Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and His Excellency President Andrzej Duda on their first official photo
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of Poland H.E. Mr. Andrezj Duda at the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw on 11 July 2019.
Ambassador Ruiz was accompanied by her spouse, Mr. Alejandro Ricardo Ruiz, Deputy Chief of Mission Mardomel Celo Melicor and Consul Alena Grace Borra.
The ceremony commenced with the conveyance of Ambassador Ruiz and her delegation from the Philippine Embassy to the Palace in two government cars escorted by the Protocol Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government Protection Bureau Officers.
Mr. Krzysztof Krajewski, Director of Diplomatic Protocol with the Commander of the Guard of Honor led
Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz during the inspection of the Polish troops
She was greeted upon arrival at the Belvedere courtyard by the Director of the MFA Diplomatic Protocol and then by the Commander of the Guard of Honor of the Polish Army. The Philippine National Anthem was played by the military orchestra and after the traditional military honors which was highlighted by an exchange of greetings in Polish with the soldiers, Ambassador Ruiz was greeted at the steps of the Palace by the President’s Chief of Cabinet Mr. Krzysztof Szczerski and was led to the Raspberry Room for the presentation of her credentials.
His Excellency President Mr. Andzrej Duda warmly welcomes Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz at the Belwedere Palace
President Duda warmly greeted Ambassador Ruiz and received her letter of credentials and the letter of recall of her predecessor. He proceeded to introduce the Palace and MFA officials in attendance and the Ambassador also introduced to him the members of her delegation. He invited her for a brief photo-taking by the Palace media present and then led her to another room for the private audience which was also attended by the Chief of Cabinet and the MFA Undersecretary of State for parliamentary, legal, consular and multilateral affairs Mr. Piotr Wawrzyk.
A brief meeting between President Andrzej Duda and Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz joined by Chief of Cabinet Mr. Krzysztof Szczerski and MFA Undersecretary of State Mr. Piotr Wawrzyk
During the private meeting, President Duda and Ambassador Ruiz briefly discussed the various aspects of Philippines-Poland relations and stressed the commitment of both countries to work actively to strengthen bilateral cooperation and linkages particularly in the areas of trade and investment, culture, science and technology, and tourism.
In parting, the President reiterated his warm welcome and best wishes for the bilateral relations. The Ambassador and her delegation departed the Raspberry Room and then paused at the steps of the Belvedere Palace to hear the playing of the Polish National Anthem, after which she bid farewell to the Director of Protocol and then boarded the government car to proceed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the traditional wreath-laying ceremony.
Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and her delegation stand at attention for the departure ceremonies
Upon arrival at the Tomb, Ambassador Ruiz was warmly welcomed by the Deputy Director of the MFA Diplomatic Protocol, the Garrison Commander and the Chief of the Defence Ministry’s Protocol Section. Two soldiers carried the large Philippine Embassy wreath decked with red, white and yellow roses, and to the sound of drums, the Ambassador, flanked by the Polish officials, slowly marched and laid the wreath on the tombstone. After paying tribute with a moment of silence, Ambassador Ruiz signed the Memorial Book and she and her delegation was then accorded a brief tour by one of the soldiers guarding the Tomb. After the wreath-laying ceremony, Ambassador Ruiz and her delegation boarded the government cars to return to the Embassy.
Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz laid a wreath and paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Ambassador Ruiz is the 5th Philippine Ambassador to Poland and her post also has concurrent jurisdiction over Philippine relations with the countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. She was the first female Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2016 and she was also previously assigned to the Philippine Embassies in Wellington, Kuala Lumpur, Canberra, and Berlin. She also served as Chief Coordinator of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Secretary of the Department Legislative Liaison Unit (DLLU), Executive Director of the UN and International Organizations Office (UNIO), Director of the Political and Security Division of UNIO, Director of the Human Rights Division of UNIO, Director in the ASEAN Affairs Office, and Acting Director in the Office of the European Affairs. END
First official photo of Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz and her family
together with Philippine Embassy officials and staff
