Fifteen vie for Miss Bacolod MassKara 2025 crown

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — On Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, 15 ladies will vie for the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2025 title, with the pageant night to be held at the University of St. La Salle in this city.

The pageant, one of the highlights of the MassKara Festival, will be free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

MassKara is Bacolod’s annual October festival known for street dancing, vibrant masks, and citywide events that draw local and foreign visitors.

One of the judges will be Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo.

Aside from Manalo, among the judges are Mister Grand Philippines–Pampanga John Eriq Bonifacio and Man of the World 2024 Sergio Azuaga.

Also expected to grace the grand coronation night are Universal Woman Philippines 2025 Jasmine Omay, Miss World Philippines 2024 and Miss World Continental Queen for Asia Krishnah Marie Gravidez, and Reina Hispanoamericana 2025 Dia Maté.

Recently, in a historic first, the Miss Bacolod MassKara pageant recognized the media’s vital role in shaping culture and promoting the festival by introducing two Muses of the Media.

Members of the traditional press, composed of print and broadcast journalists, voted for the Legacy Media Muse, while digital writers, bloggers, and online creators selected the Digital Media Muse.

The inaugural recognition placed the spotlight on two young women, with Sophia Kaye Zaragoza named Legacy Media Awardee and Ysabella Wuthrich named Digital Media Awardee, both reflecting advocacies rooted in empowerment, healing, and community spirit.

The 15 candidates for Miss Bacolod MassKara (MBM) 2025 have showcased their skills and abilities alongside a chosen Bacolodnon whose stories resonated with their own during the Talent Competition at Ayala Malls Capitol Central on Oct. 8.

The top three Best in Talent are MBM No. 4 Ashley Bernadeth De Asis, who performed with Blind Balladeer Carl Malone, MBM No. 5 Jeremae Pacino, who featured “Tawag ng Tanghalan” Visayas contender Janine Pialan, and MBM No. 10 Mary Angelique Faye Caballero, who shared the stage with M8 Dance Studio head coach Jerth Peñaroya.

The winner of Best in Talent will also be announced during the coronation night.

This year’s MassKara Festival is being handled by the Bacolod Gugma Foundation headed by Rodney Mitch Ascalon, who is also festival director.