Next month, 120 finalists in the 2009 Miss World beauty pageant will fly to London to attend the Miss World Charity Dinner which aims to raise US$1 million to support surgical, nutritional and educational projects in some parts of the world, including the Philippines.

The one-night Charity Dinner will be held at the Grosvenor House in London on November 9, an official website of the Miss World beauty pageant said.

Organizers said that all competing candidates will be officially presented on stage, each wearing a dress created by a designer from their own country.

Proceeds of the charity will be donated to the Variety International Children’s Fund, which will help programs in other countries such as Haiti, Palau, Ghana, and India.

Organizers said that the event will kick-off the month-long activities for one of the world’s most prestigious beauty contests leading to the finals in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 12.

The event will also include the Big 5 auction with prizes, including first-class flights, five star hotels and two tickets to the Final of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in Johannesburg.

Organizers also said that the ultimate prize is a golf package with two weeks coaching at the Legends resort in South Africa and one year membership of St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland.

There will be another very special auction, where each of the 120 finalists will donate a unique gift from their home country, they said.

This year’s Philippine representative to the 2009 Miss World beauty pageant is Bb. Pilipinas-World Marie Ann Umali, of Batangas City.

Umali, 22, also won Miss Photogenic and Best in Long Gown, during the grand coronation night held at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City last March 8. She is a tourism graduate at the De La Salle University (DLSU) and she hopes to become a flight attendant and open her own restaurant.

But the Miss World crown has been elusive to the Philippines since the pageant’s inception in 1951. It was created by Eric Morley.

In 1973, Evangeline Pascual was named first-runner to Marjorie Wallace, the first American to win the title. But Wallace was forced to relinquish the title 104 days into her reign allegedly for failing to do her basic responsibilities as Miss World.

Organizers offered the responsibilities not the title to Pascual who turned it down. Unconfirmed reports said that Pascual’s alleged refusal irked the organizers and vowed never to crown any Philippine candidates in the contest.

Over the years, Filipino candidates continue to shine in the pageant. In 1993, Sharmaine “Ruffa’’ Gutierrez won second-runner up in the contest. She also received the Asia and Oceania’s Queen of Beauty award.

Maria Rafaela Yunon (2003) and Maria Karla Bautista (2004) won 4th runner-up in the pageant. Bautista was also named Asia and Oceania’s Queen of Beauty.

Caroline “Cara’’ Subijano (1994) and Katherine Anne Manalo (2002) were Top 10 semi-finalists. In 2005, Carlene Aguilar made it to the Top 15 semifinalists.

In 1996, Daisy Reyes was named Miss Personality in the finals.