Ambassador of New Zealand Peter Francis Tavita Kell made quite the impression Friday, June 17 for his effort in partly speaking in Filipino during his press briefing with local reporters covering President-elect Bongbong Marcos.
Kell not only spoke in Filipino, but delivered punchlines as well, eliciting laughter from the reporters present at the BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
"Sa mga mamayang Pilipinas, mabuhay kayong lahat. Ako si Peter Kell, ambassador ng New Zealand dito sa Pilipinas. Nag-usap kami ni President-elect Marcos kung paano ipagpapatuloy ang mga nasimulang proyekto sa pagitan ng New Zealand at Pilipinas (Long live to the people of the Philippines. I'm Peter Kell, ambassador of New Zealand here in the Philippines. President-elect Marcos and I spoke on how to continue the projects that were begun between New Zealand and the Philippines)," Kell said.
The envoy then smiled as he seamlessly switched to english: "So, good morning everyone, delighted to be here."
Before the press briefing, Marcos received Kell in a courtesy call at the headquarters.
Looking somewhat exhausted, Kell admitted that he has had a "long week".
"It's been a long week para sa akin (for me). Pagod na ako (I'm tired)," the diplomats said tongue-in-cheek, triggering laughter.
"Pero sinabi ko sa kanya (Marcos) na pinahahalagahan namin ang kasalukuyang ugnayan ng New Zealand at Pilipinas. Naniniwala ako na sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan para palakasin ang kapayapaan at kasaganaan sa ating rehiyon (But I told him that we give importance to the current correlation between New Zealand and the Philippines. I believe that peace and prosperity in the region can be strengthened through cooperation)," he said.
"So I stressed that our relationship is important not only in its own right, but also in the role that it can play to strengthen our region, the asia-pacific, the indo-pacific region, strengthen peace. Prosperity and stability," he said.
Kell said Marcos also invited him "to visit his part of the country".
"I regrettably have not had the chance to do so, but intend to do so very soon," he said.