Pride of Bohol at Mrs. Philippines International 2023

CEBU, Philippines — Evangeline Pulvera, 46, is among 25 finalists at the Mrs. Philippines International 2023 pageant, which will hold its Preliminary Competition tonight, March 11, at the Arctic Hall of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, and its finals on April 4 at Okada Manila.

Representing the Province of Bohol, Pulvera tells The FREEMAN that she has always wanted to be a beauty queen, but has never had the opportunity to join one when she was still single. Mrs. Bohol Philippines International is her very first title.

“I know it was God-given, because prior to that, I prayed that I will find my purpose, something that will not feel like work and will make me happy while doing it,” she says.

The native of Inabanga, Bohol is a registered nurse, licensed real estate broker, and aspiring lawyer. She has two kids, Prince Roger, 25, and Kun Roger Evann, 9, as well as two grandchildren, aged five and two months old.

Despite Mrs. Philippines International 2023 being her maiden pageant foray, Pulvera easily impressed the media who voted for her as a silver awardee for Darling of the Press during a press presentation and sashing ceremony held last December at Okada Manila.

Why join a pageant now? “I want to re-gain my confidence. I used to believe that I was the most beautiful creature because of the compliments that everyone around me would tell me. Everyone would compare me to someone and they would always end up saying I was the most beautiful,” Pulvera shared.

“But when I went to Cebu for college at the University of San Carlos, I realized it was not true because there were so many much more beautiful girls. In fact, there were times I would end up following someone because I would be mesmerized by their long legs, only to realize I followed them into their classroom!”

Pulvera has realized how joining a beauty tilt is no walk in the park. “You will be tested, but you will also grow in all aspects. Since we are not single, we also have a family to consider, among many things. I really want to be a beauty queen…it’s what my soul wants. But I am very happy, because this is an opportunity to go outside my comfort zone. It’s quite a different world from being a nurse and a real estate broker.”

Apart from her title and her upcoming finals, Pulvera is excited to help her fellow Boholanas who likewise aspire to be beauty queens through her Mrs. Bohol Philippines International organization. “It’s such a great feeling to empower other women,” she quips.

Her advocacy is called Happy Boholana – a fitting description of the soft-spoken Pulvera who effortlessly charms with her cheerful and positive disposition.

“As mothers we devote most of our time to our family and we tend to forget our own well-being. As a nurse and your future Mrs. Philippines International, I want to help more women become empowered about their health by educating them about their rights such as having equal access to health programs by the government and private institutions.”