The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy (PN) praised Beatrice Luigi Gomez, a military reservist, for making it to the Top 5 of the Miss Universe beauty pagent held in Israel on Monday, Dec. 13, (Philippine Standard Time).
Gomez is a reservist of the PN's Philippine Marine Corps. She has a rank of sergeant as a non-commissioned officer.
"Congratulations on making it to the Top 5, Sergeant Beatrice Luigi Gallarde Gomez PN (M) (Res)! Your One Defense Team is truly proud of you!" the DND said in a statement.
The Philippine Navy also extended its greetings to Gomez and thanked her for representing the country in the international competition.
"Kudos for making it into the Top 5 of Miss Universe 2021! Thank you for representing us, Sgt. Beatrice Luigi Gomez PN(M)(Res). Your Philippine Navy is proud of you!" the Navy said.
The 26-year-old beauty queen from Cebu City is the Philippines' bet to the 70th Miss Universe pageant.
She concluded her journey as among the top five contenders along with the representatives of Colombia, India, Paraguay, and South Africa. India's Harnaaz Sandhuu ended up bagging the coveted crown.
During the pageant, Gomez reportedly said that she joined the Marines "for a reason and that is to help the most vulnerable communities in my hometown in Cebu City."
Gomez underwent basic citizens military course training in Eastern Visayas in January 2021 and finished the class to be a reservist of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) with a rank of Corporal.
When she won the Miss Universe Philippines in September, she was promoted a rank higher to sergeant.
As a reservist, Gomez had engaged in community development activities such as providing food packs to families affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).