Dedicating his participation in the Mister International 2015 in Seoul, Korea to the Fallen 44, seven of whom were his batchmates, popular policeman Neil Perez, who is PO2 Mariano Perez Flormata, Jr. in real life, bested 42 men to win the 9th Mister International title in the finals held in Ansan, South Korea recently.
Amidst the crisis within the Philippine police organization after the Mamasapano bloody incident, the 5-foot-11, BS Criminology graduate of Manuel L. Quezon University who works as bomb technician with the PNP
contestants of Mister International 2015. Perez bested all of them to
win the title PHOTO: MISTER INTERNATIONAL
Aviation Security Group at NAIA, competed like he was in a police operation. Armed with his dark and handsome but humble yet strong stage presence, Perez was with four European delegates – Lebanon’s Rabih El Zein (1st runner up), Czech Republic’s Tomáš Dumbrovský (2nd), Poland’s RafaÅ‚ MaÅ›lak (3rd) and Slovenia’s Mitja Nadizar (4th).
For Perez and the PNP service, it was mission accomplished.
Perez, answered in Filipino and used an interpreter, Aski Pascual, to translate in English his answer about the importance of respect for parents during the final question and answer interview.
His answer in Filipino was a first for any representative from the Philippines in international competition. He gave a customary police salute after his name was called the winner and waved the Philippine flag as he made his victory walk with tears in his eyes as the crowd cheered.
A son of a policeman from Tondo, Manila, he joined the national police in mourning their fallen Special Action Forces (SAF) prior to the Seoul contest, showingsolidarity and sympathy with the bereaved families and saluting the bravery of the policemen for their ultimate sacrifice fighting for country and peace. “As I have said, this is what we have waited for, thank you very much to all of you, and to all of the PNP,” the 29-year-old, physical fitness advocate Neil said.
The Mister International contest is founded in 2006 by the Mister International Organization based in Singapore and is different from the Mr. International pageant, won by Alexander Aquino in 2001, which was organized by Graviera, a men’s clothing company in India in 1997 and was held annually in India until 2003.
The PNP has given its full support for Perez’ endeavor to compete in the pageant, acknowledging his advocacy for physical fitness and healthy lifestyle as role model for all police personnel. Perez has said that, win or loss, he has no intention of leaving the PNP. Perez was crowned by outgoing Mister International 2013 Jose Anmer Paredes of Venezuela. The newly crowned Mister International 2015 will arrived Thursday night via Aseana Airlines from Incheon, Korea.