First yKalinga to join Canadian police force begins duty

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Becoming a law enforcer has always been a dream for 2LT Godffrey Blaquera Paligan. Now, he is living the aspiration as he started his duty at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Paligan whose roots are from Pasil and Tanudan is the first yKalinga to join the Canadian police force. But before he got to where he is now, Paligan experienced failures and he almost took a detour from this ambition.

Before going to Canada

While he was taking his Bachelor of Philosophy at the Saint Louis University in Baguio City, Paligan applied at the Philippine National Police Academy and the Philippine Military Academy. However, he failed to be admitted to these public safety schools and premier military institutions in the country.

When he finished his undergraduate degree, he proceeded to law school at the University of Baguio with the plan that once he passed the bar, he and his friend would apply at the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the military.

In 2010, he and his family migrated to Canada, but he returned to the Philippines to finish his law degree. In 2012, he took the Bar examination.

“We dreamed someday if we will pass the bar exam, we will apply at NBI or apply lateral entry... Nevertheless, neither came through on my part because I moved to Canada, but my good friend was successful,” he said.

Choosing to go after his dreams

Paligan explained that life in Canada is not easy. He recounted that he already experienced getting laid off from work three times.

“It was hard because bills do not stop coming,” he said, adding that in the past years, he explored other trades like carpentry, welding inspections, labor, forklift, and building maintenance.

While doing these jobs, Paligan admitted he felt like something was missing and that’s the fulfillment of his dream of becoming a law enforcer. For this reason, he decided to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Proving that it is never too late to go after what you truly want, Paligan, now a full-fledged police officer officially reported for duty on Nov. 13, 2023, at the Cold Lake, Alberta.

He is likewise in the fourth year of his Correctional Studies degree.

“Ikalingas or kakailian from Cordillera is growing, and I believe only 2 of us from Cordillera were members. So, by joining RCMP and Military, I hope our kakailian will be influenced and will have interest joining too,” he conveyed.

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