Every year around the world, March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day serving as a tribute, a platform, and a call for concrete, sustainable, and inclusive actions towards gender equality. Displaying resilience amidst unsettling conditions and determination to continue providing quality service despite tougher struggles, women have continuously shown the power to lead and thrive even in a difficult situation.
In support of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)’s #WomenMakeChange theme for 2021 National Women’s Month Celebration, here are some stories about the #WomenOfLRT1 to inspire and empower more women to be agents of change.
Lou Ambrosio – Lead Station Supervisor
Having spent nearly 15 years in the rail industry and working for LRT-1, Lou has the task of properly leading the team that directly interacts with customers, including station supervisors, tellers, and other personnel directly performing their functions within the station. With the goal of delivering a reliable and quality customer service to the riding public, the weight on her shoulders is pretty daunting.
As a front-liner, the pandemic has been challenging for Lou. “Isolation, contact restrictions, and economic shutdown completely changed us. For me, the first challenge I had was ensuring the safety of my family back home (in the province), the basic needs of my family, the thought of not seeing them due to travel restrictions, and the probability of getting and being sick due to the lack of responsiveness and carelessness of others.
But like a true leader honed by years of experience, she managed to allay her worries and fears. “Being the kind of person who always looked on the brighter side of every situation, facing these times with self-care and care for others, and keeping my strong faith in God are some of my best weapons in overcoming these adversities.”
Christine Cunanan – Train Operator
It’s not every day we get to see a woman train operator, but Christine has bravely stepped up to the challenge amidst the risks and responsibilities entailed by the job. But with the ongoing pandemic, the anxiety just doubles with the added risk of contracting the virus due to potential exposure.
But Christine is lucky to be working with her LRMC family. “Drivers must be cautious and must know the basic health safety protocol in this pandemic like proper wearing of face mask, face shield, proper disinfection, and keeping a safe distance,” Christine says.
Florence Bautista – Head of Human Resource and Admin
As the primary caretaker of LRMC’s employees, Florence has to look after the well-being and concerns of team members. “As a leader, I can never overemphasize the need to consistently reach out and communicate to our employees,” she says, marking the importance of communication, albeit virtual, at a time of physical distancing.
As the concurrent head of human resources and administration, there is obviously much on Florence’s plate as it is. “None of us had imagined that something like this would come, the sudden shift in work culture has brought a lot of challenges for HR,” says Florence. In some ways, the pandemic made the team stronger with team leaders increasing the check-in with their team. The human element in any crisis cannot be ignored, and LRMC’s HR team made sure to support team leaders in addressing concerns.
Melca Samson – Head of Buildings and Facilities Section & Infrastructure Division Manager
As the concurrent head of LRMC’s Buildings and Facilities Section, and manager of the Infrastructure Division, Melca plays a massive role in handling the overall management of tracks, buildings, and facilities and ensures all project and construction works are done on time.
I’ve also learned to love myself and find a simple source of joy through gardening and planting. Thanks to a new hobby, she was able to keep these worries off her mind and focus on her tasks at hand. Watching funny videos on YouTube and Netflix movies with my youngest son is also another reason for me to laugh and have quality time with him. Through it all, she has also kept her faith and determination to become even better both at home and at work.
Jireh Canoy – Head of Maintenance Planning Section
Working with a more optimized team of engineers and the unavoidable work-from-home scheme during the pandemic, Jireh found it challenging to juggle work and family responsibilities. “As a working mom, I have also been worried about my health and also for my family,” Jireh adds.
Despite the new challenges, Jireh has managed to harness strength from all her past experiences. “I overcome all my struggles with my faith in God,” she says. I really enjoy the current job I have now despite all the challenges I faced during the pandemic.”
These few remarkable stories of women from within the LRMC prove that when women are given the right opportunities, they can thrive and excel in so many ways.
