FILE PHOTOS: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. AFP and REUTERS
WASHINGTON D.C., United States — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) disclosed that he will meet with United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the coronation of King Charles III to know if there are changes in the foreign policy of the European nation.
“Kaya makikipagkita ako sa kanilang bagong Prime Minister upang makapag-usap kami kung mayroon bang pagbabago sa pag-iisip sa pag-partner ng UK at saka ng Pilipinas,” he said in a briefing with reporters here.
(I will meet with the new Prime Minister so we can talk about whether there is a change in thinking on the partnership between the UK and the Philippines.)
The President said that he and the Prime Minister may talk about trade, economy, and the welfare of Filipinos in the UK – even confident that the deployment of Filipino healthcare workers there will “surely” be discussed.
LIVE UPDATES: Coronation of King Charles III
“Lahat naman ng bansa ay umaasa at nagtatanong kung pwede ba paramihin ang mga healthcare workers na pupunta,” he said.
(All countries are hoping and asking us to deploy more healthcare workers for them.)
The President said he believes the Philippines and the UK will “maintain the same relationship,” which he said has been “advantageous to all parties involved.”
“I think we will stay the course and continue to deal with each other in a very similar way that we have done before,” he said.
READ: Factbox: What to expect from King Charles’ coronation on May 6
Marcos said other world leaders have also requested a meeting with him, but that he will try to make room in the “very heavy schedule” for the coronation of King Charles III.
These meetings, he said, will be “very casual” and “informal.”
READ: UK PM looks forward to meeting Marcos at Charles’ coronation
“Habang siguro naghihintay sa actual na seremoniya ng koronasyon kay King Charles [ang mga pag-uusap]. It has to be very casual dahil (because) everybody has to follow a very heavy schedule of the coronation,” the President added.
(Maybe we can do the talks while waiting for the actual ceremony of the coronation of King Charles.)
Marcos is set to leave Washington for London on Thursday night. Upon arrival, he and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend a reception at Buckingham Palace on May 5, ahead of the coronation on May 6.
READ: Bongbong Marcos, First Lady to attend King Charles III’s coronation in London
The President justified his trip to the UK, saying it is only proper for him to attend the coronation since he personally knows King Charles.
“Sa palagay ko, dahil magkakilala kami, dapat naman. Napakalaking bagay na siya’y kokoronahan bilang hari ng UK at dapat makapag-attend na ako,” he said.
(I think it is only proper since we know each other. It’s a big deal that he will be crowned king of the UK and I should be able to attend.)
He also said that while in London, he will take the opportunity to inspect Gatwick Airport to learn about their best practices for application to the Philippines’ major airports.
“Usually, hindi sa Gatwick ang pinupuntahan ngunit ngayon ay pupuntahan ko ‘yung Gatwick dahil titingnan ko ‘yung operation ng kanilang airport kung bagay ba ito – ‘yung mga lessons learned nila, ‘yung mga ginagawa nila, kung best practices ‘yan na puwede nating dalhin sa Pilipinas,” Marcos said.
(Usually, I don’t go to Gatwick but now I will go to Gatwick because I will check the operation of their airport, if it suits – the lessons they learned, the things they do, if those are best practices that we can bring to the Philippines.)
The chief executive earlier renewed his administration’s commitment to improving Manila’s airport operations to ensure ease of travel to strengthen the Philippines’ tourism sector.
Marcos’ statement came three days after a power failure struck the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, which cancelled and delayed many scheduled flights.
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