A rookie officer from Eastern-Visayas was crowned this year as the first ever Miss Philippine National Police (PNP) or Ganda Pulis 2017. Police Officer 1 Arla Ray Paciencia is among the survivors of the Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Paciencia bested 26 other candidates during the coronation night at the Multi-Purpose Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City. She was a nurse by professional training and turned as a policewoman.
Paciencia, 24, hails from Tacloban City and has been in the service for four years. Paciencia is currently assigned at the Eastern Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-8).
She graduated cum laude from a nursing course but her mother suffered a stroke a few years ago and is still under medication. After that, Paciencia lost her grandmother during Yolanda and then she was diagnosed to be suffering from vitiligo, a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause.
Paciencia recalled she and other family members were inside their house in Tacloban City when the storm surge hit at the height of Yolanda. She said they struggled to go to a safer place by holding on to electric cables until they reached another house, broke its glass windows and got in.
According to her, her grandmother was in another area and they were not able to rescue her.
The Ganda Pulis 2017 said she did not expect to win the pageant since candidates from other regions and national support units are also beautiful.
She said she did not think of working abroad as she does not want to leave her family.
“I am a family-oriented person and I believe there’s no place like home,” Paciencia said.
Her advocacies include uplifting women, including those with physical deficiencies and insecurities by highlighting that what matters is they are “beautiful inside,” promote their rights and that of children who belong to the vulnerable sectors of society.
Other candidates in the top five were PO1 Nova Em Lago from Davao PRO-11, PO1 Leizel Abejero from Zamboanga PRO-9, PO1 Bernie Jane dela Cruz from Central Luzon PRO-3 and PO1 Janice Etang from the Caraga PRO-13.
Dela Cruz won the best traditional costume award for wearing an elaborate gown with lantern-like adornment.
Insp. Jelyn Canas of the Special Action Force won the People’s Choice Award for garnering the highest number of likes and shares on the event’s official Facebook page.
The Ganda Pulis (Beautiful Policewoman) 2017 event was initiated by the PNP Police Community Relations Group. It aims to strengthen public advocacy on “National Women’s Month” emphasizing on women’s issues that still need to be addressed.
It also highlights women’s concerns in leadership platforms and capacitating and preparing women and girls to make good their social role and responsibility.
Source: Philippine Star
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