Ilongga begins official role as PH envoy to Vatican

By Sean Rafio

Ambassador Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig met with Pope Francis on Saturday to present her credential letters as she officially begins her role as the Ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See.

The Commission on Appointments confirmed last June the nomination of Macahilig, who happened to be a native of Pavia, Iloilo.

“This year is actually a very auspicious year for Philippines and the Holy See diplomatic relations. As everyone may remember, this is actually the 70th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Holy See,” Macahilig said after her conferment.

“The Catholic Church in the Philippines is actually commemorating the 500th year of the introduction of Christianity to the country,” she added.

Macahilig, an alumna of Iloilo Science and Technology University and the University of the Philippines Visayas, also has jurisdiction over the Sovereign Order of Malta.

She replaced Grace Relucio-Princesa, who served as the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See from September 2018 until her retirement early this year.

Macahilig has been serving the Department of Foreign Affairs for over 23 years. She previously served in the Philippine embassies in New Zealand from 2002 to 2008 and in the United Kingdom from 2012 to 2018.