She goes by the name of Nanay Amba to her fellow expatriates, a strong woman with a smile that can light up a whole room.
She is Grace Relucio-Prinsesa, the first female Philippine Ambassador to the UAE and now the current ambassador of the country to the Holy See, the universal government of the Catholic Church in the Vatican.
Ambassador Grace has spent more than 20 years in the Philippine diplomatic service, and acted as assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Legislative Liaison Unit.
She was had previous job postings in Iraq, USA, Egypt and Switzerland.
Her story of sacrifice and love for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is lengthy, but otherwise a source of inspiration.
During an interview with Bo Sanchez in the show Truly Rich Club, Ambassador Grace said that she spent 31 years in the Department of Foreign Affairs after having passed the foreign officers’ civil exam in 1986.
They say that there are two kinds of ambassadors: a political one and a public servant. Ambassador Grace belongs to the second kind.
“If you want to serve really the Philippines, be a government employee. I’m a public servant,” Ambassador Grace told Bo Sanchez during her interview.
“From Chicago, I transferred to the UAE. That’s when I saw the Sarah Balabagan case with the late ambassador Roy Señeres,” she added.
In the early 1990s, Sarah Balabagan’s story made headlines. Sarah, a 14-year-old OFW in the UAE, was arrested after she stabbed her male employer 34 times.
Sarah alleged that her employer tried to rape her and she stabbed him as an act of self-defense.
It was this case that Nanay Amba considers as an eye-opener regarding the plights of overseas workers.
“Thats why I studied migration in full. Talagang inaaral ko hanggang ngayon,” the ambassador revealed.
In 2009, Nanay Amba became the Philippines’ Ambassador to the UAE. It was during this time that she gradually earned the trust of OFWs and soon, they began calling her Nanay Amba, a monicker that she is grateful to have.
“I’ve spent 12 years in the Middle East precisely because that is where we need protection and that’s when I decided to really be a nanay, to really understand the issue,” Ambassador Grace said.
Ambassador Grace’s deep care for overseas workers who experienced abuse has been shaped by experience. She, too, has had her fair share of past experience in dealing with domestic abuse.
“Siguro God really shaped me to understand this phenomenon and to see that one of the reasons our women go out is really to provide for the family,” the ambassador shared.
“God used that experience for me to understand violence. This is not to denigrate, but it’s a silent killer and it’s a push for our women,” she also said.
New appointment
In January, Ambassador Grace was appointed the new ambassador to the Holy See by President Rodrigo Duterte.
As the new ambassador, Nanay Amba leaves her kababayans in Europe this message.
“I hope to really be with you. I hope may pagkakataon na magkasama-sama po tayo. Imbitahin niyo ako ang if the Philippine government allows, I’ll be there to explain the ‘sino ako, ako ay Pilipino’ advocacy that I have,” the woman ambassador said.
“Without the Filipinos, the world will be a darker place. We give light to the world. We are the ones in demand for the nurturing professions, for the tender loving care we give,” Nanay Amba said.
“If the world needs us more, then they should treat us well,” she added.
