The farewell cocktail reception hosted by the Manila Overseas Press Club for outgoing US Ambassador Philip Goldberg was extremely successful, with so many guests from business, the diplomatic and consular corps, and several senators filling the ballroom of the City Club in Makati. Former President Fidel Ramos graced the event, with Senators Frank Drilon, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe and Sonny Trillanes also present.

It was amazing because traffic was one of the worst that day, and yet so many guests came to the event, which only proves that a lot of people have very high respect for the US Ambassador, having spent three years in the country. I recall that the MOPC hosted a welcome reception at my residence three years ago for the Ambassador and since then, he has become a very good friend of the MOPC and a close personal friend of mine.

The occasion also marked 71 years of friendship between the Manila Overseas Press Club and the United States — predating the formal relations between Washington and Manila that began in 1946.

During the reception, the people of Leyte showed their appreciation for the help extended by the US Ambassador and his government in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda through plaques of appreciation from former Tacloban mayor Alfred Romualdez and former Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez.

Guests broke out in applause and appreciative laughter when the Ambassador’s golf mates, including myself, presented him with a special French wine — the Chateau DuTertre. Perhaps when the Ambassador sips the wine, he will enjoy and remember “the good days” during his stint in Manila.