Last week, the Philippine Embassy in Germany welcomed a new Philippine Ambassador-designate to the Federal Republic of Germany, Her Excellency Maria Teresa Torres Almojuela, who grew up in Rawis, Virac.
Prior to her appointment to Germany, she served as Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations at the Department of Foreign Affairs, a post she held since June 2023.
After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Communication, major in Journalism, from the University of the Philippines, she worked as a legislative staff and information officer at the Office of then Senate President Edgardo J. Angara from 1992 to 1995 before joining the DFA,
With nearly three decades of experience in the Philippine Foreign Service, she has been posted in Xiamen, Beijing, and Vienna as well as served in the Home Office at the Office of the Asian and Pacific Affairs as Director for North Asia, Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office as Executive Director, and as Senior Special Assistant of the Undersecretary for Policy.
It was apparently during this time that she earned her Master of Public Policy from Oxford University.
In 2016, Almojuela assumed her position as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
She holds the rank of Chief of Mission Class, the highest rank in the Philippine career foreign service.
Her achieving the top rank among ambassadors did not come easy as she and other appointees were subjected to a grilling at the Senate.
At the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing, Almojuela was asked by Senator Jinggoy Estrada if it was right for the ICC to enter the Philippines to investigate.
“Hindi po. Personally at professionally because ang saklaw po ng ICC ay naja-justify lang kung mahina ang mga institutions ng isang bansa at kung walang mga proseso na nangyayari sa loob ng isang bansa para i-hear itong mga kaso na dinadala sa kanila,” Almojuela responded, as quoted in news reports.
The Tribune tried to secure details about her family and other details but a source close to Almojuela declined the request, saying only that the ambassador is a very private person who keeps a low profile.
“She loves her family and her humble origin,” the source stated. “Deep in heart taga-Rawis siya.”
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Last year’s 57% increase in the number of fatalities due to vehicular accidents means the police may not be doing much in making sure every motorcycle rider is using a safety helmet and wearing it correctly. There are still those who wear it merely as a decoration, with its straps unsecured.
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THE FAMILY TRADITION. Paddy had long heard the stories of an amazing family tradition…
It seems that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been able to walk on water on their 18th birthday.
On that special day, they’d each walked across the lake to the pub on the far side for their first legal drink.
So when Paddy’s 18th birthday came ’round, he and his pal Mick, took a boat out to the middle of the lake, Paddy, stepped out of the boat … and nearly drowned! Mick just barely managed to pull him to safety. Furious and confused, Paddy went to see his grandmother.
“Grandma,” he asked, “It’s my 18th birthday, so why can’t I walk ‘cross the lake like my father, his father, and his father before him?”
Granny looked deeply into Paddy’s, troubled brown eyes and said:
“Because you were born in August, but your father, your grandfather and your great grandfather were all born in December, when the lake is frozen, you idiot.”