First female pilot of the AFP, a Bataeña

“I always believe that the military is a noble profession and I firmly stand by its nobleness. In my own way, I always do what is right and what is beneficial to the organization. In my sphere of influence, this is what I always tell and show my colleagues and subordinates.”

When Colonel Maxima O. Ignacio PAF joined the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Flying School as one of its first female aviation students, she said that her being a woman was constantly challenged during trainings and operations. Working in a field largely dominated by men, she persevered and worked her way through training and education thus named as the First Female Pilot of the Philippine Air Force.

Her skills allowed her to take on various roles such as the facilitation of transport of Haji pilgrims to KSA and securing the president and different heads of states and their first ladies. In 2004, she was instrumental in the conceptualization and conduct of the strategic planning course to craft the PAF’s medium term plan. In 2007, she was selected to undergo the AustralianTechnical Staff Officer Course with Postgraduate degree in Canberra, the first AFP officer to be selected for the course.

In 2012, Col. Ignacio took the Advance Security Cooperation Course in Honolulu, Hawaii where she successfully led her team in a Six-Party Conflict Resolution Practicum. She was also sent as the representative to the United Nations C-34 Peacekeeping Operations Meeting to study and have a better understanding of the needs of the Philippine Government in peace keeping operations.

Aside from these, Col. Ignacio initiated the revision of the aviation cadet/student handbook to cater to female students and be more gender inclusive. During the height of super typhoon Yolanda, she also spearheaded the conversion of the Air Force Officer School into a Temporary Relief Center for the survivors who arrived via C-130.

Over the years, in her own personal ways, she would get the names of the children in a barangay and provide them with personalized Christmas presents utilizing her yearly Christmas bonus. In addition, she would find out who the real indigent families in a barangay are and provide them with simple “Noche Buena” packages. She also supports youth sports activities such as sponsoring the athletes’ uniforms.

Through the years, she has shown support for the improvement of a barangay school; from sponsoring medals of honor students, giving cash and in kind donations for school projects up to sponsoring the scholarship of a number of indigent students.

To recognize and pay tribute to the outstanding examples of gallantry, dedication, professionalism and integrity among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and Rotary Club of Makati Metro conduct the annual search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), chaired this year by Senator Loren Legarda and co-chaired by Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman,

Col. Maxima Ignacio, Air Force Adjutant, currently assigned at the Headquarters of the PAF, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City is a native and resident of Binukawan, Bagac, Bataan. She will join the elite roster of the outstanding soldiers of our country and receive a trophy and a cash prize of Php 400,000.00 courtesy of Metrobank Foundation. The awarding ceremonies is set on September 3 at 5:30 PM at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium.