Ex-Davao Light scholar becomes a firefighter
LEONELA (aka "Nela") is a firefighter and is currently working at C. Bangoy Sr. Fire Station in Davao City. Before she became a firefighter, however, she was one of the 127 scholars that Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. have supported since 2011.
Nela applied for the to Davao Light and Aboitiz scholarship after graduating Foundation." The scholarship from Davao City covered her tuition National High School. "I fees, books, and uniform. knew it wouldn't be easy to “My advice to the current get accepted when I applied scholars is to work hard for the scholarship. My and focus on your studies. co-applicants were valedictorians You became a Davao and salutatorians Light scholar because you and while I did have a high deserved it. Don’t waste average, I know it would be the chance given to you,” hard to compete with them Nela addressed the current for the slot," Nela shared. scholars of Davao Light Out of 80 applicants, Nela and Aboitiz Foundation. got accepted along with 29 When asked about the other scholars in her batch. values she got from being a
"I had a hard time Davao Light scholar, Nela maintaining the required shared that when she was average when I was in my a student, she learned to third year of college," Nela value time and managed it recalled. She took up BS effectively. Similarly, being Accountancy at the Christian a firefighter also requires Colleges of Southeast time management. “There Asia (CCSA). "It's not easy is no required time and to study accountancy but place for a fire or a flood the scholarship supported to occur, so we have to be me until I graduated, and always ready to respond for that I am very thankful wherever and whenever,"
Nela added.
During this year's Fire Prevention Month, Nela and her colleagues conducted a Fire Square Road Show to showcase skills in basic firefighting, prehospital emergency care management, and technical rescue in a famous mall in Davao City.
Nela shared that it was not her dream to become a firefighter. “I was convinced by my husband, who is also in BFP, to become a firefighter. Despite this, I worked hard during the training. It was not easy to enter the BFP.”
As a woman, Nela shared that one’s gender doesn't matter when it comes to becoming a firefighter. "During training, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) promotes gender equality. If men can do
it, women can do it, too. Everyone goes through the same level of training no matter the gender, ability, or strength," Nela explained. "What you can
do is to focus on your own work and handle yourself accordingly. Show the right attitude, professionalism, and character.”
The BFP continues in
its efforts to reduce fire incidents in the Philippines with this year’s Fire Prevention Month theme: “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog Hindi Ka Nag-iisa.”