Beatrice Luigi Gomez is awarded the Military Merit Medal

Aside from a crown, former Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez can now proudly say she is a bearer of a Military Merit Medal.

In one of the more recent posts on her Instagram account, Beatrice proudly shared a number of pictures of her being awarded the honor at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in For Bonifacio, Taguig. Aside from being awarded the honor, Beatrice shared in the caption that she has also been named an Honorary Member of Friends of Marines.

The Military Merit Medal is awarded "...for heroic achievement in combat or meritorious achievement for service not involving participation in combat, in connection with military operations against an enemy of the Philippines; for a single act of meritorious service either in a duty responsibility or in direct support of military operations."

Aside from being a sergeant in the Philippine Navy Reserve Unit, Beatrice has been a longtime collaborator with the Philippine military, especially when it comes to relief and rescue operations. During Typhoon Odette, she worked with the Naval Reserve Center of Eastern Visayas to provide meals to Typhoon Odette victims stuck in ports.

Beatrice was also probably recognized for her advocacy work even without the military. Just recently, she took part in a life insurance company's events for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, or IDAHOBIT 2022.

Before handing off her crown to Miss Universe Philippines 2022, Celeste Cortesi, Beatrice also took part in a menstrual health event alongside Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu.

Beatrice has also conducted relief operations in Mantayog, Mandaue, and prepared 300 packs of relief goods for relief operations in Compostela, Cebu.

Check out photos of Beatrice handing out meals to victims of Typhoon Odette in the gallery below.