King Charles has expressed his gratitude towards Filipinos, especially those serving in the NHS, at an event in Waltham Forest, London.
Speaking to Filipino community leader and entrepreneur Averil Pooten Watan, the King recalled the excellent care he recently received from a Filipino nurse.
“As the daughter of a retired NHS nurse, and as I now support social care, this acknowledgement meant a lot,” Ms Watan wrote on Facebook.
Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Waltham Forest Town Hall on Friday, 20th December. They attended events to celebrate its community spirit in the wake of racist riots that took place in August. Waltham Forest was recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary in 2023 for welcoming immigrants and refugees from around the world. It is one of the most ethnically diverse local authorities in England.
Representing the Filipino community in the area, Ms Watan supported the borough to be accredited as a Borough of Sanctuary. She is the chair of Igorot-UK Charity, an organisation formed by indigenous Filipinos originally from the Cordillera region in the northern Philippines. Many of its members live in the borough.
Ms Watan is the daughter of Conchita Pooten, a retired mental health nurse and one of the first nurses from Baguio City who came to the UK as a student nurse in the late 60s.
“His parting words, asking me to extend his ‘best wishes and thanks to the Filipino community,’ were a profound reminder of the impact and value of our contributions, both big and small.
“Today wasn’t just about a meeting with royalty. It was a powerful affirmation of my Filipino heritage and our community’s role and recognition within the UK. It’s moments like these that reinforce the importance of community, heritage, and the continuous contributions we all make towards a richer, more diverse society,” she wrote in her post.
