MANILA, Philippines—They are all young and pretty, full of promises to make it big in the entertainment scene.

The heat of the noonday sun on Friday, September 12, didn’t matter to those who witnessed the twenty-nine (29) beautiful Filipinas in their two-piece suit when they were presented to members of the press at Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City

Like the weather outside, the pre-selected 29 sizzling hot babes will vie for the coveted Miss Casino Filipino 2014 crown, which will happen during the pageant’s grand coronation night on September 19 also at Midas.

Plucked by fate from various provinces in the Philippines, the candidates were selected from hundreds of aspirants who participated in the nationwide Miss Casino Filipino regional screenings from July 25 to August 30. The screenings were held in Casino Filipino branches in Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Angeles, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Malabon, Hyatt and Pavilion.

The finalists from the Visayas and Mindanao are Roselyn Corilla, Joy Magielen Jontilano, Saiphil Nipales, Rogelie Catacutan, Julienne Hazel Penserga, Maria Fatima Saudia Al-Sowyed, Mary Grace Castillo, Gladys Comandao, Darlene Paula Dichoso, Zairah Marie Agsaluna, Jenny Babes Puda and Eiseley Kyle Pragados.

Luzon bets are Berna Bail Penales, Camille Laylay, Emylyn Perez, Johvielyne Co, Martina McKinsey, Donna Velasco, Gel Dacion, Emma Mary Tiglao and Maolin Yalung.

Candidates representing Metro Manila are Danita Joan Ruazol, Jannie Alipo-on, Abbygale Rey, Dale Ivory Lee, Ivy Meerry Enriquez, Haydee Gumasing, Angela Aninang, Rose Turner and Agatha Lei Romero.

Bong Quintana, Pagcor’s assistant vice president for entertainment and bingo, said this year’s batch of Miss Casino Filipino candidates is a mix of young professionals and college students. “We have an engineer, a pharmacist, a nurse and graduates of Speech Pathology and Hotel and Restaurant Management, among others. We are happy that the pool of our Miss Casino Filipino candidates is improving every year,” he said.

Quintana added all of the candidates have a common goal when they joined the Miss Casino Filipino pageant. “Apart from winning the crown, the contestants are also motivated to join Miss Casino Filipino because they see this pageant as a means to pursue their respective advocacies. They know that winning the crown would allow them to lend a helping hand to those in need since Pagcor will be donating P200,000 in cash to their preferred charitable institution,” he said.

Apart from participating in Pagcor’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects and being able to help various charities, the past winners of Miss Casino Filipino were also given career opportunities. “We have discovered many talented ladies through our nationwide beauty contest. Some of them are already part of Pagcor’s stable of artists who are performing regularly in our different Casino Filipino venues,” Quintana added.

Big cash prizes await the winners of Miss Casino Filipino 2014. The grand winner will take home P500,000 in cash. Meantime, the runners-up will receive P400,000 (1st), P300,000 (2nd), P200,000 (3rd) and P100,000 (4th).

Pagcor will also award special prizes such as Best in Talent, Best in Long Gown, Best in Swimsuit, Miss Friendship, Miss Photogenic, meanwhile, the candidate who gets the most number of ‘Likes’ in the online media voting in Casino Filipino Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/casinofilipino will be awarded the “Social Media Darling” and will be given fabulous prizes. The winners of the other special awards will get P10,000 each.

The Miss Casino Filipino 2014 grand coronation night will be hosted by Binibining Pilipinas 2009 Bianca Manalo and TV host, model Marc Nelson. Among the panel of judges who will be selecting the winners are Celebrity Actor Mr. Gabby Concepcion, Basketball Star Vince Hizon, Reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2014 Glennifer Perido, Hospitality Headhunter, Trainer and Consultant Vic Alcuaz among others.

Guest performers are Randy Santiago, Ariel Rivera, Kyla, Merjohn Lagaya, Marcus Davis and back-ups Whiplash and Buganda Dancers. With a report from Totel V. de Jesus, INQUIRER.net