Philippine Ambassador Presents Credentials to Pakistani President

Ambassador Emmanuel R. Fernandez (right) presents his Letter of Credence to President Asif Ali Zardari (center), in the presence of Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch (left)

ISLAMABAD 26 May 2025 — Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, formally presented his credentials to His Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in a solemn ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidential Palace) on 20 May 2025.

Ambassador Fernandez was received with full diplomatic honors and was accompanied by his spouse, Mdm. Alice Kalaw-Fernandez; Mr. Juan Paolo G. Alix, First Secretary and Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad; and Colonel Renato Narag, Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to Pakistan.

In his audience with President Zardari after presenting his Letter of Credence, Ambassador Fernandez conveyed the warm greetings of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and expressed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Pakistan. The Ambassador underscored the shared interests of both countries in promoting regional stability, enhancing bilateral trade, and expanding people-to-people linkages.

President Zardari welcomed Ambassador Fernandez and reciprocated the warm sentiments, affirming Pakistan’s readiness to deepen diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations with the Philippines. He also extended his best wishes for Ambassador Fernandez’s successful tour of duty in Pakistan.

Ambassador Fernandez is a Filipino career diplomat with twenty-five years of experience in the Philippine Foreign Service.

Prior to his current posting, he served as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy to Singapore. At the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, he held key positions including Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, and Acting Assistant Secretary and Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Communications and Research.

His previous overseas assignments include serving as Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy to the Kingdom of Spain; First Secretary and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and Second Secretary and Consul of the Philippine Embassy to the Italian Republic. He also served as Director for Southern Europe at the DFA’s Office of European Affairs.

In addition to his bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology, Ambassador Fernandez also holds a master’s degree in communication from the Ateneo de Manila University and a Ph.D. degree in sociology from the University of the Philippines.

He also completed executive programs at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore), the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), and the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (Boston University).

His published works include "A Pathway to Diplomacy" and three other books published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and the UST Publishing House. He was a recipient of a National Book Award and a Gintong Aklat Award in 2002, and was conferred a Special Award in 2020 by the Department of Foreign Affairs for his exemplary achievements in the field of non-fiction writing.  He recently co-edited a book on the trailblazing journeys of Filipino entrepreneurs in Singapore entitled "Making a Mark on the Little Red Dot."

Ambassador Fernandez aims to further invigorate the Philippines’ partnership with Pakistan and to pursue broader avenues of cooperation and dialogue. END

Ambassador Emmanuel R. Fernandez (second from left) engages in conversation with President Asif Ali Zardari (center), joined by Mme. Alicia Kalaw-Fernandez (left), Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch (second from right), and Military Secretary Brigadier Sajjid Akbar (right)

In this photo: Ambassador Emmanuel R. Fernandez (center left) and Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari (center right) with Chief of Protocol Tipu Usman, First Secretary Juan Paolo G. Alix, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Mme. Alicia Kalaw-Fernandez, Military Secretary Brigadier Sajid Akbar, and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché of the Philippines Col. Renato N. Narag (from left to right)

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PHInPakistan and https://islamabadpe.dfa.gov.ph/  or http://www.isdpe.com.pk/