The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is optimistic that the next Miss Universe will be a Filipina. To express this confidence, the state-run gaming firm is giving a P3 million sponsorship for this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant to be held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on April 14.

Representatives of PAGCOR headed by Chairman and CEO Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr. and Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated (BPCI) led by Chairperson Estella Marquez de Araneta formalized the partnership in special ceremonial rites on April 3 at the Forum Hall of Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque City.

Naguiat said the agency is honoured to be part of the Binibining Pilipinas, which is also celebrating its golden year. “We decided to partner with BPCI this year to celebrate their 50 years of producing Filipina beauty queens and their organization’s charity work. Aside from this, we are confident that this will be the year when a Filipina will be finally crowned as the next Miss Universe so we want to be a part of it,” he added.

In 2010, Maria Venus Raj was named Miss Universe 4th runner-up, while architect Shamcey Supsup came in third place during the Miss Universe 2011. Last year, 23 year-old Janine Tugonon almost won the crown when she emerged as first runner-up to Miss USA Olivia Culpo.

For her part, Mrs. Araneta - herself a beauty queen who was crowned as the first Filipina Miss International winner in 1960 - expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for being one of the sponsors of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

“It is a privilege and honor to be associated with PAGCOR and we hope that we will have many future plans for the country with the help of the beautiful women in the Philippines,” Mrs. Araneta said.

“We are excited to welcome such a big organization (PAGCOR) as partner of the BPCI. Our organization also does charity work to help other Filipinos who are in need, so I think this is a good partnership to have,” she added.

Aside from promoting the beauty of Filipinas, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant is also a charity event aimed at generating income for various charitable institutions. According to Mrs. Araneta, “Operation Smile Philippines” and “Gawad Kalinga Foundation” are among the beneficiaries for the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 pageant.

Operation Smile is a non-government organization providing free surgery to children with harelip and cleft palate, while GK Foundation builds low-cost housing for poor Filipino families nationwide. Both organizations have also previously received financial help from PAGCOR in furthering their advocacies. PAGCOR sponsored the free constructive surgery of 100 children from poor families as part of the agency’s Pamaskong Handog project in 2011. GK Foundation meantime is PAGCOR’s partner in constructing “Sibol Kindergarten” classrooms for pre-school children in public schools nationwide.

As part of the state-owned gaming firm’s sponsorship for the Binibining Pilipinas 2013, a Ms. PAGCOR Special Award shall be given to a deserving candidate during the pageant’s coronation night. The winner of this special award will receive a cash prize and free accommodations at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila.

Meanwhile, Binibining Pilipinas candidates welcomed the sponsorship from PAGCOR.

Candidate number 17, Carin Adrianne Ramos— Miss CF 2012 third runner up— said she is thankful to PAGCOR for the sponsorship saying that this will pave the way for helping more Filipinos in need.

“I’m very happy na PAGCOR has a partnership with Binibini. Sana mag-work out and sana magkaroon pa ng more years ang PAGCOR at Binibining Pilipinas to help the Filipinos (I’m very happy that PAGCOR has partnered with Binibining Pilipinas. I hope this partnership will work out and may there be more years that PAGCOR and Binibining Pilipinas will be able to help Filipinos),” said Ramos said in an interview.

Likewise, Binibining Pilipinas candidate number 28, Merce Grace Raquel—a finalist of PAGCOR’s Miss Casino Filipino 2012— also thanked PAGCOR for the experience she gained during the gaming firm’s in-house beauty pageant.

“I would like to thank you for the experience that you gave me during the Miss Casino Filipino in 2012. I would say that I gained so much experience, I was able to meet people who helped me and inspired me to do better the next time, and I am so happy that now that I am here in Binibini, we actually have this partnership with PAGCOR. I think both charities and advocacies they are pursuing will help people nationwide,” Raquel said.

Launched in 1964, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant has attracted thousands of aspirants from all over the country. Candidates undergo a rigorous selection process and only those exuding true Filipina beauty, poise, grace, and intelligence are crowned Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas World and Binibining Pilipinas Universe. The winners will represent the country in the yearly global search for Miss International, Miss World and Miss Universe.

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