funfare The first Ganda Pulis
Arnold Clavio was right.
“They don’t look like policewomen,” he exclaimed when he saw the film clip on Saksi, the late-night newscast that he coanchors with Pia Arcangel. “They look like beauty queens.”
Yes, the 27 hopefuls sashaying onstage at the Multi-Purpose Center of Camp Crame Tuesday night at the first Ganda Pulis (Miss PNP 2017) search, showcasing elaborately designed national costumes and gorgeous evening gowns, were female cops and beauty queens (in their own right). They epitomize beauty and brains... and guts (fighting criminals requires GUTS, doesn’t it?).
In fact, they are not your usual beauty queens. Bulletin/Tempo’s “beauty expert” Robert Requintina, 2003 Bb. Pilipinas-World Mafae Yunon-Belasco, ABS-CBN reporter Gus Abelgas, former Mrs. Universe-Philippines and now Pola (Oriental, Mindoro) Vice Mayor Jennifer Cruz (a.k.a. Ina Alegre), and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and your Funfarer should know. We were among the judges who saw and heard the candidates up close and we were very impressed.
Unlike the usual beauty queens, there was no swimsuit competition but it didn’t matter. All the contestants were gracious and graceful, refined and charming…needless to add, beautiful and eloquent in both English and Filipino, expounding on their advocacies (a “must”) so clearly that they drew thunderous applause from the audience composed mostly of cops and their families and friends.
Unlike in the usual beauty pageant, no contestant polluted the summer air with grammatical blunders, and the candidates deserve another round of applause…clap, clap, clap!!!
According to PCSUPT Gilberto DC Cruz, director of PCRG (Police Community Relations Group), the pageant is part of the observance of the 2017 National Women’s Month celebration, “focusing on its commitment: Malasakit at Pagbabago or True Compassion and Real Change and aims “to strengthen the PNP’s advocacy…with emphasis on women’s accomplishments and issues.”
The GandaPulis search was preceded by male pageants where cops won top honors, including PO3 Mariano Flormata Jr. (a.k.a. Neil Perez), 2014 Mister International; PO2 Don McGyver Cochico, 2015 Manhunt International Philippines; PINSP Christopher Dulagan, 2016 Man of the World Philippines; PO1 Willy Quinto, 2016 Gwapulis (of ABSCBN) who did a dance number, all of whom also sat as judges together with PINSP Sofia Loren Deliu, 2016 Miss Earth semi-finalist who is a Junior Aide-de-Camp of the President Du30. PO1 Norman Wileman III, 2016 Gwapulis Best in Talent, rendered a song.
For sure, the “beautiful cops” (both males and females) give a new, bright and verymuch-welcome face to the police force.
Other judges included Hon. Rogelio Casurao (NAPOLCOM vice chairman), Cherry Albayalde (wife of NCRPO regional director Oscar David Albayalde), PDDG Ramon Apolinario (Deputy Chief of Administration), PDDG Fernando Mendez Jr. (Deputy Chief for Operation), Gaspar Ramon Villegas (Corporate Affairs & Public Relations Officer), lawyer Zebedee Chua (of Spirae Derm), Mark Boado and Jaime Acosta (president, Psamtre Enterprise), PSUPT Portia Manalad, and Aficionado businessman Joel Cruz (who donated a special Aficionado Award). PDG/ PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa begged off due to a pressing commitment in Cebu.
And the winners are: • PO1 Arla Ray Paciencia (from Region 8, a Maria Isabel Lopez lookalike) from Tacloban City, a cum laude Nursing graduate whose family survived the Typhoon Yolanda, GandaPulis (2017 Miss PNP); • PO1 Leizel Abejero (of Region 9), a Miriam Quiambao lookalike), first runner-up; • PO1 Bernie Jane dela Cruz (of Region 3, a Kathryn Bernardo lookalike), second runner-up; • PO1 Nova Em Lago (of Region 11), third runner-up; and • PO1 Janice Etang (of Region 13), fourth runner-up.
You guessed it: any or all of the five beauties (and some of the contestants) are showbiz material.
Incidentally, Michael Pangilinan did a good job in serenading the five finalists with three songs, choosing one of them, escorted her down the makeshift stairs to front stage and knelt before her as he sang, and then kissing her hand. Then he went down the stage and mixed with the audience. Michael’s three songs neatly capped the almost four-hour affair.