Army gets 1st female general

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Army now has its first female general with the promotion of Brig. Gen. Ramona Go in what could be a reflection of the increased participation of women in the armed forces.

Go, currently the Armed Forces assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel, is the first female general who is a regular officer in the military.

There have been female generals in the past but they belonged to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) technical service, which consists of doctors, nurses, dentists, lawyers, chaplains, medical administrative corps and veterinarians. Among them is Brig. Gen. Nelia Buenaflor, currently the AFP’s chief nurse.

Go was one of the newly promoted generals who took her oath before President Aquino last April 4 in Malacañang.

“This (promotion of Go) means empowering the women, more roles or more active roles for the women in the armed forces and in the Philippine Army,” said Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said Go is very qualified to be promoted to one-star general.

“Ramona Go exemplifies virtues needed for female officers to excel,” he said in an interview.

Prior to her appointment as assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel, Go served as the 29th AFP Adjutant General, which is tasked to authenticate, publish, distribute and disseminate orders, publications and correspondences.

Go, 54, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Central Philippine University in 1977. She has a Master’s degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management.

Go is also a graduate of the Officer Candidate Course at the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps School.

She was called to active duty on Jan, 19, 1982.

Go, a native of San Dionisio, Iloilo, took up various military courses and trainings including Intel Officer Basic Course, Basic Airborne Course, Finance Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advance Course and Technical Service Command and General Staff Course.

Go has held key military positions, including Office of the Secretary of the Joint Staff Protocol Officer and Assistant Secretary, platoon leader of the AFP Women’s Auxiliary Corps, aide-de camp of the Army commanding general, admin, finance and foreign liaison officer of the Army assistant chief of staff for intelligence, adjutant of the Army Light Armor Brigade, and faculty member of the training and doctrine command.

She was also a member of the military’s Efficiency and Separation Board and president of the Army’s General Court Martial #1.

In 2002, Go received the “Ulirang Ina” (roughly translates to model mother) award given by the National M&F Day Foundation, Inc.