MANILA, Philippines?The Swiss Food Festival at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel last year was such a success that there was a repeat of the event. General manager Hans Hauri, who happens to be Swiss, said this time it was bigger, had more sponsors and larger crowd.

It coincided with the National Day of Switzerland. Here for the occasion were Swiss Ambassador Dr. Peter Sutter and Mme. Irene Flueckiger, the embassy?s counselor. The celebration was held at the hotel?s Garden Terrace, overflowing with Swiss nationals from all over the Visayas and a good sprinkling of locals.

Welcoming them all were Hauri, his pretty wife Bo and their twin sons Morgan and Austin, dressed in Alpine costumes. With them at the VIP table were Ambassador Sutter, Philippine Ambassador to India Francisco Benedicto with his wife Leontina (Honorary Consul General of Turkey in Cebu), Honorary Consul of Canada in Cebu and Mrs. Robert Lee, and Martin Nussbaumer, easily the most handsome Swiss national in this region.

Hauri addressed the guests at the start of the evening, saying the celebration was all about Switzerland?s unity within a federation and its age-old friendship with the Philippines.

A recording of the famous chimes at the Church of Notre Dame de la Visitation was played, followed by a message from Switzerland?s president, Dr. Pascal Couchepin, a recent visitor of the Philippines.

Best ambassadors

The president cited that 670,000 Swiss nationals live beyond the country?s borders, and thanked the 120,000 of them who responded to the country?s appeal to vote in the latest elections. The number of Swiss living in Asia has increased considerably, he said.

When it was the ambassador?s turn to speak, he thanked all those present at the event and said his country?s best ambassadors are the Swiss who lived abroad. There were cheers to that and some did say, ?Specially Mr. Hauri.?

Switzerland is a country of four diverse cultures and as many languages. ?The foundation of the country dates back to 1291,? said Ambassador Sutter, ?which means we are observing our 717th birthday this year.? The Swiss Federation as we know it today was formed in 1848.

Swiss traders, merchants and entrepreneurs came to the Philippines in the 19th century. The first consulate to open in Asia was in Manila, in 1862.

Cheese and sausage galore

Dinner was announced and everyone trooped to various buffet tables. There were cheeses and sausages galore, as well as an array of typical dishes and desserts. Swiss wines were poured throughout the evening. The white was labeled ?Blanc d? Amour? and the red, ?Nuit d? Amout.? Lively music was provided by the Interact Band.

There was a wheel of fortune with prizes for many of the guests. Some tried their luck in the yodeling contest, won by a pretty Korean girl, Yuri Park, who sings like an angel. Later, she and Daniel Jeong performed as a violin duo the famous tango ?Por Una Cabeza? from the film ?Scent of a Woman.? Applause was enough to merit some encores.

About a dozen went onstage for the Swiss trivia contest, won by Ferman Chio, senior VP of Metrobank. He was the only one who guessed the tricky question as to how many cantons there are in Switzerland? 23. Everyone thought it was 24.

Ambassador Sutter explained. In the Swiss Federation, there are 23 cantons, and two half cantons. The half cantons don?t add up to one.

Top prize of the evening was a round-trip on Swiss International Airlines to Zurich. Well, guess who won. I?ll have to start planning a trip to Switzerland and choose which cantons I visit. Maybe I?ll take a look at the half cantons.

Meanwhile, Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu continues with its culinary journeys. After the Swiss food fest comes the Spanish for September. Soon it will be time for Oktoberfest. The same Bavarian Sound Express band that came last year will again rouse all spirits. Then on Nov. 29, it?s time once again for Beaujoulais Noveau.