By
Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – Since
the time the Armed of the Philippines (AFP) opened its doors to the women, the
military organization is no longer an exclusive domain of the men, recognizing
the women’s right to serve the organization.
This has encouraged Private
Raniene Jane Hamillian, 21, an enlisted lady soldier to continue working for
the AFP.
Hamillian, who has been in the
military service for more than a year now, told the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) in an interview that women are “treated as equals inside the
camp.” She is one of three lady soldiers – an officer and two enlisted
personnel - working in the 1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron, First
Mechanized Infantry Division in Camp Col Jacobe Zobel, Upper Pulacan, Labangan,
Zamboanga del Sur.
At first, Hamillian said, it was
not her dream become a soldier because she found it very difficult to compete
with men. But an uncle pushed her to enter the military service, as he noticed
that she had potentials to become a good soldier.
“Nadasig ako sa
awhag sa akong Tito nga mosulod pagka-sundalo tungod kay iyang nakita nga taas
akong height ug nagtuo siya nga mahimo
nako ang mga gimbuhaton sa mga lalaking sundalo. Ako usab nakita nga adunay babaye
nga sundalo nga ang ilang height average lang,” Himilian explained.
(I
was inspired by my uncle to enter the military service because I have my height
and he believes that I can do what the men can and I have also noticed that the
height of other female soldiers is only average.)
“Usa usab ka butang
nga dili nako malimtan ni Tito nga dihang giingnan ko niya, ‘You will be
somebody someday’,” Hamillian
quoted her uncle as saying.
(I
cannot also forget what my uncle told me “You will be somebody someday.”)
After she graduated from her
two-year course of Information Technology in Iligan City, she decided to join
military service.
A dancing
soldier
With her dancing prowess,
Hamillian leads the officers and men of the 1st Cavalry Squadron in
their Zumba session every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 a.m.
Hamillian said she feels proud
that she was given the opportunity to lead the officers and men in their weekly
Zumba session.
“Wala gyud ko
magdahum nga mangulo sa among Zumba session tungod kay kaniadto dinha ra ko sa
atbang duol sa entablado ug inanay gihimo ko nga usa sa mangulo sa maong
session sa among battalion”, Hamillian proudly said.
(I did not really expect that I
would lead the Zumba dance session because I only used to stay in front near
the stage. But, eventually they ordered me to lead the session in our
battalion.)
Hamillian said aside from her
office work, she is also actively assisting her male counterparts during
medical and dental civic action programs (MEDCAPs) in the different barangays
within the area of responsibility of the unit.
Meanwhile,
Lt. Col. Charlemagne Batayola said the unit is recognizing the vital role of
women in our society adding that that “they (women) can lead the organization well.”
Batayola
congratulated the enlisted women for they are faring well in their tasks and
duties.
In
the 1st Cavalry Squadron, Batayola said, female officers and
enlisted women became Gold crosser and combat awardees, a solid proof that they
can be deployed in the combat areas.
“With
the government’s implementation on Republic Act 9710 otherwise known as The Magna
Carta of Women, they (women) can now fully assert their rights as persons in
our society,” he added.
“Unlike
before, Filipino women lacked access to decent work and faced occupational
segregation and wage gaps; they were only allowed to perform household chores.
But with the law, they are now empowered. Civil and political rights enjoyed by
men are also enjoyed by our women,” he added.
“Inside
the camp the tasks given to men are capably handled by the women,” stressed
Batayola adding, “We treat women with respect.