Filipino driver gets award from Queen Elizabeth II

Filipino driver Roland Quitevis (Photo from British Embassy Manila's Facebook page)
Filipino driver Roland Quitevis (Photo from British Embassy Manila's Facebook page)

A FILIPINO driver from Ilocos Sur received the British Empire Medal from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom for his 33 years of service at the UK Embassy in Manila.

"I am delighted to announce that Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II has honored Mr. Roland Quitevis with the British Empire Medal for his services to UK-Philippine Relations," announced Ambassador Daniel Pruce in a post from the official Facebook page of British Embassy Manila.

"This is a thoroughly well-deserved recognition of Roland's long service at the Embassy, mostly spent as the Ambassador's driver," he added.

Quitevis was born in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur. He is the sixth of eight children in his family. At age 22, he moved to Manila and started his first job there as messenger in the British Embassy.

In the same Facebook post, Quitevis detailed his work experience and how it propelled him to multiple opportunities. Among these are two comprehensive driving courses that he took in 1999 and in 2013 in the United Kingdom.

"On both occasions, I was able to attend specialized trainings and boot camps where I was taught how to act in situations that demand urgent response, such as precautionary checks that need to be done to make sure that the car is safe to use and keeping the Ambassador away from harm in critical conditions," Quitevis said in the post.

"Apart from safety considerations, I have also learned, both in my training and through years of experience, how to maintain an alert yet relaxed and calm disposition, which reflects in the overall environment in the vehicle for the Ambassador or any VIP visitor as they carry out their diplomatic activities," he added.

Quitevis has served for 33 years as the official driver to eight of Queen Elizabeth II's ambassadors to the Philippines. He has also drove for some members of the Royal Family, including Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, and Prince Charles.

"For me, every moment with all the Ambassadors has been unforgettable, as they have treated me like family and always with utmost respect," he said.

The British Empire Medal is a "British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown," according to UK's Forces War Records website.

The award was established in 1922 to replace the Medal of the Order of the British Empire. (SunStar Philippines)

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