FSI Director Ma. Angelina M. Sta. Catalina undertook a working visit to Argentina, Chile, and Mexico from 15 to 27 June 2013.  The visit was in consonance with the initiative of the DFA’s Office of American Affairs to implement memoranda of understanding signed with the diplomatic training institutes of the three Latin American countries. Amb. Sta. Catalina conducted lectures on “Advancing Philippine National Interest in the International Community” before entry level foreign service officers being trained at the  Instituto del Servicio Exterior de la Nacion (ISEN) Argentina, the  Academia Diplomatica de Chile, and Instituto Matias Romero (IMR) Mexico. A similar lecture was presented before the   Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales (CARI), an international relations think-tank in Argentina.  A high level of interest in Philippine history and culture, the continuing growth in the Philippine economy, and intra-regional economic integration was evident among the foreign service officers during the discussions that followed the lectures.