The Philippine Senate on Monday, Sept. 12 expressed its ‘’deepest sympathies’’ on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, ‘’a leader well loved, respected and admired the world over".

This, after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read a Senate resolution to join the rest of the world in extending its sympathy and condolences to the Royal Family and to the British people on the passing of their beloved monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.’

‘The longest-reigning British monarch, she always led with quiet grace and dignity, never seeming to sag under the heavy weight of her crown. She was born into power, but the power came at a price - a life lived in and owed to the public. All civil servants, like us here in the Senate, experience this to an extent. But it is a deal we enter into, and a choice that we willingly make,’’ Zubiri said.

‘’Not so for the Queen. At just 25 years old, she had no choice but to relinquish any possibility of life lived for herself, in a strange way in taking up the highest seat of power, she also gave up autonomy over herself,’’ he explained.

‘’Nevertheless, she navigated her role well, and, much like her namesake, Elizabeth I, she ushered in a second Golden Age of the monarch and became a constant figure of stability for her people, and her unflappable leadership was instrumental in uplifting national morale, even in times of socio-economic and political upheaval,’’ he stressed.

’’In her seven decades as monarch, she also oversaw the strengthening of their foreign affairs, including, of course, bilateral relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Philippines - particularly with regard to peace and development, disaster relief and management, trade and investments, climate action and health,’’ emphasized Zubiri.

‘’Indeed we join the hundreds of thousands of OFWs in the UK today who are mourning the loss of the Queen, under who’s leadership there were able to enter the UK, to create better lives for themselves and their families and communities back home,’’ he added.

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