After presenting her credentials to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, Sept. 20, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel is now her country’s permanent resident envoy to Manila.
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel shakes hands with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who received her credentials during a ceremony in Malacañang on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (PPA Pool/Yummie Dingding)
In two separate posts on X (formerly Twitter), the ambassador shared about why she visited the presidential palace.
“Leaving #Malacañang as official Ambassador of (France) to the (Philippines),” she wrote.
In another post, she also included photos of herself presenting her credentials to the President, the arrival honors given to her at the Palace grounds, and her signing of the guestbook there.
There was also a photo of herself and the President with their delegations in front of the official seal of the Philippine president.
“Honored to have presented today my credentials to HE President @bongbongmarcos,” she wrote, tagging the official X account of the Chief Executive.
Fontanel also shared about her ambitions for the two countries’ relationship.
“As Ambassador of (France) to the (Philippines) I will put all my energy to contribute to strengthen further our bilateral cooperation,” she said.
The ambassador already met the embassy’s consular officers based on her previous post.
“Fabulous moment with the Consular Corps last Tuesday who welcomes every year with intense & warm kindness the new Ambassadors arrived in (the Philippines). This was like a family reunion,” she added.
In a post, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Manila Luc Veron congratulated the French ambassador on the presentation of her credentials and expressed his excitement “to partner with you here in the Philippines."
A former adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron on solidarity, health and gender equality Fontanel arrived in the country in August 2023.