Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2MLc-OKw1E
Queen Mariam of the Royal House of Luzon Tagalog, known formally as Queen Maria Amor Leonora Torres Mastura, paid a deeply moving and symbolic visit to Miejski Ogród Zoologiczny w Warszawie(Warsaw Zoological Gardens) as part of her private four-day visit to Poland. The private engagement, graciously organised by the Zoo and overseen by its longstanding director, Dr Andrzej G. Kruszewicz, offered a moment of solemn reflection and historical remembrance, while also looking ahead to a future of continued cultural and humanitarian collaboration.
The focal point of the Queen’s visit was a private tour of the historic Żabiński Villa and basement, once home to Jan Franciszek Dionizy Żabiński and his wife Antonina Żabiński. The couple’s extraordinary courage during the Second World War—when they risked their lives to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children from Nazi persecution by sheltering them within the grounds of the Zoo—has left an enduring legacy of compassion, bravery, and resistance. Their actions took place in plain view of occupying German officers stationed at the Zoo, underscoring the extraordinary nature of their defiance and moral conviction.
Mastura, who is also founder of the international Greatest Humanitarian of the World Awards, had long planned to posthumously recognise the Żabińskis’ unmatched courage and moral leadership. During her visit, she confirmed that Jan and Antonina Żabiński will be formally honoured at the forthcoming edition of the Awards later this year.
Photo Credit: Żabiński Foundation
Celebrating Humanitarianism Through Legacy
The Greatest Humanitarian Awards, established by Queen Mariam, recognise the world’s most renowned philanthropists and moral exemplars—those whose courage and kindness have shaped history and inspired generations. The decision to honour the Żabińskis at the upcoming ceremony reflects the Queen’s commitment to ensuring that historical humanitarian acts remain part of the contemporary global conscience.
“The Żabińskis remind us that in even the darkest of times, there are lights that refuse to be extinguished,” said Queen Mariam during her visit. “Their legacy transcends borders, cultures and faiths—it is a call to conscience that still echoes powerfully today.”
Following a quiet moment of reflection in the basement—where the Żabińskis once hid their guests in peril—the Queen met with Dr. Andrzej Kruszewicz in a closed meeting to finalize plans for the awards ceremony. It was jointly confirmed that the Warsaw Zoological Gardens will serve as host for the event later this year. In honour of the occasion, the Zoo is planning a full day of festivities, including a commemorative concert and educational programming for the public.
Modern Heroism Recognised
In a heartfelt gesture of acknowledgement, it was also announced that Dr Kruszewicz will be a recipient of a Greatest Humanitarian Award during the upcoming ceremony. His commitment to animal welfare—particularly his efforts to evacuate and safeguard endangered species from Ukraine at the onset of the ongoing conflict—has earned international recognition. The Queen praised Dr Kruszewicz for his tireless dedication to conservation and for promoting ecological education to the wider public.
His leadership has been instrumental in not only preserving rare species but also in transforming Warsaw Zoo into a centre of both refuge and education amid turbulent times.
A Tribute Through Art
In a further show of appreciation for the Zoo’s history and continued legacy, Queen Mariam announced the presentation of a specially commissioned mural to be unveiled during the awards ceremony. The artwork, intended to commemorate the bravery of the Żabińskis and the continued humanitarian and environmental work of the Zoo, is being overseen by Datu Jordan Nirankari-Bowen, Royal Spokesperson and Ambassador of the Sultanate of Maguindanao to Poland.
The mural will be installed within the grounds of the Zoo as a permanent visual testament to the stories that continue to shape the institution’s identity—past and present.
Continued Exploration of Conservation and Community
After formalities concluded, Queen Mariam was given a wider tour of the Zoo by Olga Zbonikowska, representing the Warsaw Zoo Foundation. The tour provided an opportunity to observe first-hand the institution’s extensive conservation work, animal care initiatives, and community outreach program. The Queen expressed particular interest in the Zoo’s collaboration with regional partners in animal welfare, as well as their educational initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of conservationists.
Throughout the visit, Mastura was warmly received by the Zoo’s staff and extended her personal thanks to the entire directorate for their generosity and hospitality. She noted the importance of cultural institutions like Warsaw Zoo not only as spaces for conservation but as platforms for social remembrance, civic dialogue, and historical education.
“The Warsaw Zoological Gardens are more than a sanctuary for animals—they are a living memorial to courage, a beacon of compassion, and a bridge between generations,” the Queen reflected at the conclusion of the tour.
Strengthening Cultural and Diplomatic Bonds
The visit to the Zoo forms part of Queen Mariam’s wider diplomatic and private engagement in Poland, where she has been involved in a series of meetings and inaugurations, including the establishment of the Royal Embassy of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in Warsaw and the Royal Chamber of the Royal House of Luzon Tagalog.
Her presence in the capital has served as a continuation of the warm and growing relationship between Poland and the Sultanate, centered around shared values of humanitarianism, heritage preservation, and international cooperation.
As Queen Mariam’s visit draws to a close, her engagement with the Żabiński legacy and the present-day work of Warsaw Zoo serves as a timely reminder that history lives on—not only in memory but in meaningful action. The forthcoming awards ceremony at the Zoo promises to be a celebration not just of the past, but of those who carry its values into the future.
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