The emergence of women as spokespersons in the military, police, coast guard, and fire bureau is a clear recognition of the trust and confidence that senior female officials have gained, particularly in the crucial and high-profile role of conveying straightforward, complete, and official messages and information from the country’s uniformed service.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Capt. Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab was the latest to be appointed as spokesperson as she joined a roster of other senior female officials in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as mouthpiece for their respective agencies.

“Ngayon po ay isa po tayong instrumento sa pagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon. Ngayon ay ating ipinaglalaban ang pagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon o pag-iwas doon sa laganap na fake information and disinformation (Right now, we are an instrument in disseminating factual information. We are advocating for the delivery of accurate information or avoiding the spread of fake information and disinformation),” she said in an interview on Wednesday, April 23.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronie Gil Gavan installed Cayabyab as the first-ever female spokesperson for the Coast Guard in its entire 123-year history last April 20.

She belonged to the first batch of female recruits trained by the PCG in 2002.

Since then, Gavan said that the steady rise of women in leadership positions in the PCG was the “culmination of decades of perseverance, shattering glass ceilings, and breaking barriers in the 21st century.”

This, as he recognized the growing role of women at the forefront of operations in the country’s armed uniform services.

Cayabyab joins an elite roster of female spokespersons in the uniformed service that include Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo for the PNP; Col. Francel Margareth Padilla for the AFP and Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo for the Philippine Air Force (PAF); and Senior Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza for the BFP.

Only the Philippine Navy, Philippine Army, Philippine Marines, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have men as spokespersons.

Succeeding in a male-dominated field

Cayabyab acknowledged that climbing the career ladder in a male-dominated agency like the PCG is a gargantuan task, a reality that she had to overcome after entering the service.

She, however, noted that the PCG has already implemented effective policies to ensure gender equity, women empowerment, and inclusivity for female officers in ranking posts.

“So ngayon po ang aming mga babae ay hindi lamang po ordinaryong miyembro. So sila po ay leader, sila po ay piloto, sila po ay kapitan ng mga barko, divers, and even frontliners po (So right now, our women personnel are not just ordinary members. They are leaders, pilots, ship captains, divers, and even frontliners),” Cayabyab said.

Fighting fake news

For Cayabyab, she is making it her advocacy to fight fake news amid the rapid spread of false information, especially online.

“Hindi po tayo perpekto pero gagawin po natin ang lahat na magkaroon ng kakayahan, dignidad at integridad sa pagbibigay po ng tamang impormasyon (We are not perfect but we will do everything to deliver correct information to the best of our ability, and with dignity and integrity),” she said.

“Nawa’y ang aking posisyon ngayon ay magsilbing inspirasyon sa ating mga kabayaan lalo na sa ating mga kababaihan na mayroon palang maidudulot na maibigay natin ang ating boses para makapagbigay ng tamang impormasyon at balita (I hope that my position would serve as an inspiration to our countrymen, especially the women, that lending our voices to share accurate information will bear good fruit).”

Read: Breaking barriers! PCG names first female spokesperson in 123 years