THE GERMAN CONSULATE’S 10 YEARS
- Jaime Picornell
- Sep 5, 2019
- 3 min read
The Honorary Consulate of Germany in Cebu celebrated its 10th anniversary with a diplomatic reception held at the Manila Room of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. Germany’s Ambassador Dr. Gordon Kricke came from Manila for the occasion.
In his congratulatory speech the ambassador had high praises for Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz, Honorary Consul of Germany in Cebu. He said that there are about 4000 German nationals in this regional area and they need consular services.
Honorary Consul Franz Seidenschwarz was radiantly happy and most attentive to the many guests who graced the occasion. He was assisted by his pretty wife, Elizabeth Cinco Seidenschwarz, their son Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz Jr. and his wife Dr. Melanie Seidenschwarz. Another son, Alex, is in the USA.
Our photos in this issue illustrates and give us an idea on who attended the event.
Some weeks later on July 31, the Cafe Marco of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel launched its traditional festival of Swiss food titled “Swissness A to Z”. Cutting the ribbon were the hotel’s general manager Brian Connelly and resident manager Michaela Preisner who is Austrian.
The food of Germany, Austria and Switzerland is very similar, Michaela said, even as we feasted and repeated on the spread of sausages, air-dried ham, cheeses galore and heaps of rich desserts. Next food fest at the Marco Polo is Spanish.
“Sabores de España” starts on September 14. As it is every year, consultant for the Spanish cuisine is Gema Luisa Pido, who has been trying out those gourmet recipes since July with the Marco Polo’s chefs, who are learning a lot from her.
Meetings of the Arts Council board of trustees can be very informative and transcendental even as there may be subtle undercurrents of well meant irony. The most recent meeting, on August 9, was at El Comedor of the Casino Español de Cebu.
Madame President Dra. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza went through the agenda forcefully and efficiently, with her usual aplomb. Also present at the luncheon meeting were VP Maia Franco, secretary Mariter Klepp, treasurer Elvira Luym, plus trustees Teresin Mendezona, Honey Loop, Rose Hennessy, Lot Lot Neri, Allen Tan and Vivienne Go.
Among the many things discussed such as a program of events, was the forthcoming, after a long while, general membership meeting and election of trustees. That will be on Saturday, August 24 from 2 to 6 PM at La Azotea of the Casino Español de Cebu. There are a number of vacancies among the trustees.
Dra. Vivina announced that the Arts Council will celebrate its 60 years of existence with a Diamond Jubilee in 2020. In more ways than one the celebration will serve as a tribute to Fe Sala Villarica who in 1960 founded the Arts Council.
There was talk of presenting a full length ballet. But where? An option could be the auditorium of the Sacred Heart School for Girls (Hijas). It is the best theatrical structure in Cebu, designed by the late Architect Jose Mercado, one of the founding pillars of the Arts Council.
Speaking of anniversaries there is the Casino Español de Cebu celebrating its 100 years in 2020 with a year long program of events. The grand occasion will be held on July 25, 2020, a Saturday and feast of Santiago, patron saint of Spain.
There is a Centennial committee that holds regular meetings for updates. In it are the Dr. Franz Seidenschwarz that holds regular meetings for updates. In it are the ff: Casino Español de Cebu president Eduard Loop, his mother Honey Loop, immediate past president Paco Jarque who initiated the festivity, Honorary Consul of Spain in Cebu Anton Perdices, Dino Diez, Javi Sala, Rene Kintanar, Cheling Sala, Margot Larrañaga, Teresin Mendezona, Mayen Tan and Chinggay Utzurrum who are in charge of publicity.
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