If you happen to be at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 and see a tall guy (5’11”) wearing the blue Philippine National Police (PNP) uniform, you might think there’s a shooting for a movie going on and the man is just portraying a cop role.
The guy is a real policeman making his rounds at the NAIA Terminal 3. He is currently with the Aviation Security group. He is a bomb disposal expert and trained in aircraft anti-hijacking. In his six years in service, he has earned 13 medals for showing excellence in responding to disaster and civil disobedience.
He is Police Officer Mariano Flormata, Jr.
PO2 Mariano Flormata, Jr.
Photo Credit: Manila Bulletin
PO2 Flormata said friends and colleagues would always tease him to leave the PNP and just build a career in show business, but he would tell them being a cop is his first love.
Being a policeman is his childhood dream, he said, but admitted he is interested in modeling and so he gave in to the prodding of his friends and joined the Misters of the Philippines 2014 male pageant.
He is using Neil Perez as his name in the male pageant. With his looks and well-chiseled body, it is no wonder Neil is one of the 20 finalists in the contest.
PO2 Mariano Flormata, Jr. is also known as Neil Perez
Photo Credit: Discreet Magazine
Neil said it is the first time he joined a contest like the Misters of the Philippines.
Joining the pageant will bring him opportunities that will eventually help him financially, said the cop with a photo-ready smile. Through the pageant, he will be able to show that he can do more aside from being a police officer.
The PNP leadership finds nothing wrong in PO2 Flormata’s joining the male pageant. In fact, Flormata’s superior, Chief Supt. Christopher Laxa, head of the Aviation Security Group, encouraged and vowed to support him.
According to Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, ”Extra-curricular activities are okay as long as it supports and complements their work. It also enhances the idea that the police are also human.”
PO2 Flormata said his priority is to continue his career as a policeman. Joining the contest is just his way of encouraging his colleagues in the PNP to live a healthy lifestyle.
The finals of the Misters of the Philippines 2014 will be held on September 7 at the Grand Theater of the University of Makati.
Four major titles are at stake for this year’s competition, Mister International Philippines, Mister Model International Philippines, Mister Tourism International Philippines, and Mister Global Philippines.
Winners of the competition will represent the Philippines in International male beauty pageants.
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