Maria Theresa Lazaro
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
Maria Theresa Lazaro has been serving as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines since 1 July 2025. With a career spanning over four decades, Secretary Lazaro has been a pivotal figure in shaping Philippine foreign policy. Before her appointment as Secretary, she served as the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, where she was instrumental in navigating complex regional dynamics. Secretary Lazaro has represented the Philippines as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France and Switzerland, and held key diplomatic assignments in New York, Sydney, Madrid, Geneva, and Bangkok. Her deep expertise in Southeast Asian affairs is currently being utilised on the global stage through her recent appointment as the ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar. Secretary Lazaro holds a BA in International Studies from Maryknoll College and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines College of Law, and is a recipient of the Order of Sikatuna (Grand Cross) and the Gawad Mabini (Dakilang Kamanong), two of the highest honours awarded to Philippine diplomats.
Updated: May 4, 2026