DUTY comes before anything, at least according to Neil Perez.
For Mariano Perez Flormata Jr.—now popularly known as Neil Perez, the gwapulis who bagged for the Philippines its first-ever Mr. International title—his duty as a police officer will always be his topmost priority.
In these trying times, especially for the Philippine National Police, Perez is among those who stand as a beacon of hope that show how many of our Manila’s finest still uphold the dogma of the Philippine National Police (PNP): “To serve and to protect.”
Among Perez’s advocacies during the Mr. International 2014 pageant held in Seoul, South Korea, is to uplift the image of the PNP and to inspire his fellow policemen to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, a fit physique is what’s most evident to the 31-year-old PO2 and Aviation Security Group bomb and explosives technician. According to Perez, even when he’s busy with work, he makes sure that he completes simple workouts to maintain his figure and improve his muscle strength, a factor which, he adds, is really important given his line of work.
“After winning Mr. International, na-assign ako sa community relations [of PNP] at ’dun, ginamit ko ’yung pagka-sikat ko para mas mapalapit ’yung mga tao sa kapulisan,” Perez says. Subsequently, he returned immediately to work after his pageant duties and travels to the Czech Republic and South Korea.
Prior to the international pageant, he bagged a slew of awards in the Misters of the Philippines 2014, including Mr. Photogenic, Best in Swimwear, Mr. Unisilver, Mr. Informatics, Mr. Multidestination and Crossfit Challenge Winner. In an interview with People Asia, Perez admitted to originally joining the local pageant to “disprove the misconception that all policemen are fat and bulky.”
This year he graced ABS-CBN’s Gwapulis 2016 with Misters 2015 and 2016 Don MacGyver Cochico and Chriz Dulagan, respectively. He was also commissioned by action and entertainment cable channel KIX to be its brand ambassador for the second iteration of R U Tough Enough Challenge: The Search for the Toughest Pinoy.
“Ngayon, natutuwa talaga ako kasi, just recently, ginanap ’yung finals ng Gwapulis 2016 sa Umagang Kay Ganda at ’yun nga, finals din ng KIX so sana, may mga ganito pang mga pagkakataon para mas lalo ko pang ma-inspire ’yung mga kapwa ko pulis na alagaan ’yung katawan nila through proper diet at lifestyle,” Perez says.
Any more projects he’s currently involved with? “Ganun pa din, mostly trabaho at marami ring events ang PNP na sinusuportahan ko, lalo na sa community relations. And kung may iba pang mga projects na ibibigay sa ‘kin, why not? It’s OK basta hindi ito makaka-apekto sa trabaho ko.”
Perez has dedicated his victory to the Fallen 44 officers of the PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) who died at the Mamasapano encounter last year, where some of the casualties were members of his batch in the academy.
“Noong nag-endorse ako ng Unisilver watch, 30 percent ng sales noon ay na-donate namin sa families ng SAF44. So, para sa akin, as an endorser [and as a cop], ang sarap ng feeling na nakatulong ka.”
Perez hopes that existing and aspiring police officers will share his efforts to give a good name to the PNP, adding he has steadfast faith in bringing the good out of his fellow officers.