Cebu rolls out red carpet for VIP spouses

Cebu, Jan 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Mrs Gursharan Kaur, and the wives of other Asian leaders attending the 2nd India-ASEAN Summit here got a taste of Filipino hospitality at its best during a two-hour tour of different eras of the history of this central Philippines island yesterday.

Mrs Gursharan Kaur was joined on the trip by Khunying Chitravadee Chulanont of Thailand and the wives of foreign ministers, ambassadors and senior officials of the member-countries.

Mike Arroyo, husband of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was their chief host. He was accompanied by their only daughter Luli.

The spouses were taken to the Friendship Garden at the Family Park here, where they were greeted by about 500 schoolchildren and bright sunshine after days of rains. Former streetkids sang and about 3500 Sinulog dancers performed for them. Churchgoers spilled onto the streets to wave at the VIP guests.

Lemon iced tea and native delicacies such as peanut broas, dried mangoes, mangorind and peanut kisses were served to them.

Among the items on display at the garden were artwork by Cebuano sculptors Raymond Fernandez and his wife Estella, featuring bamboo nodes rising to the sky from a disc of tile mosaic. Ten tall poles represented the 10 ASEAN member-countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Six smaller ones represented the grouping's dialogue partners -- India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The facade of Cebu's Capitol building was transformed into an American-era ball, complete with two vintage cars -- a teal blue Bel Air Chevrolet and a black Fleetwood Mac -- parked near the front steps.

In the foreground were dancers from Compostela town performing the Virginia Reel, a popular American folk dance.

The visiting spouses stood inside their tour bus for a better view of the dancers who performed for about ten minutes.

Twelve Miss Cebu pageant winners paraded in Edwardian-style dresses of the 1900s. Some wore flapper dresses of the 1920s and 1930s, complete with beads and pearl strands. Twelve male models wore three-piece suits with tail coats and bowler hats.

The VIP spouses were later taken to the provincial capital and other parts of the island. There was music in the background throughout as the guests went through lunch and a fashion show, among other things. Later, they were given gifts made of Abalone shell.

UNI