The Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday the passing of retired Ambassador Ofelia Barcelona Castaño, remembering her 41 years of foreign service.
In a statement released on Saturday, the DFA said Castaño died on Friday. She was 77 years old.”©In her long and remarkable career that spanned 41 years, Castaño is remembered as Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong from 1993 to 1995 and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Turkey from 1999 to 2005.
She also served as Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Personnel and Administrative Services from 1995 to 1999.”©”©
Castaño joined the DFA in 1964 as a clerk at the Office of Consular Affairs.
She passed the Foreign Service Officer Examinations in 1973 and began her stint as a career officer of the Department as Principal Assistant at OCA.”©Since then, her Foreign Service career brought Castaño to numerous Home Office and foreign assignments.
At DFA Manila, Castaño served as Executive Director of the Office of Personnel and Administrative Services from 1985 to 1988 and as Special Assistant of the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration from 2005 to 2006.”© “©
Outside the country, Castaño served in various capacities at Philippine Foreign Service Posts in Austria from 1977 to 1982, the Netherlands from 1982 to 1985 and Singapore from 1988 to 1993.”©”©
The wake of Ambassador Castaño will start on May 19, 2018 at the Dao Room of La Funeraria Paz Sucat in Parañaque City, and will tentatively end on May 21, 2018. Other details, including the interment, will be announced at a later date.