The House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday adopted their respective resolutions expressing their sympathy and profound condolences on the demise of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
House Resolution 346 was filed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
HR 346 was adopted in consolidation with HRs 347, 349, and 350.
At the Upper House, Senate President Migz Zubiri said the longest-reigning British monarch always led with quiet grace and dignity, never seeming to sag under the heavy weight of the crown.
“All public 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,” he pointed out.
“Not so for the Queen. At just 25 years old, she had no choice but to relinquish any possibility of a life lived for herself. In a strange way, in taking up the highest seat of power, she also gave up autonomy over herself,” he added.
The House lawmakers noted that Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to serving her nation where British nationals and people around the globe remember her with deep respect and great affection because of her unforgettable contributions.
The resolution said Queen Elizabeth II was once called “Elizabeth the Steadfast” because she never failed to show the importance of lasting values in a modern world through her service and commitment.
“The passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, a cherished sovereign, and a beneficent ruler, will be deeply felt by the Royal Family, the people throughout the United Kingdom, the realms, and the Commonwealth for whom she devoted the greatest part of her life to serving and by countless people around the world who witnessed and admired her reign as a great monarch who served her people well,” read the resolution.
A copy of the resolution will be given to the British Embassy in Manila.
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by her children, His Majesty King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
She assumed the responsibilities of the ruling monarch on February 6, 1952 when her father, King George VI, died, and she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey at the age of 25.
“During her tenure as head of state, great changes occurred such as the transition from the British empire to Commonwealth; post-war austerity measures; end of the Cold War; the United Kingdom’s entry into and eventual withdrawal from the European Union,” the resolution said.
“Throughout these changes, Queen Elizabeth II embodied continuity and unity in the British Isles, guaranteed stability in moments of crisis, kept alive the value of tradition in a society of constant change and profound evolution, and provided inspiring leadership to her people,” it added.
“Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was an instantly recognizable figure to billions of people across the world who served as an inspiration to many generations of public servants in all parts of the globe—a gentle, yet solid rock of stability who exhibited grace and decency in performing her duty in times of crisis; and a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change.”