‘Listen to your inner soul,’ female army officer advises
“Listen to your inner soul.”
This was the advice of Presidential Security Group (PSG) spokesperson Maj. Zeerah Blanche Lucrecia to women, especially girls, who want to pursue their dream in a male-dominated profession.
Lucrecia is also the deputy assistant chief of staff for personnel, G1 and was the first female commanding officer of the First Guard Company with the Presidential Guards Battalion.
The 42-year-old soldier has spent 18 years of her life dedicated to the country’s defense.
Lifelong dream
Since Lucrecia was young, she wanted to have a role in national security although no one in her family had been a soldier.
“When I was young, it has always been my dream to become a pilot. In high school, we had the Citizens Army Training (CAT) then and I was our school’s battalion commander,” Lucrecia told INQUIRER.net.
“So, with these thoughts in mind when I was young, I could consider that it has always been in my core to uphold security and it seemed very natural to me,” she said.
“From being the CAT commander, I knew what my purpose would be and that is to be part of this nation’s national defense,” she added.
Her plan to join the military, however, was met by discouragement, even from her own family.
“Well, at first, they were hesitant, my mom, especially,” Lucrecia said.
“But my dad then was very supportive until such time that I did not get both their blessings, I did not pursue it. But, when they said, ‘okay, go. We give you our permission. We give you our blessing,’ then that was the time that I pursued to join the military,” Lucrecia recounted, noting that her family was aware of the risks of being a soldier.
“Because I believe that everything that you do with your parents’ or family’s support, you’ll be able to achieve everything,” she added.
The PSG spokesperson said that she showed her parents how much she wanted to be in the military to persuade them.
“I showed them that I was really determined. I really wanted this. This is what I want. As you can see, they see I’m very happy now and I feel fulfilled. This has been really my lifelong dream,” she said.
Challenges in the military
After convincing her parents, Lucrecia joined the Army and, as expected, she faced challenges.
Aside from being away far from her family, she initially struggled with her physical endurance which she eventually overcame.
“There was a challenge. So, as a woman, we tend to need more time to gain more physical strength and stamina as compared to men in the training who are naturally strong already,” Lucrecia said.
“Of course, being a female leader in a male-dominated work, so they say, one would feel like an underdog. But what’s good about this is that it has helped me to remain determined and strong-willed, and focused at the same time,” she said.
Lucrecia said that “succeeding in the military as a woman is possible” as she herself had shown.
Unlike in other professions where gender bias is evident, Lucrecia said that in the military, she did not experience any discrimination or belittling from her colleagues.
“I entered the Philippine Army in time when the training for both men and women were the same. There are no special treatments. There is equality,” she said.
She went on: “I haven’t felt anything of that. There is nothing like that. There is mutual respect and professionalism.”
Lucrecia said that the military is inclusive, citing that 200 of the 2,500 PSG troopers are women.
Uplifting girls, women
As the world celebrates International Women’s Month, Lucrecia has a message of encouragement, especially for girls, to reach their dreams regardless of gender domination in the field.
“You listen to your inner soul. You learn to do that before you expect others to do that for you. I think it’s about time for us, women, to learn to stand on stage and to take the lead and win in life,” she said.
“The world has become kinder to us, I believe and we welcome this development. And we always remind [ourselves] that you are enough, you are capable, you are beautiful, and together, we can make change work for women,” Lucrecia further said.
TSB