29 April 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to Australia Minda Calaguian-Cruz presented her Letters of Credence to General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, on April 13 at the Government House, Canberra. Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz arrived in Canberra to assume her position on March 21.
The Ambassador and her spouse, former Philippine Ambassador to Korea Mr. Luis T. Cruz, were gathered from the Philippine Ambassador’s Official Residence by the Deputy Chief of Protocol, and escorted to Government House.
On arrival, the Ambassador’s delegation was met by the Chief of Protocol Ms. Lyndall Sachs and the Aide de Camp to the Governor General, and Australia’s Federation Guard gave a general salute as the military band played musical honors.
The Ambassador and her party were then escorted by the Chief of Protocol to the Drawing Room to present her Letters of Credence to Governor General Cosgrove, who as the representative of the Queen is the Head of State of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Governor General’s wife, Lady Cosgrove, was on hand to welcome the Ambassador.
The Governor General and the Ambassador proceeded for private discussions, which focused on the strong bilateral relations and steadfast friendship between the Philippines and Australia across all fronts.
The Governor General expressed satisfaction on the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Australian diplomatic relations and spoke of the very satisfactory relations as reflected in the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement signed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last November and our active people-to-people linkages.
After bidding farewell to the Governor General and Lady Cosgrove, the Ambassador was accorded a National Salute, followed by the playing of the Philippine National Anthem by the Royal Military College Band. The solemn ceremony concluded with Ambassador Calaguian-Cruz inspecting the Guard of Honor and the Military Band, where she had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with a Filipino-Australian band member.
The Ambassador’s retinue included her spouse, Ambassador Luis T. Cruz (ret.), Minister Nina P. Cainglet, First Secretary Jim B. San Agustin and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Ricardo Santiago.END
