(top row, from left) - CF-Bacolod's Katrina Pearl Gomez, Ma. Monica Coscolluela and Zyra Grace Vedad. (middle row, from left) CF-Cebu's Jomalyn Seldura, Queeny Rose Yao and Maureen Morales. (bottom row, from left) CF-Davao's Mary Claire Dodo, Vanessa Ruth Chan and Janelle Tee.

After a series of pre-screening rounds in Cebu, Bacolod and Davao, nine beautiful and talented Filipinas from various parts of Visayas and Mindanao were handpicked to participate in the first-ever Miss Casino Filipino beauty pageant in Manila on September 3.

Eighteen-year old Fil-am student Katrina Pearl Gomez, graduating Tourism student Zyra Grace Vedad, 19, and 24-year old sales and marketing professional Maria Monica Coscolluela were chosen to represent Casino Filipino Bacolod after earning the jurors’ nod during the first leg of the pageant’s qualifying round on August 1 and 2.

Gomez, a promising beauty from Bacolod, showcased true Filipino ingenuity despite her Caucasian features and expressed her eagerness to take part in environmental preservation efforts as part of her advocacy program.

Meanwhile, Casino Filipino Cebu picked 21-year old Maureen Morales from Zamboanga del Norte, Customs Administration student Jomalyn Seldura, 19 and Mass Communications student Queeny Rose Yao, 18 as their representatives to the nationwide beauty pageant.

Morales, who seemed to be the odd girl out in a pre-pageant event that was teeming with Cebuanas, travelled all the way from Zamboanga de Norte to join the pre-qualifying pageant in Cebu on August 3 and 4.

“If I’d be given a chance to serve as Miss Casino Filipino 2011, I would like to help empower the youth through education. With the help of PAGCOR, I can help less privileged children in far-flung areas to gain access to basic education,” says Maureen. The Management Accounting graduate from the University of San Carlos in Cebu shared that the poverty she witnessed in her hometown coupled with poor quality of education motivated her to choose education of marginalized youth as her advocacy. “Education is important. It empowers the younger generation, who are the hope of this nation.”

Seldura and Yao, who are both natives of Cebu City, chose to promote environmental preservation in case they bag the Miss Casino Filipino 2011 title.

“I would like to be instrumental in promoting a healthy and green environment. If we give importance to the environment by taking good care of it, we will all reap the benefits,” said Seldura, a third year student at the University of Cebu.

Yao, who is also an environmental advocate, shared that in the face of climate change, people should take it upon themselves to nurture the planet. “As masterpieces of God’s creation, it is our divine obligation to take care of Mother Nature. By doing so, the Earth can be a better place to live in,” she stressed.

Meantime, Casino Filipino Davao named Janelle Tee, Vanessa Ruth Chan and Mary Claire Dodo, all natives of Davao City, as the branch’s representatives to the pageant. The three bested nine other candidates who hailed from different provinces in Mindanao like Surigao and Agusan Del Sur.

Having implemented an advocacy to transform biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizers during her reign as Mutya ng Davao 2010, 20-year old Janelle Tee desires to bring her noble cause to a bigger scale. “This advocacy was implemented in Davao City and I also hope that other people would emulate what I did. This is the prime reason why I joined Miss Casino Filipino” Tee said.

Like Tee, Mary Claire Dodo also believes that the Miss Casino Filipino pageant could help promote her advocacy on solid waste management. “Proper solid waste management could help save the environment and mitigate the impact of climate change that causes global warming,” she said.

Registered nurse Vanessa Ruth Chan, meanwhile, desires to enhance the health of women, children and families through prevention and education to reduce mortality and morbidity. As a nurse, Chan feels for the less fortunate who do not have access to quality health care.

Bong Quintana, PAGCOR’s Assistant VP for Entertainment, was delighted that the Miss Casino Filipino qualifying rounds in Visayas and Mindanao were a success. “We hope to produce a queen in its true essence. We look forward to finding the candidate who can best represent Miss Casino Filipino and PAGCOR here in the Philippines and around the world,” he said.

PAGCOR’s Miss Casino Filipino 2011 nationwide search is a way of paying tribute to the modern Filipina by encouraging and rewarding her talent, intelligence and community involvement. The grand winner will take home P300,000 in cash and will get the chance to choose a charitable institution which will benefit from PAGCOR’s in-kind donation. Runners-up will receive P200, 000 (first runner-up), P100,000 (second runner-up), P75,000 (third runner-up) and P50,000 (fourth runner-up). Winners will also get the chance to be part of Casino Filipino shows and events.