Neil Perez - The Pageant Cop

Neil Perez whose real name is Mariano Flormata Jr. is the first Filipino to ever clinch the title Mister International. It happened on the 9th edition of the pageant at the Inter-Burgo Hotel Ballroom in Ansan, South Korea on Feb 14, 2015. He succeeded Jose Amner Paredes of Venezuela, Mister International 2013 whose 4th runner-up titlist that year was another Filipino, Gil Wagas. He competed with 28 other male contenders from around the world for the prestigious title and accompanying modeling contracts.

Neil who hails from tondo, Manila has tracked a trail of many firsts since he won the title Mister International Philippines in September 2014. He is the first grand winner of Misters of the Philippines Pageant, the biggest one competition - multiple winners pageant for men in the Philippines. Neil is first and foremost a police officer, a bomb and explosives technician with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group which makes him the first policeman to win a major national pageant title. He is also the first Philippine delegate to use an interpreter in the Q&A portion of an international pageant.

There are those who thin that Neil is not the first Filipino to win the title Mister International, pointing to Alexander Aquino who previously won the title Mr. International in 2001. Let us shed some light on this subject before proceeding any farther. They are actually two different pageants. The first distinction being the expanded and abbreviated form of the word "mister" in the title. Next is that the former belongs to the major league and the latter is a minor pageant. Lastly, the former started in 2006, owned and organized by Mister International Organization of Singapore while the latter began in 1997 and held until 2003, owned and organized by Graviera, a men's clothing company in India. Incidentally, the first winner of Mr. International is another Filipino, Joseph Roble in 1997.

Neil's cross over into pageantry was a coincidence of sort as he described it. A friend who is a pageant veteran once gave him a quick look over, appraised him to be good pageant material and nudged him to give it a try.  The friend introduced him to pageant insiders who mentored to qualify and be accepted in the roster of candidates for the first run of Misters of the Philippines in 2014. 

Neil is known to be shy and calculated in his manners but he created quite a stir among netizens and the media from the moment it was heard that a hunk of a cop was among the aspiring candidates of the pageant. He steadily build a following after being invited to so many TV shows, radio programs, photo shoots for print and digital publications. His life story was featured in a weekly TV drama anthology of inspiring stories after he was declared winner of the local competition but before he became Mister International.

And Neil's story is inspirational indeed. Neil, 29 years of age, was born of humble beginnings in Tondo, one of the most densely populated and underdeveloped areas of the country. Nevertheless, Tondo is also the birthplace of many notable Filipino personalities. Neil had to strive hard to finish schooling in order to better his future. There was a sad time in is life when his father, who was also a cop and who he highly looks up to and emulates, was falsely accused and as a result was suspended from service. His family had no permanent home to live in, oftentimes they were on the move while living at the mercy and generosity of others. Through all these tough experiences in life, Neil proved that one can make something of himself through pursuit of knowledge, determination, hard work, integrity and humility.

That Neil is superbly handsome, credit goes to God. That he is exceedingly popular, credit goes to his followers. That he is strikingly fit and hunky, credit goes to him. That’s the reason, he said, why he joined the pageant – to promote health and fitness. Prior to his departure for Korea, he was moved but also emboldened by the untimely death of 44 of his fellow Special Action Force (SAF) members who figured in a clash with rebels in Mindanao. He promised to dedicate his participation in the pageant to them. So when he was proclaimed winner, he executed a snappy salute right on stage which many interpreted as the fulfillment of his promise to his fallen comrades.

Neil is hot - in the sense that he is physically attractive. He is tough - as expected of a cop belonging to the elite force. Yet he also appears meek and reserved. Many were worried about his shyness, but that turned out to be an appealing facet of him. He is a man you can describe as both magnetic and enigmatic.

Neil’s triumph over hardships, his disciplined routine and healthy lifestyle, his quiet pride and down to earth personality, all serve as an example to others and give hope to those who struggle to face every obstacle with strength and a positive attitude.

In life as in pageantry, Neil was competing with himself. And it worked mighty fine for him. It took away the emphasis on winning and toppling others and freely allowed him to focus on self-improvement. The transformation is clearly taking shape before our very eyes as we continue to watch closely this hot cop – Neil.