A 23-YEAR-OLD beauty from Cebu stood the fairest among 28 lovely young ladies from around the country after being crowned as Miss Casino Filipino 2014 during the pageant’s recent grand coronation night at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.

Rogelie Catacutan, a native of Lahug City, bested her two fellow representatives from Casino Filipino Cebu and other candidates from the Casino Filipino branches of Bacolod, Davao, Iloilo, Angeles, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Malabon, Hyatt and Pavilion.

Catacutan was awarded the grand prize of P500,000 and an additional P30,000 for being named as Best in Swimsuit, Best in Long Gown and Best in Talent.  The newly-crowned Miss Casino Filipino will also be given a chance to help her preferred charitable institution through a P200,000 donation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Despite bagging three special awards early in the competition, Catacutan said she did not expect to win the crown.  “All throughout the competition, talagang sobra ang kaba ko kasi lahat ng mga kalaban ko ay magaganda rin and equally deserving sa crown,” she ecstatically said.

But more than the prestige and honor of having won the Miss Casino Filipino title, Catacutan considers as her greatest triumph the opportunity to promote her advocacy to uplift the lives of unfortunate children.

“Of course, I’m greatly overwhelmed by this achievement.  But this would mean nothing if I’m not going to do something that would benefit other people, especially the less-privileged kids.  For me, all the celebrations and the glitter of this victorious moment will pass but not the positive effect of the noble objective that I’ve always wanted to pursue,” she said.

Joining Catacutan in the top five are 1st runner-up Emma Tiglao of CF Angeles, fellow CF Cebu representatives Maria Fatima Saudia Al-Sowyed (2nd runner-up) and Julienne Hazel Penserga (3rd runner-up) and CF Hyatt’s Jannie Loudette Alipo-on (4th runner-up).  The runners-up received P400,000 (1st); P300,000 (2nd); P200,000 (3rd) and P100,000 (4th), respectively.

Two CF Bacolod bets, Roselyn Corilla and Joy Jontillano, were awarded Miss Asia’s Friendliest and Miss Social Media Darling respectively, while Tiglao was named Miss Photogenic. Corilla and Tiglao received P10,000 each for winning special awards while Jontillano was given a plaque, an overnight hotel accommodation and a P5,000 gift check.

PAGCOR AVP for Entertainment and Bingo Department Bong Quintana, who served as one of the judges, was delighted by the resounding success of the event.  The coronation night was moved to September 21 after typhoon Mario flooded Metro Manila last September 19.

“I’m very happy that the Miss Casino Filipino 2014 was able to push through despite the effects of the recent typhoon.  At least, naging okay ang lahat.  Right now, ang priority namin ay ang pag-aayos ng mga contracts ng mga nanalo with PAGCOR, kasama na yung kung paano natin matutulungan ang napiling charity ng ating Miss Casino Filipino,” Quintana explained.

Another judge, socialite and newspaper columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes, said they had a hard time picking the grand winner since all those who made it to the top five were all worthy of the title.

“The ladies are so beautiful and tall.  Actually, among us judges, there was a tie-breaker that we had to do for the first runner-up and the winner because they exactly had the same scores for both the Best in Long Gown and Best in Swimsuit categories,” she noted.

Former basketball heartthrob Vince Hizon, who was also among the guest jurors remarked that he was very impressed with the event after learning that it is not only a contest that celebrates Filipina beauty but a competition that opens an opportunity for the participants to help the needy.

“I must congratulate PAGCOR for having an event which not only promotes beautiful Filipinas.  It is very seldom that I hear competitions like this that allows the winner to make a difference in the lives of others,” Hizon said.

Also joining Quintana, Valdes and Hizon in the panel of judges are PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento, reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International Glennifer Perido and Hospitality Headhunter, Trainer and Consultant Vic Alcuaz.

The Miss Casino Filipino 2014 Coronation Night was hosted by Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2009 title-holder Bianca Manalo and TV host-actor Gabby Eigenmann.  Among the guest performers were Kyla, Marcus Davis, Luke Mejares, Randy Santiago and the Whiplash and Buganda Dancers.

Go back