Body Talk with Neil Perez

When Police Officer (PO2) Neil Perez (real name: Mariano Flormata Jr.) was named 2014 Mister International (the first for the Philippines) from a batch of 30 macho men during the grand finals last Saturday night (Feb. 14) in Seoul, he held back tears as he marched around the stage waving the Philippine Flag with pride.

“I didn’t expect it,” admitted Neil in an exclusive phone interview from Seoul the other night, speaking in Filipino the way he did during the contest’s crucial Q&A. “Until I was the last to be called as one of the 10 semi-finalists, I thought I was out already. Parang nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa. I became even more nervous when I was called among the Top 5. Kinilabutan ako. I couldn’t control myself when my name was announced the winner, kaya napaluha ako.”

He dedicated his victory to the 44 PNP SAF (Special Action Force) members who were killed in the Mamasapano tragedy.

“I know five of them,” said Neil, his voice breaking a bit. “You know, mahirap ang trabaho naming mga SAF. We are very few, mahigit lang kaming 1,000 sa buong ‘Pinas. I’m sure that wherever they are, they are happy for me, pati na rin mga pamilya nila.”

A BS Criminology graduate from Manuel L. Quezon University, taking after his father who is a retired police sergeant with the so-called Manila’s Finest, Neil is a bomb expert who joined the service in 2008, assigned with the Special Operations Unit at the NAIA. The 2014 Mister International Philippines was the first contest that he competed in, earning him the honor to represent the country in the Mister International pageant.

It was a tough fight which Neil has won, maybe more than with his looks, because of his infectious humility and natural friendliness. His formal wear was designed by Olan Roque and his national costume (which won him third place) was by Edwin Uy.

“If you ask me,” said Neil, “I would say that any of the Top 5 deserved to win, kasi mga guapo at matitipuno talaga ang mga katawan.”

His runners-up were candidates from Lebanon (first), Czech Republic (second), Poland (third) and Slovenia (fourth).

What’s your biggest disappointment in life?

That was the question for Neil during the Q&A which he answered in Filipino with the help of an interpreter: Unang-una, ang biggest disappointment ko ay ang hindi ko paggalang sa aking mga magulang na pinagsisihan ko, dahil isang mahalagang bagay ang mahalin natin ang ating mga magulang ayon sa pangalawang utos ng Diyos para sa ating mga Katoliko.

Asked why he needed an interpreter, Neil said, “I was at ease speaking in our National Language, relaxed na relaxed ako. Siempre sa ating mga Filipino, if you speak in English at nagkamali ka sa grammar, pupunahin ka. What I noticed is that in Seoul, hindi big deal sa kanila ‘yung grammar. Ang importante ‘yung naiintindihan ka.”

Throughout the contest, Neil befriended all the contestants.

“It didn’t feel like competition at all,” he recalled. “Parang wala lang sa amin ‘yung pageant. We worked out together; parang barkada lang kami lahat. The camaraderie was nice even if we came from different countries, different cultures.”

His training and discipline as a policeman helped a lot.

“I would wake up early. I was on time for everything — sa rehearsals, sa meals, sa lahat. Kelangan maaga kang kumilos, ready with your clothes at nakapag-makeup ka na.”

Neil will reign for only eight months, the shortest for a Mister International. The contest is barely 10 years old.

He said that first thing he will do when he comes back from Seoul today is to make a courtesy call on his superiors and ask for a clearance on what’s the best thing to do, such as going on leave when he has to travel around Asia in his capacity as Mister International. Since Saturday when he won, Neil has been doing the rounds. He has paid the Philippine Embassy a courtesy call, attended dinners with dignitaries and sponsors, and visited the Filipino community which supported him all the way.

“Our kababayan gave Neil all-out support,” said Carlo Morris Galang, national director of Misters of the Philippines which is behind the search for (three) delegates to the Mister International and other international contests for men. He chaperoned Neil to Seoul.

A Leo (July 26, 1985), Neil stands 5’11”; weighs 170 lbs.; and wears medium-sized shirt and briefs, and size-9 shoes.

Excerpts from a “body talk” with Neil:

How do you maintain your body?

“Discipline. Diet and workout.”

What is your diet?

“I avoid ‘bad’ food, kung ano ang mga bawal.”

What’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

“For breakfast, usually oatmeal with fruits and one hard-boiled egg. More than one egg a day is bad daw, di ba? For lunch, chicken or fish, brown rice or wheat bread. Ganoon din for dinner, with vegetables.”

What vitamins do you take?

“Vita-Plus every day.”

Do you smoke?

“No, I don’t.”

Do you drink?

“A little. Social drinking lang. Hindi ‘yung lasingan.”

What about workout?

“Sa house lang. I do push-ups and sit-ups. If I have time, I work out in the gym.”

What part of your body is your favorite?

“My butt.”

And what part needs improvement?

“My love handles.”

What part of a woman’s body do you notice first?

“’Yung kabuuan niya.”

And what type of women turns you off?

“’Yung naninigarilyo.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“Eight hours. Early to bed, early to rise.”

How many pillows do you sleep with?

“None. Kasi naka-slouch ako ng konti, so I have to sleep with my body flat on the bed.”

Favorite sleepwear?

“Pajamas, with nothing else, especially if it’s hot.”

Do you sleep in the nude?

“Never!”

Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“Pray.”

And the first thing that you do as soon as you wake?

“Pray again, to thank God for giving me a brand-new day. Then, I work out. Push-ups, sit-ups.”

Nightlife?

“Very seldom these days. Wala muna.”

Lovelife?

“Okey naman po.”

Sex life?

“Ngayon, wala muna, hahahaha!”

Lights off or lights on?

“Sometimes, lights off; sometimes, lights on.”

Three women that you find sexy?

“’Yung mga beauty queens — Megan Young, Shamcey Supsup and Venus Raj.”

Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you admire her?

“Nag-beau-beautiful eyes ako sa kanya.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected].)