Composite photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Queen Elizabeth II
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, visiting the British ambassador’s home in Manila to add his name to the condolence book for the departed monarch.
In a statement, Marcos said Elizabeth “exemplified to the world a true monarch’s great dignity, commitment to duty and devotion to all those in her realm.”
“The world has lost a true figure of majesty in what she demonstrated throughout her life and throughout her reign as queen,” he said.
Marcos also noted that Filipinos, including those living and working in England, “have found ourselves having developed a great sense of affection for her as a queen, as [a] mother and as a grandmother.”
In July, the queen and then Prince Charles awarded the prestigious George Cross Award to May Parsons, a UK-based Filipino nurse who administered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine shot. The award is the highest given to British subjects for bravery outside the area of warfare.
A year earlier Charles also praised Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom for their “outstanding care and comfort” and “remarkable contribution to the health and well-being of so many people across the country (Britain) at such a difficult time.”
‘Inspiration’
Accompanying Marcos in his visit to the residence of British Ambassador Laure Beaufils were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and two of their three children, Sandro and Joseph Simon.
Beaufils said on Twitter, in response to the presidential family’s visit: “We are grateful for your kind words and warm memories of Her Majesty.”
Also on Friday, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on behalf of fellow House members: “We mourn the loss of a great world leader who served as an inspiration to many generations of public servants in all parts of the globe.” “[She] will never be forgotten, and her memories as a great monarch will remain etched in our hearts forever,” Romualdez said.
Elizabeth’s death became an occasion for leaders from every corner of the globe to unite in honor of her monarchy.
The tributes were led by the Commonwealth, the association of countries that were previously part of the British empire, as well as its remaining overseas territories.
South Asia, where Britain was the colonial power until just before the queen’s reign began in 1952, paved the way, with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he was “pained” by her death.
In the southern hemisphere, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described how he and Elizabeth had reminisced together about Nelson Mandela, while Kenya’s President-elect William Ruto hailed her “admirable” leadership of the Commonwealth.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the queen’s “timeless decency” and said her death marked the “end of an era.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Elizabeth was a “constant presence in our lives.”
Biden, Putin, Xi
US President Joe Biden said “Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to King Charles III, wishing the new monarch “courage and resilience” after his mother’s passing—even as Britain leads the West in imposing sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping gave his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people.”
Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” by her death and would pray for her as well as King Charles. —WITH A REPORT FROM AFP
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