Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia presented her credentials to H.E. President Taur Matan Ruak on 30 September 2015.
In her brief remarks during the formal ceremony, Ambassador Austria-Garcia extended the warm greetings of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III to President Ruak and the Timorese people. She also conveyed President Aquino’s best wishes for the continued good health of his Timorese counterpart and the prosperity of the Timorese nation.
In a subsequent private meeting with President Ruak, Ambassador Austria-Garcia said that she is committed to work closely with the Timor-Leste Government to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
Citing the two countries’ many commonalities, such as their shared Catholic heritage and core values, the Ambassador expressed optimism that the already strong bilateral ties between the Philippines and Timor-Leste will continue to grow and flourish.
For his part, President Ruak thanked the Philippine Government and the Filipino people for their generous support and assistance to the nation-building efforts of Timor-Leste, particularly in the area of human resource development and capacity-building. He stressed that “the Philippines has done a lot for Timor-Leste since 1999.”
The President also assured Ambassador Austria-Garcia of the Timor-Leste Government’s assistance in fulfilling her mandate.
During the meeting, both officials agreed that the two countries should continue their ongoing educational cooperation, including in areas such as tourism and cultural development, which President Ruak identified as needing human resource development and institutional building.
The ceremony for the presentation of credentials ended with Ambassador Austria-Garcia inspecting the Honor Guards.
The Ambassador was accompanied at the ceremony by her husband, Mr. Rico M. Garcia, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Maurice A. Tiempo, Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (DAFA) Col. Emilio T. Hulipas, Attaché and Administrative Officer Reynold D. Banda, and Administrative Assistant to the DAFA MSg Glen A. Paloyo.
Those in attendance at the Timorese side were Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, Civilian Chief of Staff to the President Dr. Rui Gomes, and Military Chief of Staff to the President Col. José “Trix” da Costa.
Prior to her appointment as the Philippines’ envoy to Timor-Leste, Ambassador Austria-Garcia served as Chief of Protocol at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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