18 September 2025, Ottawa – Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga formally presented his Letter of Credence to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, in a stately ceremony held at the Rideau Hall in the afternoon of 15 September 2025.
Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga also handed over to Governor General Simon the letter of recall of his predecessor, Ambassador Maria Andrelita S. Austria.
Governor General Simon, in her remarks addressed to Heads of Mission, expressed hope for the Ambassadors to cooperate with Canada on global issues, and highlighted the values of cooperation, equality, inclusivity and peace towards a safer and more prosperous world.
During the tête-à-tête following the ceremony, Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga expressed appreciation to Governor General Simon for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the bilateral relationship between Philippines and Canada. The two discussed the strong people-to-people ties including the shared value of protecting and upholding the rights of Indigenous communities.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga was accompanied by his family and the officers of the Philippine Embassy.
Prior to his assumption as the Philippines’ top diplomat to Canada, Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga headed the Office of American Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs. END
