26 June 2014 - Philippine Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas, together with his spouse, Mrs. Isabelita T. Salinas, attended the reception on the occasion of the proclamation of King Felipe VI, which was held on June 19 at the Royal Palace.
The reception, which was deliberately made a modest affair, was attended by about 2,000 guests from various sectors.
In the morning of the reception, the King was sworn in as the new King of Spain in a simple ceremony held at the Spanish Congress. In his speech, the King pledged a renewed monarchy that would adapt to the challenges of the present (“Monarquia renovada para un tiempo nuevo”). He pointed out the need to revive the image of the monarchy, which had suffered from a string of scandals.
His Majesty spoke about the two main challenges that the monarchy is facing: the division among the Spanish people between those who want to maintain the monarchy and those who want a republic, and the economic crisis in the country. He expressed his desire to become a symbol of national unity by following the Spanish constitution. He expressed hope for a united and diverse Spain, calling for respect for the diverse cultures and languages within Spain, which is a clear reference to Catalonia and the Basque country where there is a growing independence movement. As to the economic crisis, he acknowledged that the crisis still remains, and at the same time he also acknowledged the need for public officials to lead by example in response to the economic crisis and the widespread dissatisfaction with politicians.
King Felipe VI also repeatedly acknowledged the laudable accomplishment of his father and mother during their reign, to which the crowd responded with long applauses.
Aware of the great responsibility that he will have to bear as King, and having pledged in his speech to do all that he could for the benefit of the country and the people, and in accordance with the Spanish constitution, he quoted a phrase from beloved Spanish literary character Don Quixote that says “A man is not worth more than another man if he does not do more than him.” END