Physical therapy student crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe

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By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A 21-year-old physical therapist student of Riverside College was crowned as Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe 2022 during the coronation night at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum here on Oct. 19.

Crowd favorite Kara Daniela Villarosa bested 14 other candidates in the competition.

She also bagged some awards like the Most Photogenic, Best in swimwear, and Best in evening gown.

Villarosa, in a media interview, said that she did not expect to win the pageant.

But, she was thankful and honored for winning the title.

“I have a big responsibility now because I will be representing Bacolod on the national stage,” Villarosa said.

Villarosa’s advocacy is malnutrition awareness. “This is something close to my heart and since more people know me because of the pageant, I can better use this platform to raise awareness or my voice on malnutrition to help fix this problem in our city,” she said.

She said that she will make Bacolod proud.

When asked if Bacolod should continue to smile despite what it has gone through during the COVID-19 pandemic, Villarosa’s winning answer was “being the City of Smiles,” I think we have to set an example to the rest of the country. We have to show  them that even if we are forced with these challenges, we are strong, we choose to rise from it all and we still decide to smile and for that I am so thankful to be standing here as a Bacolodnon.”

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, along with his wife Dominique, Congressman Greg Gasataya, and businessman Ian Lo, crowned Villarosa who took home a cash prize of P150,000.

Meanwhile, Miss Bacolod MassKara World was Janine Gelera, 21, a USLS student. She received a P120,000 cash prize.

Twenty-one-year-old Jan Marie Bordon of La Consolacion College (LCC) was hailed as Miss Bacolod MassKara International and also won the Best in Talent award. She received P100,000 cash prize.

Eirine Granada was the first runner-up and was awarded the Darling of Social Media, while Sandale Masangcay was the second runner-up, who also won the Best in Festival Costume award.

Both of them received P80,000 and P50,000 cash prizes, respectively.

Yvonne Catamco won the Miss Congeniality award.

Rising heartthrob Kyle Echarri and OPM sensation Zack Tabudlo entertained the crowd, while Miss Universe Philippines 2020 fourth runner-up Billie Hakenson and Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2022 Pauline Amelinckx hosted the pageant.