COA to stage beauty pageant

MANILA, Philippines - State auditors are up for another challenge – but this one won’t involve examining accounts and expenditures of the government.

Rather, it is about discovering audit personnel who display the most natural beauty and remarkable qualities amid the pressures of their jobs.

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza announced last week that the search is on for Mr. and Miss COA 2014.

The pageant, according to Mendoza, aims to highlight “the finest crop of men and women of the agency who lead very serious and stressful jobs of fighting graft and corruption in government.”

The search will be open to single male and female employees of COA who are not more than 30 years of age and are willing to battle it out with each other in a grand event next month celebrating the audit institution’s 115th anniversary.

Mendoza said the contest will do away with the bikini or swimwear category but will have the sportswear, business or corporate attire and formal or evening wear competitions.

There will also be talent and question and answer portions, she said.

Mendoza said talent presentations “must be within the bounds of morality and decency and must not be offensive to anyone’s sensibilities” and while props will be allowed, fire, water, bladed weapons, guns and other dangerous and explicitly offensive objects will not be permitted.

Mendoza said the contest aims to help rank-and-file employees to “develop self-confidence and be proud of being an empowered member of the government’s working force.”

It also hopes to promote the ideals of an independent, objective, hardworking and committed auditor and public servant, she said.

The event also seeks to give participants a chance to “serve as ambassadors of the commission and promote the culture of integrity and solid work ethics.”

The pageant proper and coronation night will be held at the COA Sports and Cultural Complex on May 9.

The winning Mr. and Miss COA will each receive P15,000, a sash, a trophy, and a bouquet.

There will also be prizes for the first and second runners-up and special awards for the best in corporate attire, best in sportswear, best in talent, best in evening wear, and Mr. and Miss Congeniality.