, hosted a dinner at his home, in Maria Luisa Estate Park in honor of Anna and Robert Lee. He is the outgoing honorary consul of Canada.
Dodong’s daughter, Julie Alegrado Vergara, now Austria’s honorary consul, helped her dad on this occasion, which gathered a good representation of the local consular corps. That was quite a tempting buffet spread by Maribago Blue Water, the Alegrado family’s world-class beach resort in Mactan.
Japanese counselor and consul Shoji Otake had brought various lacquered trays of ingredients. “Wonderful,” said Dodong, deftly managing his chopsticks to dip a morsel with salmon in a bowl of soy sauce. The sushi had come from Umea, a highly rated Japanese restaurant in Cebu.
“Try it,” Dodong told guests as they stepped into the garden terrace. “But first have some wine,” he recommended, waving toward the bar. Attentive waiters poured either red or white wines, concocted any desired cocktails, or jazzed-up, colorful fruit juices.
Robert and Anna sat with China’s consul general and Mme. Zhang Wei Gou, and Enrique Benedicto, honorary consul of Belgium. They were later joined by Eduardo Gonzalez, honorary consul of Mexico.
It is always nice to see and talk to Augusto Go, president of the University of Cebu (UC) and honorary consul of Korea. He has quite a staff, there being more than 30,000 Koreans living in and around Cebu.
Augusto’s daughter Candice Gotianoy, honorary consul of Norway and chancellor of UC, was present on this occasion. Like her father, she is extremely well-bred and most cordial. Laughter constantly rang out from her table.
To fit her gown
Jose Sala, honorary consul of Sweden since 1982, gravitated toward his cousin Michel Lhuillier, honorary consul of France. Amparito was there, too, planning a trip to Los Angeles in May. “To fit my gown, by Monique, of course,” she said about a grand event in August.
Other honorary consuls present were Romania’s Grand Benedicto with wife, Genevieve, Germany’s Franz Seidenschwarz with wife, Elizabeth, Poland’s Carmel Luzuriaga Durano with husband, Red Durano, and the Russian Federation’s Armi Garcia who canceled her trip to Dipolog, where she has to build a hotel.
Sammy and Emily Chioson were thanked for bringing the lechon. They make quite a team. He is honorary consul of Portugal, she is honorary consul of Israel. She reminded one and all about the observance of Israel’s National Day in Cebu.
That will be on May 8 with a reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel with the presence of Israel’s Ambassador and Mme. Menashe Bar-on. The event marks the 66th anniversary of the independence of the state of Israel.
A highlight of the celebration is a performance by Israeli musician Tal Kravitz. He can make music with all manner of instruments, tools, you name it. It is quite fantastic, surreal even.
Last to arrive was John Domingo, consular agent of the United States, with Maria Tagalog. They had come from a large meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cebu to map out activities for July 4, Philippine-American Friendship Day.
Robert was asked to say a few words about his stint as Canada’s man in Cebu all these years. He said that, when briefed about the position offered, he was told his primary concern was to take care of Canadians in the assigned area.
There and then he also resolved to take care of Filipinos wanting to migrate to Canada. “I helped in every way I could, and still do,” Robert said with a smile and a twinkle in the eye.
Robert and Anna spend periods during the year in Canada, where their daughters live with their families. They have come across many Filipinos anywhere they have gone. In some cases they had been recognized by those they had helped. “They come to us at the mall or on the street to express their thanks,” said Robert.
He recalled a couple who told them that each of them had found good jobs, and that after a few months in Canada, they were able to buy a house. “Stories like this make me happy,” Robert commented.
Robert has two events to look forward to. One is on May 16, when his successor will be introduced. Another is by end of June or start of July for a celebration of Canada Day in Cebu once more.
The evening went on with Dodong reminiscing, too, about his years representing Austria. His installation was in December 1985, with an unprecedented reception that filled the ballroom of then Cebu Plaza Hotel (now the Marco Polo) with prominent guests, wall to wall.
“Have some brandy,” he offered, passing on snifters filled with Hennessy. It certainly wasn’t goodbye when the party broke up. There’s May 8 and 16, and there’s Canada Day, and July 4. There’s Bastille Day, in July, reminded Michel Lhuillier.