As a child, I had a deep admiration for military officers. Growing up in the southernmost part of the Philippines, I often saw the New People’s Army in our area and fighter planes overhead. Owning a gun for self-defense seemed common, and like many around me, I was fascinated by the idea of protecting my family. My admiration ran so deep that I would often dress up as a security guard, making friends with the local guards, wearing my farm boots, and imagining myself as part of the security personnel.