French Ambassador Thierry Borja de Mozota came to Cebu for the celebration of France?s National Day. It was hosted by Honorary Consul Michel and Mme. Lhuillier, who first thought of having it at their scenic home in Maria Luisa Estate Park. Inclement weather forecast made them change the venue to Pino, one of their restaurants.

The guest list kept expanding and since Pino would prove small, a change of venue was made. Final choice was the grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. The menu would all be prepared at Pino, though. Its general manager, Joel del Prado, excelled on this occasion.

Here from Paris for the event was Olivier Poivre-d?Arbour, director of Culture France. This agency within the French Foreign Ministry is in charge of cultural programs for the whole world. Several have already been scheduled for Cebu.

Here, too, were the French Embassy?s press attache Carolle Lucas, and the Counselor for Cultural Cooperation and Mme. Georges-Gaston Feydeau with their little son Felix.

The good news that evening was regarding the transition of Les Amis de la France into a full-fledged L?Alliance Francaise de Cebu. Approval of the request had been given in Paris just a few days before.

Overjoyed was its director Louis Thevenin, who came with his pretty wife Honeylet, and the efficient staff in charge of all activities: Alice Gauny, Mary Ann Farrugia, Liezel Saban, Amiel Mingay, and Marion Lerux.

Collecting congratulations was the organization?s secretary-treasurer, Judge Romulo Senining, who had done a lot of paperwork, and two ladies who are in the board of directors?Honey Loop and Marlinda Tan.

The mood was effervescent, to say the least, as with the champagne that was being served on thin flutes during the reception that preceded dinner. It had a very special label??Lhuillier Brut??and Michel doesn?t even recall how many cases he has of it in the cellar.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama was present, and so were Councilor Silvan Jakosalem with his wife Sharon, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco and his wife Christina, and Congressman Eduardo Gullas and his wife Norma.

They sat at the presidential table with the ambassador, the French VIPs, Michel and Amparito, and members of their family like Marguerite Lhuillier, Johnny and Anna Marie Dizon, Charles Lhuillier, Michael and Joanna Lhuillier and her mother Diane Maitland-Smith.

The ballroom was a sight to see. There were swaths of white silk overhead to give the impression of a medieval tent. Tables were decorated with flowers evoking the French tricolor?red, white and blue. Marco Protacio, the hotel?s general manager, personally directed the decor, translating Amparito?s wishes into reality.

Dinner

A splendid dinner was served. The antipasto had pomele, artichokes, asparagus, banana hearts, lettuce, zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, and a salad of mixed seafood. Main courses listed were French-style roast beef, duck comfit, lamb couscous, and Quiche Lorraine. An assortment of seared vegetables and gratinated potatoes were for garnish.

A huge slab of ice held lobsters and prawns galore. On a special table was an assortment of cheeses, and on another a whole array of desserts?mille-feuille, macaroons, chocolate tart, and Baba au Rhum. The best wines, red or white, flowed freely throughout the repast.

The evening?s program began with the national anthems of the Philippines and France. There were messages from Ambassador Borja de Mozota, and from Congressman Gullas, who gave his in behalf of all Cebuanos.

Consul Michel Lhuillier?s speech evoked the good news of the day. ?In a way, it is the return of L?Alliance Francaise de Cebu,? he remarked. He recalled how his late parents, Henry and Angelita Lhuillier, gave their all-out support when L?Alliance was first established in Cebu in 1974. His mother eventually became president; I was her vice president.

Flashback to July 1983, in a meeting at the Alliance schoolroom with professor Pascal Duclos. He informed those present that L?Alliance Francaise would celebrate the centennial of its founding in October of that year and there were forms to sign for anyone to join before a determined deadline.

Henry and Angelita said that since they spent that time of the year in Paris anyhow, they?d sign up right then and there. I didn?t even have to be asked twice; I said yes, I?d be there.

On Oct. 15, we were at the Comedie Francaise theater in Paris for the opening ceremonies, presided by French President Francois Mitterand. At the registration table, we found out we were the only three who signed up from the Philippines.

In our kits were schedules and invitations to varied events, including a formal reception at L?Elysee Palace hosted by President Mitterand. Angelita had brought a Filipiniana outfit by Ben Farrales, and I had a barong Tagalog which she said we must wear for this occasion. We attracted a lot of attention.

By the time President Mitterand made his walk-about in the magnificently chandeliered hall, Angelita had obtained a chair and was reluctant to abandon it. No need; the president had spotted her.

He approached her, complimented her gown as ?très jolie,? and asked where she came from. ?Philippines,? she said. It dawned on him that the country had been in the world news the past weeks since the Aug. 21 assassination of Benigno Aquino.

Angelita and President Mitterand did exchange banter. If he was witty, she too had a felicitous turn of phrase, and in French at that.

Michel is happy that L?Alliance Francaise is back in Cebu. This is a global network with some 1,400 all over the world. In Cebu, it is located at the QC Pavilion along Gorordo Avenue. They offer classes in the French language for adults and children, also lessons in French cuisine.