Atty. Mara Ruiz: Bohol‘s Beauty and the Best Bet for Miss World PH
Already accomplished as a legal eagle and environmental law professor, Atty. Mara Louise Alagon Ruiz, could have already used these platforms to express her position in relation to her advocacies. Yet, she has chosen to engage in pageantry knowing how powerful this platform could be in sharing with the people her ardent desire to enable them to become more aware about the issues and problems related to the environment.
Atty. Ruiz is doing the rounds right now as she is gathering support from her ‘sano and ‘sana in a journey to become the next Miss World Philippines.
Atty. Mara has the gift of gab that will surely give her an edge over the others during the competition. Her law background and her desire to educate the people about the environment will surely catapult her to greater heights in the tilt and perhaps earn a shot at winning the title representing the province of Bohol.
In a radio interview on NEWSMAKERS radio program on June 8, 2021, Atty. Ruiz, who is not only an environmental lawyer but also an educator by profession, said that she is competing in the Miss World Philippines as candidate number 42.
Aside from the radio guesting and engaging with the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) in relation to her environmental advocacies, she also met Gov. Arthur Yap at the Provincial Capitol on Mar. 22, 2021, to gain support from him in her desire to be the next Filipina representative to the Miss World pageant.
So far, only one Filipina has won the Miss World title and she is Megan Young-Daez way back in 2013.
During her meeting with Yap, the latter expressed his full support to Atty. Ruiz’ quest to capture the title of Miss World Philippines 2021.
Aside from the BEMO, she has also partnering with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) for trainings related to disaster preparedness as a way to promote her advocacy on disaster resilience and climate change.
In the same interview, Ruiz expressed that she believes in pageantry as a
powerful platform to air her advocacies particularly on environment. She said that the beauty pageant can open floodgates for information and awareness among the people who may not have any idea about environmental issues especially the impact on climate change.
She told the radio program hosts Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado that she is joining the competition because she wants to do something worthwhile as she became more aware of the realities regarding the difficulties faced by the youth and the society in general during this pandemic. She wants to use the pageant as a platform where she could present her advocacies aside from her desire to be a role model to other people.
She said that she draws inspiration and encouragement from her family and the people of Bohol.
Atty. Ruiz obtained her basic education at Bohol Wisdom School where she graduated SALUTATORIAN. She earned her college degree at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and finally finished her law degree at the Ateneo de Manila University law school.
She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Fancy Baluyot, the head of the Gift of Life Philippines here in Bohol.
Moreover, Atty. Ruiz is the daughter of Dr. Mary Ann Ruiz and retired Gen. Ramon Ruiz. She is the niece of Dr. Kazan Baluyot and Atty. Fama Baluyot.
She teaches environmental law at the University of Makati and also as a junior associate at Puno and Puno Law Offices.
Meanwhile, for the information of all, the Miss World Philippines competition is slated on July 25, 2021, but the venue is yet to be revealed, according to Atty. Ruiz.
