Youngest child of the late Adela Contreras and former mayor of Iloilo City, Eulogio Garganera.
She studied in Assumption convent, Iloilo city, from first grade to fourth year high school; finished Pre-law in the University of the Philippines, Iloilo College, now known as the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of San Agustin, Iloilo, and passed the Bar the same year. Immediately thereafter, she worked with the Commission on Elections until her migration to the United States with her late husband, Aniceto Gauzon, M.D., of San Carlos city, Negros Occidental. They have two children, Carmela (Mia), married to Clifford J. Schamber. Both work with the Marriott Corporation in Bethesda, MD. Her son, Gabriel (GG) is presently the Director of Internet Sales of Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville, MD.
After earning a Masters in Comparative Law degree in Georgetown University, Washington, DC, Pearl worked at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, then transferred to the Jesuit Colleges and Universities. She joined the World Bank in 1984 and is currently working with the Human Development Group of the World Bank Institute.
Pearl is a strong advocate for the enactment in the Philippine Congress of the Voters' Overseas Rights.
Now that her two children are fully grown, Pearl devotes part of her time volunteering in sustainable Filipino-American community projects.
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