March is a time for celebrating women in all shapes and forms and from all walks of life. This year, I found myself part of a celebration that was as unconventional as it was inspiring — a firing range date with fellow female members of the motoring media.

Ford Philippines, in a move to align with this year’s theme to #InspireInclusion, invited us to the Armscor Shooting Center in Marikina for a day of shooting fun and a lesson in inclusion.

Challenging Gender Norms

I joined a group of women who, like me, are navigating the male-dominated world of automotive journalism. The faces are familiar since there really aren’t that many women in the automotive scene but the numbers have been growing.

Thinking about that and seeing those faces at this event, I see what Ford wanted to remind us of: Women belong in all spaces, including those where we’re not traditionally expected. We were there to flip the script on what society expects of us, even if it is just a day at the firing range.

The air was filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation as we were introduced to the basics of shooting—stance, grip, and safety. The instructors were thorough, ensuring we understood every aspect before proceeding. (These are real weapons, after all.)

Targets were set up. Expectations were set. Deep breaths were taken. What started as an exercise in learning, handling, and safety quickly turned into a celebration of empowerment.

It can’t be denied, there was hesitation at the start with many of us being first-timers or having not done this in a long while.

But once the ball started rolling (bullet started flying?), the smiles started showing.

The weather was hot, the shots were loud but we were too focused on having fun to be bothered. And despite a whole bunch of us being first-timers, there were headshots all around! By the second round of bullets, we were all pretty excited to keep shooting (and even got a gun upgrade).

Goes to show, that once that veil of fear and hesitation is lifted, there’s only room for fun.

Shooting as empowerment

I’ve held and shot guns before, many many years ago in Texas, but the environment there was different;  very welcoming despite your age, gender, or race.

As a younger, more sheltered Vikka, it confused me that I was allowed to shoot, and (despite my Dad’s dissuasion) was encouraged me to do so. That experience stayed with me, a reminder that shooting isn’t exclusive to any one group of people.

So when Ford Philippines extended the invitation, I was thrilled, to say the least.

The fact that it was part of Women’s Month made it even more special, too. I’m always game to shatter stereotypes when I can and I was eager to do it alongside fellow women in the automotive field. In the moment, it felt like a powerful statement.

As my turn inched closer, I couldn’t help but reflect on my first time shooting. Back then, I was surrounded by a diverse crowd, which made me realize that the sport wasn’t just a ‘boys’ club’ as movies and mainstream media used to make it out to be as I was growing up.

This time, the experience was even more profound. With each shot fired, I felt a growing sense of strength and confidence (and adrenaline).

It was a small reminder that we, as women, are capable of so much more than society often allows us to believe.

The Broader impact

Ford Philippines’ initiative is a reflection of its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and forward-thinking attitude. The event may seem like just a day at the firing range but pardon me if I want to treat it as a poetic metaphor; that we women hold more power than we think we do but have been taught to fear it.

In this day and age, more women are taking the wheel, bringing fresh perspectives, and reshaping industries. And we shouldn’t feel we don’t deserve it. More so be afraid of it.

As I left the Armscor Shooting Center, I carried with me more than just memories of a fun day. I left reminded that inclusion shouldn’t be undermined.

No matter the industry or space,  we must continue to encourage and break barriers, whether gender or otherwise, and challenge the norms that have held us back.

With initiatives like Ford’s, we are reminded that our place is wherever we choose it to be.