Two Air Force pilots prove Filipinas can fly high

 From CNN Philippines (Mar 10, 2023): Two Air Force pilots prove Filipinas can fly high

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10) — Two female pilots of the Philippine Air Force have proven that women can - literally - aim for the sky.

For First Lt. Xandra Aquinde, her job makes her feel accomplished.

"Yung females kilala sila bilang nerbiyosa...pero pagdating namin sa itaas, kumbaga, malaman po namin na isa kami sa inaasahan ng mga nasa ibaba, sobrang nakakataba ng puso na nalalaman po namin na natulungan namin sila," she told CNN Philippines' News Night.

[Translation: Women are often stereotyped as nervous...but once we are up in the air, it touches our hearts when we know that people down there trust us and we're able to help them.]

Aquinde followed the footsteps of her father - a retired master sergeant. It runs in the family, as her grandfather and uncle are also retired PAF members.

For Major Xyza Anna Amar Antenor-Cruz, being a pilot shows women are equally capable in a male-dominated field.

"Being one of those pilots, nakaka-proud na hindi natin ina-underestimate yung skills and potentials ng isang babae as a pilot," she said.

[Translation: It makes me proud to know that they are not underestimating our skills and potentials to become a pilot.]

Antenor-Cruz decided to enter the Philippine Military Academy after she finished her psychology degree. Among her sisters, she was the only who decided to follow their father's footsteps in the Air Force.

Aquinde is an attack pilot and has been deployed in counterterrorism missions. Antenor-Cruz, meanwhile, has joined rescue and disaster relief operations. They are just some of the around 20 female pilots in their respective units.

"Para sa akin isa po siyang accomplishment na makapagbigay saya ka sa mga kapwa mo Pilipino at matulungan mo sila," Aquinde said.

[Translation: For me, it is an accomplishment to be able to give joy to fellow Filipinos and help them.]

"Ayun yung nagpu-push or nagmo-motivate sa amin na gawin pa namin nang mas maayos yung trabaho namin, kapag nakikita namin na na-appreciate ng mga tao yung tulong na binibigay namin sa kanila," Antenor-Cruz added.

[Translation: That's what pushes or motivates us to do our jobs well, whenever we see people appreciating the help we are providing them.]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/10/Two-Air-Force-pilots-prove-Filipinas-can-fly-high.html