SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan — Arlene Poyaoan-Galvez, a daughter of this city, was crowned as Mrs. Universe Philippines Finest Woman World 2019 and will represent the country in the international competition next year.
In an interview via Facebook on Friday, Galvez said she joined the pageant for her advocacies.
“I have joined the pageant because of the advocacies. It’s not just a beauty contest, but a beauty with a cause and a beauty with a purpose. And I believe God sent me here for a reason. This is just a start of my journey. And I want to implement our advocacies as soon as possible, which includes Livelihood Literacy and Financial Wellness,” said Galvez, mother to a seven-year-old boy.
She personally advocates livelihood and financial literacy, believing these will address violence against women and empower them to achieve their potentials.
“I believe that livelihood and financial literacy will address the violence against women and will empower them if they have ways of earnings without being dependent to their husbands,” said Galvez, who herself is a career woman.
She noted that her husband is supportive of her endeavors.
“My husband is very supportive from the very start. This is my first time to join but since there is an advocacy, so he is on full support to me because we both know that God sent me here. Currently, we are asking for the support from different government agencies for the implementation of our advocacies. We are also planning some fund raising events in order for us to start with our advocacies before I prepare for next year’s pageant,” Galvez said.
The wife-mother-beauty-queen also thanked the provincial government of Pangasinan for the support it gave her.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan members on their regular session on Monday passed a resolution congratulating Galvez for her success in the recent pageant.
“Mrs. Arlene Poyaoan-Galvez is not only considered as a passionate and beautifully empowered woman, but a supporter of the enhancement of entrepreneurial mind setting and in the stabilization of strong mental health in dealing with social and family problems,” the resolution read.
The resolution added, “Hence, the august body commended the beauty queen and wishes her more success in balancing her roles and responsibilities not only as a responsible spouse and mother but also a successful career woman.”
Galvez won the crown alongside Patricia Javier (Mrs. Universe Philippines 2019), Lovely Gervacio- Tajan (Finest Woman International), Maria Estrella Zaldivar (Finest Woman Globe) and Johanna Beatriz Jacinto-Ticzon (Finest Woman Earth), at Resorts World Manila last Sept. 8.
The Mrs. Universe International 2018 pageant will be held in Cebu City on Dec. 11, while the 2019 pageant’s date and venue is yet to be announced. (Hilda Austria/PNA)
