After weeks of intensive training and competition, Zamboanga beauty PO1 Madonna Gay Cajoco (center) was crowned as this year’s Ms. PNP Ganda Pulis. PHOTO BY JHOANNA BALLARAN/INQUIRER.net
A policewoman from Zamboanga del Norte was crowned Ms. PNP Ganda Pulis on Monday Night, edging out 25 rivals from different polices offices across the country.
Police Officer (PO) 1 Madonna Gay Cajoco also won special awards, including: Best in Ethnic Costume, Ms. Mac Cosmetics, Ms. MX3, Best in Resorts Wear, Best in Long Gown, and Ms. Above Aesthetics. She took home the P50,000 prize money and other products.
The grand finals and coronation night was held at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame.
READ: Armed and beautiful: 26 policewomen vie for Ganda Pulis 2018 pageant
Cajoco wore an evening gown by renowned designer Val Taguba, who designed the gowns of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
Cajoco will serve as the ambassadress of the police force in advocacies like the Recovery and Wellness Program, Community-Based Rehabilitation Program, and other women and children advocacies.
Two other Mindanaoan beauties – PO2 May Shell Oro from Northern Mindanao and PO1 Cris Pastores of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) – won as Ms. Makadiyos (god-fearing) and Ms. Makatao (humane), respectively.
PO1 Elymor Chrysma Caberto from the Cordillera region was named Ms. Makabayan (nationalist) while and PO1 Anne Jerica Buenafe from Central Luzon was Ms. Makakalikasan (environmentalist).
Pastores was also named Ms. Photogenic and bagged the Best in Advocacy and People’s Choice awards. Meanwhile, Carberto and PO2 Ria Angelley Bero from Mimaropa took home the Ms. Aficionado and Best in Talent award, respectively.
Chief Supt. Rhodel Sermonia, director of the Police Community Relations Group, said the pageant has greatly helped enhance the image of the PNP by showing the police’s humane and soft side.
“When we launched the program, we have seen and felt the outpouring support coming from our NGOs,” Sermonia said in a media interview on Tuesday.
He added that one of the program’s advocacies is promoting Project Tokhang, a wellness program that addresses the needs of over one million drug surrenderees all over the country. /ee