Meet new Philippine ambassador to Canada

Petronila P. Garcia is the new Philippine Ambassador to Canada. She is a career diplomat who previously served as ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt with concurrent jurisdiction over Sudan (2004-2007) and ambassador to Israel (2007-2011). Prior to her assignment to Canada, she had been designated as the assistant secretary for Middle East and African Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – a position she held since August 2011.

She was born on January 22,1956, in San Juan, Rizal, Philippines, divorced with two children Angelo Victor Garcia and Jose Gabriel Reyes.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Maryknoll College (1977) and a bachelor of laws degree. She is also a member of Mensa, the oldest and largest high IQ society in the world.

She joined DFA in 1981, after passing the Foreign Service Officer’s examination. She also passed the Career Minister’s examination in 1984.

Garcia served in the Philippine Embassy in Singapore (1984-1987) as third secretary and consul; the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, Australia (1987-1992) as consul; the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv (1993-1995) as counsellor; the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa (1995-1997) as counsellor and charge d’ affaires a.i.; the Philippine Embassy in South Korea (1997-1999) as minister and charge d’ affaires, a.i.

She hails from Negros Occidental, Philippines.