Page 25 - LM Confidential Issue April 2015

NO TINIKLING continued from page 7
stunts among tables and ramps arranged at the back of the stage set up inside the former US military base.
Ballet Philippines danced a beat-box version of “Atin Cu Pung Singsing.”
“We featured the contemporary culture of Clark and Pampanga. The bikers are very strong there. Aside from Pampanga parol, there were also hot-air balloons and hip-hop groups [to indicate] the strong influence of American culture,” Jardin said.
A similar effort to allow foreign guests to experience the local lifestyle was supposed to take place in Albay province. Jardin said Albay Governor Joey Salceda stopped at nothing to spruce up their astrodome. Local bands practiced Bach and Vivaldi and more than 120 dancers from Manila were set to arrive.
Alas, a weather disturbance forced organizers to relocate the entire event to Fairmont Makati hotel. Jardin managed to pull in eight choirs from all over Metro Manila for the finale.
“We got a standing ovation,” he said.
Food and cuisine
Food is another important element. Via Mare was tapped for Pampanga cuisine served during the Clark presentation. Taal Vista pulled out former Malacañang executive chef Babes Austria, who has just retired.
Jardin is busy prepping for the dinners and cultural presentations for two ministerial meetings in Boracay that would be held three days apart in May.
No shirts and ties while on the island. Jardin said loot bags will contain flip-flops, insect repellent and a selfie stick. And instead of ushers in baro’t saya, there will be diwata, sirena and other mythical creatures from Pinoy folklore to entertain the guests.
“We have already showcased tinikling and singkil in the past. Gasgas na, and foreign visitors should now see a different facet of Philippine society,” Jardin stressed.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Philippines! If you still haven’t heard, we know how to party.
Filipinos 5th happiest
The Philippines ranked 5th happiest coun- try in the world in 2014, US-based Gallup said, as the world marked the third annual International Day of Happiness.
In its Positive Experience Index report, the Philippines has a score of 80, tied with Singapore and Switzerland, as the 5th happiest countries among 143 countries surveyed last year.
Paraguayans are the happiest in the world with a highest score of 89.
Columbia, meanwhile, tied with Ecuador and Guatemala, as the second happiest with an index score of 84. Honduras, Guatemala and Panama tied for third; while Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua ranked fourth.
The top 10-ranked countries are all situ- ated in Latin America
The least happy country is Sudan with an index score of 47.
Gallup said more than 70 percent of people worldwide experienced a lot of enjoyment, smiled or laughed a lot, felt well- rested and felt treated with respect.
Additionally, 50 percent of people said they learned or did something interesting the day before the interview.
APRIL 2015
Spotlight
At the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue was the grand dame of movie theaters, the Rizal Theater. This place was a lovely example of stylish art deco and was an awesome place to watch a flick for anyone from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Memories are made of these: Many children of those eras recall watching Snow White, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, Pete’s Dragon and Star Wars in this theater, the only one that had three levels – Orchestra, Balcony and Loge.
What it is now: With many malls opening their own cineplexes, standalone movie theaters weren’t all that commercially viable and so the Rizal Theater was sadly demolished. The Makati Shangri-la Hotel now stands in its place.
Crossword
OUR MAN IN OTTAWA
Senator Tobias Enverga (SECOND FROM LEFT) poses with well-sihers during the PCCF despedida for Ambassador Mahilum-West.
Puzzle
L. M. Confidential
25
Answers on Page 26