Another Filipino-speaking envoy will be appointed the United Kingdom ambassador to the Philippines, replacing British diplomat Asif Ahmad in August.
In his official Twitter account, incoming British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Robert Pruce has posted two different video greetings, one in English and another in Filipino, announcing his appointment by the UK government.
“Malaking karangalan para sa akin na maging susunod na British ambassador sa Pilipinas [It is an honor for me to be the next British ambassador to the Philippines],” Pruce said.
“Kinagagalak ko na may pagkakataon ako na mapalakas pa ang ating magandang relasyon [I am glad for this opportunity to strengthen our good relations],” he added.
Ahmad, who would step down four years after his appointment in 2013, is famous for his ability to speak Filipino language fluently.
Pruce said he has been studying to master the Tagalog language as part of his preparation for deployment in Manila.
It has been a long-running tradition at the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office that British diplomats must be trained to learn the national language of their host countries.
“Masaya akong nag-aaral ng napakagandang wikang Tagalog at ginagawa ko ang lahat ng abot kaya ko para matutunan ito,” (I am happy to be studying the beautiful Tagalog language and I am doing everything to learn about it). he said.
Pruce previously served as the British deputy head of mission in Madrid and Bangkok from 2012 to 2016 and 2008 to 2012, respectively.
He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1990.
Ahmad would end his four-year diplomatic tour as the British envoy to the Philippines in July. He speaks seven languages and learned Tagalog in seven months.
Ahmad is also known for being very vocal about his views on the Philippines’ foreign and local policies, particularly about President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs and his plan to reimpose death penalty in the country.