By Marinel E. Peroy
Photos courtesy of British Embassy Manila
British vibe filled the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in Taguig City with displays of Big Ben and the iconic red telephone box to celebrate His Majesty King Charles III birthday.
The venue serenaded by songs from the famous artists like Spice Girls or Dua Lipa, while the revelry was complemented by the unlimited British fish and chips with wine and various drinks served during the reception held on June 18.
Students from the British School Manila opened the event by singing the national anthem of the UK and the Philippines. It was followed by the welcoming remarks of His Majesty’s Ambassador Laure Beaufils, emphasizing the parallelism between the UK and the Philippines such as how shared language values serve as the foundation of their enduring friendship.
“Natutuwa akong tanggapin kayo dito ngayong gabi. Ito ay isang napakahalagang okasyon para sa amin at natutuwa ako ipatugon ang kaarawan na aming mahal na hari kasama ang mga Pinoy at kaibigan,” said Amb. Beaufils in Tagalog.
The envoy underscored the shared friendship between the UK and the Philippines, as reflected in various ministerial engagements, initiatives, and collaborations.
“Today we are here to honor our king. The King’s steep and experience in public service – our modern king with a strong vision and a passion for youth, community, diversity, the environment, multireligious multicultural communities,” added Beaufils, highlighting the King’s passion for environmental sustainability, particularly as a staunch advocate of circular economy,” stated by Beaufils.
She also correlated King Charles III’s speech in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of 1944 landings — a recent event prior to the Philippine Independence Day — the values of resilience, courage, and sacrifice to fight for one’s sovereignty. This serves as a reminder that “free nations must come together to oppose tyranny.”
Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro highlighted the historic moments of the UK and the Philippines with the endeavor of continuously upholding maritime security with more engagements.
“United by our common global outlook as maritime nations, we are steadfast in our support of the rules-based international order. Let me express our deep appreciation to the United Kingdom for the consistent support for the Philippines, as we staunchly support UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral ruling,” said Usec. Lazaro.
Lazaro also mentioned that there will be a second maritime dialogue in London soon.
Fancy a cuppa?
When you roam around the vicinity, you’d have a glimpse of Harry Styles and Adele as they were in attendance (although not the real ones). Still, everything British ambiance was prepared through red, blue, and white hues evident on the displayed flags, and even a huge royalty cake which was cut after the ceremonial toast.
Guests were given souvenirs through printed photos, capturing moments to remember on that special day. Aside from networking and business opportunities on the occasion itself, everyone seemingly enjoyed the event with an exchange of camaraderie, shared values, and mutual respect.
The night was celebrated by a myriad of diplomats, business community leaders, public-private organization representatives, and Philippine government officials, respectively.
As highlighted by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Papal Nuncio Charles Brown, the celebration of His Majesty King Charles III’s Birthday serves as the “day to reflect on the unique role of the United Kingdom in our contemporary world.” The Papal Nuncio shared how the language of England has been adopted here in the Philippines, citing examples such as topnotcher, gadget, batchmate, “to push through”, gimmick, and even the most used term of “CR”.
Despite being over 10,000 kilometers away from each other, the UK and the Philippines continue to connect through language, values, people-to-people exchange, and common goals; and these have been significantly marked during the King’s special day which will continue to flourish in many years to come.
Have many more birthdays, King Charles III! Cheers!