BY MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 winner and actress Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez is now a military reservist after graduating and emerging as the top cadet in this year’s Basic Citizen Military Course (BCMC) which was supervised by the Philippine Navy (PN).
Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, PN Flag Officer in Command, presented the Top 1 Award and Certificate of Completion to Mr. Joey Marquez, the cadet’s father, in a ceremony held at the Naval Reserve Center in Manila on Sunday.
Cadet Marquez was unable to attend the graduation rites due to her current lock-in taping in Bulacan, it was learned.
Marquez, who was also the elected class president of BCMC Class 01-2020, chose to continue her reservist journey through the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) along with 18 members of her class.
She will join the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office (MCPAO) to help in the dissemination of information about the Philippine Marines’ competencies, values, and contributions in safeguarding the country and our maritime state, the PMC said in a statement.
Marquez, who is also a licensed teacher, traded heels for boots when she joined the BCMC last August.
The course aims to prepare Filipino civilians who want to enlist in the naval reserve force, in the rudiments of military discipline and service.
Marquez said she decided to become a military reservist after seeing her friend, a Marine reservist, help others who are in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When the pandemic in the country started, my sister and I spearheaded a donation drive to help our frontliners. Despite the complications brought by the pandemic, my friend Sgt. Jaimie Sarmiento PN(M) (Res) supported my project all the way. She and other Marines helped me transport and distribute the donations to different areas of Metro Manila without asking (for) anything in return,” Marquez said.
“That’s when I appreciated the unit’s commitment for service and I realized that I want to be part of that culture. I have a desire to help others and I want to serve like that,” she added.
As a Marine reservist, Marquez said she will push for her advocacies on youth and women empowerment.
“I want to empower the Filipino youth, especially the women, to go out of their comfort zone and serve the Philippines. I want to support our troops and their families who endure all sorts of sacrifices just so they can protect us Filipinos,” she said. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
