Navy now has its first female topnotcher

Since her childhood days in Batangas, Lotis Gonzales wanted to become a naval officer. She not only fulfilled her dream yesterday but also graduated at the top of her class.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag awarded the rank of Navy Ensign to Gonzales, the first female topnotcher of the Naval Officers’ Candidate Course (NOCC), during the donning ceremony at Philippine Navy Headquarters in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

A native of Batangas City, the 25-year-old Gonzales is a licensed electronics and communications engineer and a graduate of the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP).

"I wanted to be in the Navy since I was 12 years old," Gonzales said.

After graduating from Pasay City South High School in Villamor Airbase, she took the entrance exams at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) but did not meet the height requirement, so she opted for an engineering course instead. After graduation, she passed the engineering licensure board and went on to apply at the NOCC.

Since the NOCC’s inception in 2003, four batches have graduated. This year’s Sandatahang Iisa Ang Paninindigan class holds the distinction of having the school’s first female topnotcher.

The Sandigan class started training on May 16, 2005 with 39 candidate officers but only 30 finished – 27 males and three females.

Graduating second this year is Ensign Liezl Vidallon, 25, of Esperanza, Alfonso, Cavite who has a degree in computer engineering from the Cavite State University in Indang.

Graduating third is Ensign Charles Galagala, 25, from Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan, who has a civil engineering degree, with specialization in structural engineering from De La Salle University in Manila.

Among the 30 young officers, one joined the Philippine Marines while the rest joined the Philippine Fleet.

"Today each of you has taken an oath to commit yourselves to be leaders in the Navy," Calunsag told the newly commissioned Naval officers.

"Strong leadership is the trust of the nation and the trust of our people on us. It must be coupled with moral values, which we have acquired from our homes and in training," he added.

College graduates who want to become officers on active service with the Navy can apply for admission at the NOCC. The training is conducted at the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales.