Nelson Morales

Steam, steel, and strength: Meet the Filipinas behind a nuclear-powered warship

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751949216828viber_image_2025-07-08_12-30-23-280.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Handout photo </span></span></span></div><p>ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON — She’s only 24 years old. A high school graduate. A woman. And proudly, a Filipino. Yet Analeah Rufino holds one of the most critical roles aboard one of the world’s most powerful warships—the USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the United States Navy.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/us-carrier-george-washington-in-manila-for-1st-port-visit-1426">US carrier George Washington in Manila for 1st port visit</a></div><p>Rufino is a nuclear engineer, responsible for powering the ship and generating the steam that launches aircraft off its flight deck.</p><p>“’Yong trabaho ko po, kahit mahirap, it pays well. Satisfying naman ’yong nakukuha kong result,” she told ABS-CBN News as the ship sailed through the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>(My job is difficult, but it pays well. And the results are satisfying.)</p><p>“’Yong challenging part po ng trabaho ko is kailangan alam ko lahat ng gagawin ko, kailangan marunong ako. Medyo confidential ’yong trabaho ko so konti lang ’yong mga tao na puwede kong pagsabihan ‘pag may problema.”</p><p>(The challenging part is I need to know everything I’m doing. I must be skilled. My job is quite confidential, so there are only a few people I can talk to when problems arise.)</p><p>This is her very first job—one she took right after graduating senior high school in Angeles City, Pampanga, under the STEM strand. She’s been serving the US Navy for four years now.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/21/-shared-adversity-new-weapons-as-philippine-us-forces-launch-balikatan-1135">&#x27;Shared adversity&#x27;, new weapons as Philippine, US forces launch &#x27;Balikatan&#x27;</a></div><p>Despite not yet finishing college, Rufino is now working on a bachelor&#x27;s degree in nuclear engineering, funded by the Navy through an online program that caters to military families.</p><p>What’s more inspiring? She’s the only woman in her work center.</p><p>“Empowering naman po kasi nagagawa ko ’yong trabahong pang-lalaki rin,” she said.</p><p>(It’s empowering because I can do a job that’s typically for men.)</p><p>Her advice to other young Filipinas?</p><p>“Kung gusto mong pumasok, just go for it, just try it. Kasi noong ako, medyo nasa gilid din ako, I was thinking, kaya ko ba? Kaya ko naman, ginawa ko. So kung kaya mo, kung gusto mo—gawin mo.”</p><p>(If you want to try, just go for it. I was hesitant at first too, doubting if I could do it. But I could—so I did. If you can, and you want to, then do it.)</p><p>She draws strength from her Filipino roots—and from the large Filipino community aboard the ship.</p><div> </div><div><strong>40 AND STILL RISING: THE STORY OF SARAH VERGARA</strong></div><div> </div><p>Also aboard is Sarah Vergara, 40, born and raised in Manila. She serves as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Handler, responsible for guiding aircraft on the deck—a role that demands both physical strength and sharp focus.</p><p>“We handle the aircraft when they land and before they fly. So we’re the ones in charge of taxiing them and directing them on the flight deck,” she explained.</p><p>“It’s hard for us kasi it’s more on physical and mental.”</p><p>Before joining the Navy, Vergara worked on a cruise ship. At 39, she found herself seeking a new challenge—and the Navy welcomed her just before the age cutoff of 40.</p><p>“A friend of mine in the service asked me, ‘You wanna try?’ Sabi ko, ‘Let’s see kung makakaya ko pa,’” she recalled.</p><p>(I said, &#x27;Let’s see if I can still do it.&#x27;)</p><p>With a degree in Physical Education from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Vergara now plans to pursue postgraduate studies through the Navy’s education programs.</p><p>“It’s very rewarding because it’s a different challenge. Now I have a new purpose—I’m serving alongside Americans, our allies, and representing the Philippines as well. I feel blessed to have this opportunity.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/12/18/pinay-aviator-to-be-trained-by-us-air-force">Pinay aviator to be trained by U.S. Air Force</a></div><p>She, too, is one of the few women in a male-dominated field.</p><p>“It’s challenging because this is a male-dominant work. You make sure that, ‘Hey, I’m a female and I can do it too,’” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/us-flexes-naval-power-in-west-ph-sea-with-george-washington-patrol-2034">US flexes naval power in West PH Sea with USS George Washington patrol</a></div><p>“Just dream and you can make it if you really want it. It doesn’t matter how old you are. Like 40 years old—it’s the start of your new beginning.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FILIPINO PRIDE ON DECK</strong></div><div> </div><p>Aboard the USS George Washington, Filipinos make up five to six percent of the total crew. Their presence is not just about numbers, but about excellence, perseverance, and pride in their identity.</p><p>“Some of our best and brightest in the US Navy come from the Philippines,” said Rear Admiral Eric Anduze, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5/Task Force 70.</p><p>“We appreciate the hardworking Filipino-Americans that help us able to do what we do out here,” Capt. Timothy Waits, commanding officer of the USS George Washington, added. “Everybody up there working hard. It&#x27;s a dangerous environment. These guys do it day and night.”</p><p>Through their stories, Rufino and Vergara show the world that Filipinas are breaking barriers, proving that gender, age, or educational background cannot limit one&#x27;s potential.</p><p>They power planes. They move steel. They rise to challenges. And through it all, they carry the flag—not just on their uniform, but in their heart.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bjLYPVtVyYY?si=degS2IDWbdxh95QY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Two Filipinas—one a 24-year-old high school graduate, the other a 40-year-old career shifter—are making waves aboard the USS George Washington, one of the world’s most powerful nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.</p>

Two Filipinas—one a 24-year-old high school graduate, the other a 40-year-old career shifter—are making waves aboard the USS George Washington, one of the world’s most powerful nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.