Two Muses of the Media named in MassKara 2025

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — In a historic first, the Miss Bacolod MassKara pageant recognized the media’s vital role in shaping culture and promoting the festival by naming 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 on Saturday.

The inaugural recognition placed the spotlight on two young women: Sophia Kaye Zaragoza, named Legacy Media awardee, and Ysabella Wuthrich, named Digital Media awardee.

Both candidates promote advocacies rooted in empowerment, healing, and community spirit.

Ysabella Wuthrich: Championing arts for healing

At 22, Wuthrich is an animation graduate working with Good Media/Good Gang, advocating for the use of art as a tool for healing and inspiration.

A versatile creative, she has produced work for print ads and TVCs, while also painting, designing costumes, and exploring aerial dance and scuba diving.

A familiar figure at Bacolod’s Art District, she describes it as a personal sanctuary.

“Every time I have friends visiting Bacolod, I always make sure Art District is on the itinerary,” she said.

“Its galleries, murals, and music inspire me — it feels like home. For me, it proves that creativity connects us. It’s where Bacolodnons share their talents and stories, reminding us, just like the MassKara Festival, that when art brings us together, there is always a reason to smile.”

Wuthrich intends to spearhead projects that elevate Bacolod’s art scene while positioning creativity as a force for community well-being.

Sophia Kaye Zaragoza: A returner with sharper eyes on the crown

At 19, Zaragoza returns to Miss Bacolod MassKara for the second time with a clearer mission.

A tourism management student, free diver, vlogger, and makeup enthusiast, she champions her advocacy “Oportunidad para sa Kabataan,” which promotes more job opportunities for the youth.

Candid about her past pageant setback, she said, “I want to win, and I want to use that platform to help open doors for young people.”

The Provincial Capitol Lagoon remains her touchstone of childhood memories, shaping her sense of identity and purpose.

“The Lagoon is special to me because it holds so many childhood memories — weekends spent with my family, laughing as we fed the fish and played at the park,” Zaragoza said.

“Now, at 19, I return not as the little girl I once was, but as a young woman chasing her dream of becoming Miss Bacolod MassKara. This place reminds me that time is fleeting, but every moment can turn into a memory worth treasuring.”

Pageant Chairperson Carlos Durana Jr. emphasized that beyond beauty, the organization seeks a candidate who can create meaningful impact at the grassroots level through her advocacies.

Heading the sashing and awarding ceremonies were Councilors Em Ang, Israel Salanga, and Homer Bais, along with Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. President Rodney Mitz Ascalon and BGFI board members Atty. Hannah Lea Tañoso-Dela Torre, Edsel Prado, Christine Panes-Ceraspe, and PR head and media director Louise Lian Bobe.

Presenting the awards were Adrian Prietos, multi-awarded anchor and correspondent of GMA Regional TV – One Western Visayas, and Ed Joven, president of Negrense Bloggers and content creator behind Bacolod Lifestyle.