The Embassy of the Philippines in The Hague takes pride and great honor in the arrival of Ambassador designate Cardozo Manalo Luna on Thursday, 6 August 2009.

A day after the departure of former Ambassador Romeo A. Arguelles on 17 July 2009, Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands granted agreement to the nomination of Ambassador Luna as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to Her Court on 18 July 2009.

The Agrément of Ambassador Luna was received by the Embassy of the Philippines in The Hague on 22 July 2009 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Ambassador Luna brings with him a wealth of experience from rendering 38 years of public service in the military. Prior to his early retirement on 1 May 2009, Ambassador Luna held the rank of Lieutenant General and served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff from 7 May 2008 to 1 May 2009.

On 1 May 2009, Ambassador Luna tendered his retirement four (4) months prior to reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 in the military in view of his nomination as Ambassador of the Philippines to the Netherlands.

Having gained prior experience in the diplomatic service from his posting as Junior Staff to the Defense Attaché in Washington D.C. from 1981 to 1984, Ambassador Luna has been frequently likened to a “dove” because of his belief in peace-making initiatives.

The Ambassador looks forward to a productive assignment in the Netherlands where he intends to make his contribution to further strengthen the existing political, economic, cultural and security relations between the Philippines and the Netherlands, as well as actively promote peace-making initiatives through multilateral relations.

His stellar academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City (Class ’75), a Master of Arts in Economics Development from the University of the Philippines, a Master of Arts in Economics Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D candidacy in Regional Economics also from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ambassador Luna, born in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, is the son of retired Colonel Raymundo V. Luna and Teofista Manalo. Owing to Colonel Luna’s profession as a lawyer, his son Cardozo is named after Benjamin N. Cardozo, the renowned Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court who significantly contributed to the development of American Civil Law in the 20^th century.

Ambassador Luna is married to Mrs. Joyce Marcelina Espinosa Siongco Luna from Tarlac, with whom he has 2 sons and 3 daughters.

Ambassador Luna is scheduled to present his credentials before Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on Wednesday, 26 August 2009.

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