Another beauty with a purpose

There’s an old saying about beauty being more than skin deep. In short, to be truly beautiful, a woman should be more than just attractive — she should also be aware, relevant, and have a heart for others, especially those less fortunate than herself.

This was not lost on 19-year-old Catrine Rosary Ocampo. The third year Travel Management student from the University of Santo Tomas joined the Miss Philippines-Earth pageant — where she finished as a runner-up — because it actively promoted caring for the environment. Then last year, she joined the Miss Casino Filipino pageant, again because it made an effort to reach out, this time, to the less fortunate. Each contestant was asked to select a charity, and if she won, PAGCOR, as the sponsoring organization, would give a corresponding amount as donation to the chosen charity. Catrine ended up winning the title, but knowing that she helped make a difference in the lives of others was her biggest reward.

Catrine’s chosen charity was Unang Lingap Kapwa, an organization that promotes education for children. It was introduced to her by one of the people who trained and prepared her for the pageant. When she heard what it was into, she immediately decided to support it. She threw herself wholeheartedly into the pageant because she wanted to win for herself, and also for Unang Lingap Kapwa. This, she says, is why she believes beauty pageants are still relevant. “The thing is they’re not just beauty pageants anymore, but they have an advocacy, just like Miss Philippines-Earth and Miss Casino Filipino,” says Catrine, who, through PAGCOR, was able to raise enough money to purchase six personal computers for Unang Lingap Kapwa. “When I met the children, I was happy kasi finally, na-meet ko yung mga natulungan ko.”

This year, 30 young women from all over the country will take part again in Miss Casino Filipino 2012. It will have the same goal as last year’s pageant: To promote the image of today’s Filipina as someone who is multi-talented, intelligent, socially active, and “stunningly beautiful.” It is important to PAGCOR, as the contest organizer, that young women joining the pageant be able to make a contribution to society. “One of the requirements before they join is for them to give a statement of their advocacy,” explains Bong Quintana, AVP of PAGCOR’S Entertainment Department, which is the moving force behind the event. “And after they win, in our corporate social responsibility activities, like the annual Pamaskong Handog, kasama din sila.”

But the young women who join the contest don’t just reach out to others; sometimes they even become beneficiaries themselves. “Aside from providing entertainment, meron din ino-offer na trabaho sa kanila, like in marketing, or casino hosting,” says Quintana.

A previous contestant who represented Casino Filipino Angeles in the first pageant last year was tapped to star in a promotional VTR for PAGCOR. Thus, the Miss Casino Filipino contest also becomes a source of career opportunities for them. “If they’re qualified, we can use them as our frontliners, or in our offices.”

Screening for this year’s Miss Casino Filipino is ongoing. The qualifying competitions will be held nationwide in the following venues: Casino Filipino Bacolod on Oct. 1; Casino Filipino Cebu, Oct. 3; Casino Filipino Davao, Oct. 5; Casino Filipino Angeles, Oct. 9; Casino Filipino Olongapo, Oct. 12; Casino Filipino Tagaytay, Oct. 15; Casino Filipino Pavilion, Oct. 18; Casino Filipino Hyatt, Oct. 21; Casino Filipino Heritage, Oct. 24; and Airport Casino Filipino, Oct. 27.

Each branch will select three representatives to the Miss Casino Filipino 2012 Grand Coronation Night to be held on Nov. 16, 8 p.m. at the PAGCOR Grand Theater of Airport Casino Filipino. Candidates must be Filipino citizens (or should be residing in the country in the last six months before the start of the contest’s official rehearsal schedule). They should be at least 18 years old, and not more than 25 by Oct. 1.

The prize package is generous: Miss Casino Filipino will receive P500,000 in cash, while her four runners-up will also get cash prizes ranging from P100,000 to P400,000.

A new twist introduced to the contest this year is the idea of having “icons” — each contestant, aside from choosing an advocacy, will also be asked to name her chosen Filipina role model, dead or living, and explain why. “This is our way of honoring the modern-day Filipina. She is someone who speaks her mind, is socially aware and tries to make a difference in her community in her own way,” says Quintana. “What makes the Miss Casino Filipino distinct from other beauty pageants is the inclusion of the contestants’ advocacies. It is a manifestation of the contestants’ commitment to be of service to others, especially to the less privileged.”

Catrine will pass on her title this year, but her mission of service to others does not end with the contest. “I’d like to own a business and become an ambassadress,” she says. “I’d also like to continue supporting charities that promote education. Children deserve an education, and I want to be able to help them achieve their dreams.”

In the meantime, Rico J. Puno has started his national tour dubbed Rico J. Puno The Total Entertainer on a National Tour at the Airport Casino Filipino. Other performances are on Sept. 14, Casino Filipino Cebu; Sept. 19, Casino Filipino Olongapo; and Sept. 28, Casino Filipino Pavilion.

For details, call 852-7758 or 852-7760 or log on to www.pagcor.ph.