This episode of The Ovfabpinays podcast features Carlyn Monastrial, Acting Director of Office of ASEAN Affairs, Socio-Cultural division. Tune in as we talk about Carlyn’s overseas experience, more particularly being based in Brazil vs San Francisco in the US, how she got into foreign service, how it is like to be a diplomat and the typical career progression of foreign service personnel, some highlights of her career, and the aim of the socio-cultural division of the ASEAN and its programs geared towards recovery from the pandemic. Carlyn also shares what she likes most about The Overseas Fabulous Pinay: a modern Filipina’s handbook on how to thrive abroad and on being an Ovfabpinay.
Watch the podcast here.
Carlyn Monastrial assumed the position of Assistant Director of Division 4 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Committee, and then became Acting Director in July 2019, at the Office of ASEAN Affairs.
She was posted in San Francisco from October 2014 to September 2108, where she was Vice Consul, and then Consul at the Philippine Consulate General. Apart from her consular duties, she was in charge of the cultural, community and public information portfolio of the Consulate, which she handled for four years.
Prior to her post in San Francisco, she was Third Secretary and Vice Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Brazil from March 2012 to October 2014, where she handled the political, economic, cultural and ATN portfolios in turns. During her posting in Brasilia, she was the Chair of the Working Group of the ASEAN Committee in Brazil.
Carlyn entered the foreign service in 2009, and was assigned as Principal Assistant to Ambassador Belen Anota at the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination.
She graduated with a Social Sciences degree in Ateneo de Manila University, and a Master in Business Administration at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Rockwell, Makati. Though her father hails from Lipa, and her mother from Masbate, she calls Makati City her home.
Watch the podcast here.
