Philippine Army Has First Female General
The Philippine Army now has its first female general in its 114-year history.
Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade said they are proud of the recent promotion of Brig. Gen. Ramona Go, the current assistant Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff for personnel based in Camp Aguinaldo.
Go is among dozens of military senior military officers recently promoted by President Benigno Aquino III on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Board of Generals.
Go and other newly promoted officials took their oath before the President last Monday.
Go, 54, is a native of San Dionisio, Iloilo.
"Call it courage, the dedication to serve, and the desire to make a difference, Brig. Gen. Ramona Go entered the profession of arms years ago and proved that in the place of some men, a woman can shine," Parlade said.
The military has had previous female generals in the past but they belong to the technical service, serving as nurses.
The current Armed Forces chief nurse is Brig. Gen. Nelia Buenaflor.
"She [Go] is the first lady general of the Philippine Army who is a regular officer," said Parlade.
He added that the promotion of Go to the star rank means that the AFP “is empowering women, giving more active role for women in the Armed Forces and in the Philippine Army."
Go was previously given combat assignments, including leading the Aviation Battalion of the Army’s Light Armor Division.
Go was commissioned into the service in January 1982, a month after finishing the Officer Candidate Course at Women's Royal in Australia.
She later took up various military courses, trainings and seminars, including Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Basic Airborne Course, Finance Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advance Course and Technical Service Command, and General Staff Course.
Go held various positions of major responsibility, including tactical officer of Army units and platoon leader of the Women Auxiliary Corps in Camp Aguinaldo.
She also headed a military tribunal that tried officers accused of infractions.
Go, whose previous assignment was as AFP Adjutant General, was also conferred the "Uliran Ina" award by the National M&F Day Foundation Inc.
She is a graduate of BS Chemistry from the Central Philippine University in 1977 and a holder of a master's degree on development management at the Asian Institute of Management.
"For the past several years, there has been an influx of female officers into the officers corps. General Ramona Go exemplifies the virtues needed by female officers to excel," AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said.
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com
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