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MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, September 9, joined world leaders in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth, saying the world just “lost a true figure of majesty.”
“It is with profound sadness that we receive the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral Castle yesterday evening. She exemplified to the world a true monarch’s great dignity, commitment to duty, and devotion to all those in her realm,” said Marcos on his Facebook page.
Marcos acknowledged the thousands of Filipinos based in the United Kingdom, who had the Queen as the head of state of their host country.
“We, together with many Filipinos living and working in England, though not subjects of the Queen, have found ourselves having developed a great sense of affection for her as a Queen, as mother, and as a grandmother,” the President said.
There are around 158,000 Filipinos living in the United Kingdom as of June 2021, according to British government data.
“The world has lost a true figure of majesty in what she demonstrated throughout her life and throughout her reign as Queen,” Marcos said.
Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he rushed to London from Paris upon hearing of the queen’s death.
“Filipinos never faltered in their love of the English Queen. From Paris where I was visiting, my wife and I rushed to London at the Queen Mother’s passing,” said Locsin.
Locsin addressed his sympathies to British ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils. “Please accept our deepest humble condolences on your people’s and the world’s immeasurable loss,” he said.
Locsin continued to tweet about the late queen, praising her work as a royal and as a member of the British Army in World War II.
“Not a drop nor a moment of self-indulgence; a life of duty throughout without any show of effort. Royal ‘to the bone’ as Filipinos would say,” Locsin said.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died in her summer home in Scotland on Thursday afternoon, September 8, according to Buckhingham Palace. Following her death, her son Prince Charles ascends to the throne as King.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez also expressed condolences over the Queen’s death on Friday.
“I join the Filipino nation in offering our heartfelt and deep sympathies to the Royal Family, the government and the people of Great Britain on the demise of Queen Elizabeth II,” said Romualdez.
Romualdez said the Queen “served as an inspiration” to generations of public servants across the world.
“We will remember her as a gentle, yet solid rock of stability who exhibited grace and decency in performing her duty in times of crisis,” said Romualdez.
“Her name will never be forgotten, and her memories as a great monarch will remain etched in our hearts forever,” he added.”
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri also expressed his condolences the morning after the queen’s death.
“Our deepest deepest condolences to the British people for the loss of their very well loved Queen Elizabeth II. She was loved and respected the world over. May she rest in peace,” said Zubiri in a Facebook post.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also expressed his condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom.
“Her Majesty was more than a queen, she was a symbol of power, stability and, most of all, women empowerment. Her accession to the throne in 1952 was celebrated by the whole world and served as an inspiration to women leaders around the world. Her 70-year reign included the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the UK and the Philippines, for which the Filipino people are very grateful,” Pimentel said.
“During her reign, Her Majesty had never failed to value and recognize many times the works and the virtues of our fellow Filipinos working and living in the UK. She had built a legacy that will be remembered beyond her lifetime,” he added.
The Philippines and the United Kingdom established formal diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946. – Rappler.com
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