Casino Plus and Alden Richards Foundation Launch Nationwide Search for Everyday Heroes
Casino Plus, in partnership with the Alden Richards Foundation, has officially opened public nominations for Hero for All: Honoring Stories of the Everyday Filipino. This nationwide initiative aims to recognize ordinary Filipinos whose selfless acts of service have generated enduring positive change within their communities. The program, which commenced in December 2025, is fully licensed and regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). It is strategically designed not only to celebrate these extraordinary individuals but also to meticulously document and potentially replicate the community-driven models of heroism they have established.
Recognition and Rewards for Community Champions
Through this comprehensive search, twenty heroes will be carefully selected. Each awardee will receive a substantial prize of ₱1 million, which will be equally divided between their personal cause and a partner community organization of their choice. This financial support is intended to amplify their ongoing efforts and foster sustainable development.
Alden Richards, the Lead Advocate for Hero for All, emphasized the program's core philosophy during its launch event on April 9 in Makati City. He stated, "To be extraordinary, you don't have to do extraordinary acts. There are just ordinary people with extraordinary missions, and yung walang nakatingin — that no one is watching — that is what makes what they do matter most. This search exists to find them."
Nomination Process and Eligibility Criteria
Nominations are currently open and will run from April 10 to May 1, 2026. To ensure broad accessibility and inclusivity, the nomination process is available to the general public through multiple channels:
- Online submissions via Casino Plus's official social media platforms.
- Offline nomination postcards distributed nationwide, catering to individuals without reliable internet access.
Nominators are required to provide the nominee's full name, location, and a detailed 150-word description of their act of service. Additionally, at least one supporting material must be included, such as a photograph, a news article link, or an endorsement letter. For those preferring video formats, nominations can be submitted on social media by tagging the official Casino Plus account using the hashtag #CasinoPlusHeroForAll. All entries will undergo a rigorous validation process before being presented to the jury panel for evaluation.
Ensuring Credibility and Transparency
To maintain the highest standards of credibility and rigor in the selection process, the jury panel has been thoughtfully composed. It includes an academic expert, a respected media personality, a representative from PAGCOR, and Alden Richards himself. This multi-sectoral approach ensures diverse perspectives and thorough assessment.
Eligibility for nominees is strictly defined: they must be Filipino citizens currently residing in the Philippines. The heroic act or initiative being nominated must be independently verifiable and must have occurred within the past five years. An exemplary case is Rhodora Alcaraz Tuñacao, a domestic worker in Hong Kong who was recognized as the program's first awardee for saving her employer's child from a fire at great personal risk.
All verified nominations will be scored by the jury, with deliberations meticulously documented and retained by the Alden Richards Foundation to uphold compliance and transparency. The campaign will culminate in the Grand Hero for All Awarding Ceremony, scheduled for August 31, 2026, coinciding with the celebration of National Heroes Day. This event aims to transform individual recognition into a powerful moment of collective national inspiration, completing the program's journey from discovery to honor.
