New PH Ambassador Presents Credentials to Australian Governor-General, Affirms Enduring PH-AU Ties

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove AK MC of the Commonwealth of Australia receives the letter of credence of Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega at a ceremony held on 29 November 2018 at the Government House in Canberra. (Canberra PE photo)

CANBERRA 11 December 2018 – Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega presented her credentials to the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), in a ceremony on 29 November 2018 at the Government House in Canberra.

During the call after the presentation of credentials, the two officials talked about the historic and enduring relations of the Philippines and Australia as well as the vibrant people to people ties between the two countries.

Before assuming her post in Canberra, Ambassador De La Vega was Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs. In this position, she led the Philippine chairmanship of the 10-country regional bloc in 2017.

She also served as Ambassador of the Philippines in Myanmar and Consul General in Los Angeles, California, and held diplomatic assignments in Indonesia, Spain, Japan and China.

In Manila, Ambassador De La Vega held leadership positions in the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs and Office of the Undersecretary for Policy. END

For more information, visit www.canberrape.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philembassy.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia/.

Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega inspects the guard of honor and band after she presented the letter of credence to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Sir Peter Crosgrove. (Canberra PE photo)

First row from left: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Chief of Protocol Lyndall Sachs, Lady Cosgrove, souse of the Ambassador Mr. Joveno Victorino De La Vega, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC, Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen Barber De La Vega, and DFAT Deputy Secretary Tony Sheehan. (Canberra PE photo) 

Second row from left: Aide de Camp Nam Nguyen RAN, First Secretary and Consul Corina Reyes, First Secretary and Consul Jim Tito San Agustin, Assistant Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Nhel Richard Patricio, and Acting Official Secretary to the Governor-General Paul Singer MVO. (Canberra PE photo)