23 February 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. in his visit to the City of Acapulco, Mexico met with officials of the Mexican Navy as part of the Philippine Embassy’s political diplomacy program.

The meeting, organized by Philippine Consul, a.h. to Acapulco Dr. Mario de la O Almazan and Mexican philanthropist Mr. Ricardo Irvine, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, was held at the Buque Escuela (B.E.) ARM Cuauhtemoc docked at the Port of Acapulco. The ship is a training maritime vessel of the Mexican Navy. The 34-year old B.E. Cuauhtemoc is a sailing ambassador for Mexico which has visited numerous ports all over the world. The ship also serves as a training vessel for Mexican Navy cadets and officers designed to equip its trainees with knowledge in the fields of nautical astronomy, naval communications, ship maintenance and maritime rules.

Vice Admiral Mario Maqueda Mendoza and the commanding officer of the B.E. Cuauhtemoc, Captain Pedro Mata Cervantes hopes that in the future, one of their port of calls will be the Port of Manila. Ambassador Dilem expressed his hope that the trip will materialize as it would be a fitting reminder to the citizens of the Philippines and Mexico of their countries’ shared maritime historical heritage as a result of 250 years of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon. END