2LT Godffrey Blaquera Paligan, from Pasil and Tanudan, is now living his dream as he joins the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, making history as the first Kalinga to don the Canadian police uniform.
But the path to his successful journey did not come without challenges. Paligan faced setbacks early on, having been unsuccessful in his attempts to make it to the Philippine National Police Academy and the Philippine Military Academy while pursuing his Bachelor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
Undeterred, he shifted gears, tackled law school at the University of Baguio after completing his undergraduate degree, and aimed for positions with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police after passing the bar exam.
Life’s twists and turns took him and his family to Canada in 2010 but eventually returned to the Philippines to complete his law degree and take the bar exam in 2012. But his dream job remained elusive in his homeland.
Paligan shared with Guru Press Cordillera that life in Canada wasn’t all smooth sailing either—three job layoffs and a journey through various trades later such as carpentry, welding inspections, labor, forklift operation, and building maintenance, he felt a void.
That yearning for law enforcement led him to make a bold decision: joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Proving that it is never too late to chase one’s dreams, he officially began his duties on November 13, 2023, at Cold Lake, Alberta. He is also currently in the fourth year of his Correctional Studies degree, to prove his commitment to growing and learning.
“By joining RCMP and Military, I hope our kakailian will be influenced and will have interest joining too,” he conveyed.
