PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA – In celebration of the Women’s Month for 2025, Officers and members of the 301 Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion participated during the “Women’s Conference 2025” held at the Convention Center, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.
The program was dubbed as “Nueva Ecija Bagong Bayani/Kalasag Mass Summit 2025”.
The focus was on the life of an Empowered Filipina, 1LT/Dr MERCEDES CUELLO LAZARO-MUSNGI OR “Mommy Ched” a WWII Veteran, Guerilla Combat Medic, Medical Missionary Doctor in Infectious Diseases, Mental Health Survivor, Servant and Preacher of God’s Love.
Her life and heroism were presented in a mini museum of collected pictures, artifacts and Diorama of the Fall of Manila. Her granddaughter, Ylaysha Musngi Gosiaco and Ylay’s Mom, Mrs Kit Musngi-Gosiaco led the storytelling of “Mommy Ched’s” life. She was said to be one of the Unsung Filipino Heroes of World War II. The event was very timely hence, it is the 80th Anniversary of World War II and March is also Women’s Month.
The participation of the Women Reservists of the 301 Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion was made possible through the consent and endorsement of LTC MISAEL J DE VERA (GSC) PA RES, the Battalion Commander of 301 RRIBn and COL MARCELO F VALDEZ JR INF (GSC) PA, Director of the 301 Community Defense Center (CDC).
Among the Officers who attended the Conference were LTC VENUS A VITALES PA (RES), LTC MA BENITA R ESTRERA PA (RES), 1LT KARENGRACE M RAMOS PA (RES), and 2LT JOY C MANANING PA (RES). Other female Reservists who participated were Sgt Lorena D Mesina PA (Res), Sgt Corazon Zabat PA (Res), Sgt Priscila M Loyola (PA (Res), CPL Diane C Mananing, PFC Joyce N Bucaneg PA (Res), Pvt Lorna B Mercado PA (Res), Pvt Charmaine M Vidamo PA (Res), Pvt Christine M Paray PA (Res), Pvt Marife D Irang PA (Res), Pvt Sheryl Grace B Laugo PA (Res), Pvt Aileen A Villanueva PA (Res), Pvt Evelyn L Santos PA (Res), Pvt Roma Dela Cruz PA (Res), Pvt Nina San Juan PA (Res), Pvt Zeny Mercado PA (Res), Pvt Mary Rose Curamat PA (Res), and Pvt Evangeline Macabio PA (Res). Some male reservists from the 301 RRIBn also attended the conference headed by 301 RRIBN Executive Officer LTC Noel Londerio PA (Res).