By CESAR JOLITO III
A 19-year-old tourism management student from the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City was crowned as this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara, besting 14 other candidates during the coronation night held at the USLS Coliseum yesterday.
Sophia Kaye Zaragoza captivated the judges and audience with her charm, poise and empowering message, earning her the most coveted title of the night.
Zaragoza, who promotes job opportunities for the youth, aiming to transform her comeback into change, also bagged the Best in Festival Costume and Miss Photogenic Awards during the coronation night.
Ysabella Wuthrich was named first runner-up, while second runner-up honors went to Mary Angelique Faye Caballero, who also won the Best in Swimwear Award.
Caballero also won Miss Congeniality, Best in Production Number, Best in Swimwear, Road Safety Ambassadress, and other corporate and minor awards.
Cash prizes were given to the winners: P150,000 for the grand title, P100,000 for the first runner-up, and P50,000 for the second runner-up.
Other minor awards include:
* Darling of Social Media Award — Janabea Gepana
* Best in Talent — Ashley Bernadeth de Asis
* Best in Evening Gown — Jeremae Pacino
Meanwhile, the Festival Costume Designer Award went to Aaron Spencer Marin for Zaragoza’s entry, while the Best in Evening Gown Designer Award was given to De Asis’ designer.
Included in the Top 5 were Kaye Luzuriaga and Jeremae Pacino.
The prestigious panel of judges was led by Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo, joined by Dia Mate (Reina Hispanoamericana 2025), Jasmine Omay (Universal Woman Philippines 2025), Krishnah Marie Gravidez (Miss World – Asia 2025), Sergio Azuaga (Man of the World 2024), and John Erio Bonifacio (Mister Grand Philippines 2025 – Pampanga).
The 15 outstanding candidates showcased not only their beauty and grace but also their intelligence, confidence and cultural pride on a night, one of the grandest highlights of the 46th MassKara Festival, that celebrated the true spirit of the Bacoleña.
With this year’s festival theme “One Smile, One City, One Heart,” the coronation night stood as a testament to inclusivity, pride and Bacolod’s unyielding community spirit — proof that the City of Smiles continues to shine, one crown at a time./CJ, WDJ