BONTOC, Mountain Province – The 18-year old daughter of a Brunei-based overseas Filipino worker (OWF) and a Manila-based businesswoman was adjudged as the 2017 Miss Mountain Province titlist besting nine other beauty contestants from the different municipalities during the coronation night held here recently.
Joy Maerick Ann Valdez Perez, 18, a sophomore student of Bachelor of Science in Office Administration major in Financial Management at the State-run Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) Tadian campus and currently the reigning Miss Tadian beauty titlist, emerged the winner in the provincial beauty contest after bagging the Best in Casual Wear and Best in Talent awards during the coronation rites.
Joy is the eldest daughter among five sisters of a Brunei-based site supervisor and a Manila-based. Joy’s opted to stay with her father’s relatives in Tadian because of the need to pursue a higher degree of education to help in raising her sisters in the future.
“I did not expect to be adjudged the winner in the competition because of the caliber of the contestants. I just closely worked with Miss Bauko, Paul Marie Beneyat, and Miss Sabangan, Zaphie Zayn Danglose, and we enjoyed every activity prepared by the organizers of the pageant,” Ms. Perez stressed.
Joy traces her roots to Lubon, Tadian but she initially grew up with her parents in Pangasinan before going home to Tadian for her college education upon the guidance of her uncle.
The beauty titlist is considered a veteran of the said activity having joined beauty contests when she was in high school in Pangasinan, similar competitions sponsored by the MPSPC, the barangay, the municipality and eventually the provincial government that helped her earn the poise and confidence of having to publicly deal with people from all walks of life.
Joy was reportedly encouraged by her uncle, who happens to be a choreographer of a school in Tadian, to actively participate in beauty contests.
According to her, she dedicates her win to her Lola Daisy Libed Perez, who just came home from Saipan, because of her unwavering and uncompromising support to her in her participation to the province’s coveted beauty contest as she was able to further develop her confidence in making public appearances with much poise this time.
Joy said that she will strive to complete her college studies, graduate from school, have a good job for her to help her younger sisters achieve a higher education before putting up her own family.
She underscored she does not want her younger sisters to suffer the difficulties that she is encountering now as she strives to achieve a higher degree of education that is why she wants to be a model child worthy of emulation by her own sisters.
By HENT