Keep fighting for gender equality, women soldiers urged

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the House of Representatives yesterday called on women members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to continue their work in keeping the peace and democracy in the country despite “continuing challenges on gender equality.”

Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, who represents Las Piñas’ lone district, made the call during her recent speech at the opening ceremony of the National Women’s Month Celebration of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Villar noted how women soldiers had to work extra to prove that “they are capable of standing and fighting side by side with men.”

Women were first admitted to the AFP when Republic Act 3835 was enacted in 1963, but their role was limited to non-combat and administrative duties.

In 1993, Congress passed RA 7192, which allowed women to become trained combat soldiers in the military.

Woman soldiers’ contribution is not only limited to combat duties, according to the administration lawmaker.

As of 2020, the Army has had six female officers assigned as battalion commanders, 795 female officers and 3,777 woman soldiers.

“What makes the achievements of woman soldiers more impressive is the pressure that they experience as they are immersed in the AFP, which has been considered for a long time as an only-male profession,” she said.

“It is not just about individual accomplishments, but also a reflection on the capabilities of women as a sector,” she added.

Villar expressed hope that as woman soldiers embark on the activities that the latter have organized for women’s month, they will find the time and resources to pay it forward by encouraging girls to follow their path, guiding other women who are afraid and who face uncertainties, to shatter their own ceilings.

“This is your challenge. This is your vocation as women warriors. To continue the fight for gender equality,” she said.

“Aside from combat duties, women have been invaluable in the security and development sector as well as in peace-building activities of the government. They have contributed in making government policies more responsive to issues and concerns of women, thereby strengthening the role of women in nation-building,” she added.

The lawmaker underscored the “expanding” role of women in politics, business, and in other male-dominated sectors.

“Women have made inroads despite the odds,” she said, as she recalled how she had to break barriers and “overcome many challenges, including the fact that I was entering a world dominated by men” when she first started out in the business sector.

“I remember when I first entered the board room for a meeting with our corporate officers, I felt the doubts from almost every senior officer in the room who probably thought that I – a young and inexperienced woman – do not possess what is necessary to run a big business. But I was never rattled. Instead it gave me the motivation to do my best and prove them wrong. I told myself, never let anyone turn your sky into a ceiling. And even if you see a ceiling, shatter it,” she added.

Further addressing the country’s woman “jungle fighters,” Villar expressed certainty that what they faced when they first entered the military was “far more substantial.”

She also lauded the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong for recognizing the vital role of Filipino women in the military and in the nation.

“The 2nd Infantry Division, of course, has been the bulwark of our nation’s defenses against the enemies of freedom... The Philippine Army should also be proud of the fact that it is at the forefront of women empowerment and inclusivity,” Villar said.