As his tour of duty nears its close, Nicolas Brühl is not just packing up a diplomatic post, he is carrying home a deeply personal story shaped by warmth, resilience, and unexpected connections.
In a farewell gathering with media partners earlier this week, the Swiss ambassador reflected on his three-year stay in the Philippines with a tone more intimate than official.
“Over the past three years that I have spent here in the Philippines with my family, I have been deeply touched by your kindness, generosity, and warm hospitality,” he said, setting mood for an evening less about protocol and more about gratitude.
For Brühl, whose diplomatic career spans more than three decades, the Philippines offered something distinct.
“There is never a dull moment,” he said, noting the unpredictability of current events that unfold in the Philippines.
“The people, the hospitality, and how the people treat us as foreigners, that is really something special,” he added.
It is a sentiment he said is shared quietly among diplomats. In internal conversations, he noted, fellow ambassadors consistently point to the same trait: a uniquely Filipino openness that goes beyond courtesy.
His reflections went deeper than official engagements. From observing overseas Filipino workers enduring long separations from their families to recalling encounters with Filipinos thriving even in the harsh winters of Canada, Brühl spoke with visible admiration.
“If there is one country where the people are really resilient, it’s really the Filipinos,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed a journalist’s appreciation for the country’s media landscape, a path he once considered for himself.
“It was always my idea, if I’m not becoming a diplomat, I would like to work as a journalist,” he shared. “What you do every day, it’s more than relevant.”
His tenure also saw collaborative initiatives, from promoting vocational education through programs like “Today of the Future” to championing innovation among young professionals.
Yet, for Brühl, the most meaningful legacy lies in relationships built quietly over time.
As he prepares to conclude his post around August, he leaves with both anticipation and reluctance.
“It’s always you have to say goodbye. And this is not always easy,” he admitted.
Still, the story does not end here. With the 70th anniversary of Swiss-Philippine relations on the horizon in 2027, Brühl expressed hope that the partnerships and friendships will continue long after his departure.
For now, his farewell is simple, heartfelt, and unmistakably personal: “Something I will carry with me always.”