I attended the Johan Strauss Foundation’s Christmas Party organized by Olga Martel at the sprawling residence in Forbes Park of the Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Wilhelm Donko.
The call time was 6 pm but I arrived at 6:30 pm because my driver insisted on turning right to Dasmarinas Village’s gate instead of following my instruction to go straight at McKinley.
First things first, go to the banyo. They have a seashells collection.
There are touches of Asian.
Am I seeing this right? it says 1858. Did Wilhelm Diokno write this book in 1858, Ambassador Donko couldn’t be 154 years old. Maybe the embassy just imprinted his name.
The Plaza is the caterer
Russian salad
The Plaza’s honey cured ham is their pride and joy. You can buy their famous ham either sliced, tidbits, or whole leg according to weight on the ground floor of SM Megamall Building A infront of National Bookstore. make sure you ask for extra sauce.
It tastes good with warm pandesal
It was actually a very private affair with less than 40 people in attendance.
JSSP Chairman Mrs. Fortune A. Ledesma, Mr. & Mrs. Morita
Olga Severino Martel president of Johan Strauss Society of the Philippines Foundation (in green gown) with
Roshni Hemandas, Manju Jhagoomal and Gita Chulani
H.E. Wilhelm Donko giving the welcome remarks
Tonight from the West Side Story
Soprano- Stephanie Aguilar is a student of Rachelle Gerodias and a scholar of the Klassical Music Foundation of George Yang. She won third place in the Jovita Fuentes Voice Competition 2012 and was a soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy in Singapore at the Esplanade Theater last October.
Roger Chua, Tenor, has portrayed lead roles in several musical productions of Repertory Philippines, Manila Metropolitan Theater and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He attended vocal training at the Leuven Conservatorium in Belgium.
Mrs. Donko (in purple dress)
Lorenzo or Enzo began his formal piano lessons in 2006 at the UP College of Music Extension. He won first prize in the National Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 2009. He has won many awards.
Vangie, the official photographer of Johnny Litton
Joe Marie Trenias, Stephanie Aguilar, Roger Chua singing Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine
Joe Mari was a member of Tanghalang Ateneo and the Ateneo Glee Club, Harvard law School Drama Society and sang at the Annual Law School Show. He is a member of Repertory Philippines and was in Sweeney Todd and Fiddler on the Roof where he played Motel. He studied voice at the UP College of Music under Irma Potenciano and Nolyn Cabahug.
I Could Have Danced All Night- My Fair Lady
