The ambassador from Germany, land of Beethoven, Bach, Handel, and Wagner, described the 25-year-old Chino Gutierrez as “the best violinist of his age on the planet” when he hosted a farewell dinner before the musician would depart the next day to compete in the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany. After listening to Chino on his faithful French-made violin, everyone in the music room who had heard him—and experienced goosebumps and spine-tingling sensations—wished Chino the best of luck, but especially his special angel and godmother, Ching Montinola and Bel Cunanan.
