Women in maritime: fulfilling and empowering.

“Women empowerment is very important, particularly in the maritime sector. Everyone understands the touch of a mother, as the mother takes care of the family. So when a woman works in the maritime sector, like me in the Coast Guard, it’s like giving a touch of motherhood to the work. You are given an opportunity to flourish, not only as a mother, but also as a person and as a member of a community. When I entered the service I really wanted to provide service to the Filipino people, and I come from a family of seafarers. So my passion really reflects how the maritime sector has developed me as a person and as a mother. It has helped not only in my career, but also in terms of social perceptions. That’s why I named my son after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, because of my passion for the maritime sector I named him UNLOCS. So when it comes to empowerment it is really important for a woman to feel appreciated, a woman to be given opportunity to be excellent in the thing that a woman wants to do. I really love my job! Even if I had a lot of hard times at work, whenever I see the fruits of my labour, how my agency appreciates the work that I have done, it is not only fulfilling but it also gives this feeling of gratitude, feeling of fulfilment and empowerment. So thank you for the chance Philippine Coast Guard!”