BY ROGER D. BELTRAN
Twenty-one-year-old Kara Daniela Villarosa will represent Bacolod City in the Miss Universe Philippines 2023, after she was crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe on October 19, after a three-hour star-studded pageant held at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in the city.
Villarosa, a Physical Therapy student from the Riverside College who took home P150,000 in cash prize, P1 million worth of insurance coverage and other perks, was crowned and sashed by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo and first lady Nikki Benitez, along with Congressman Greg Gasataya.
She also received a bouquet of flowers from reigning Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celesti Cortesi, who was one of the judges in the pageant.
Villarosa got the nod of the judges after answering the final common question: “Much like the rest of the country, the people of Bacolod have gone through so much during this pandemic including losing business. Should the City of Smiles smile through all of these?”
“Being the City of Smiles, I think we have to set as an example to the rest of the country. We have to show them that even if we’re faced with these challenges, we are strong, we choose to rise from it all, and we still decide to smile. And for that, I’m so thankful to be standing here as a Bacolodnon. Thank you,” her answer went, making the crowd cheer.
She was also chosen as the Miss Photogenic, Best in Swimwear and Best in Evening Gown. Her gown designer Tony de Ramos won the Best Gown Designer award.
Miss Bacolod MassKara World Janine Gelera, 21, a nursing student of USLS, will represent Bacolod in the Miss World Philippines competition. She received P100,000 in cash prize and other perks. Her festival costume designer, Edwin Benitez, was chosen Best Festival Costume Designer.
Miss Bacolod MassKara International Jan Marie Bordon, 21, a student from La Consolacion College-Bacolod, received P80,000 in cash prize and will be the city’s representative to the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. She was also chosen as Best in Talent.
USLS student nurses Eirine Granada and Sandale Masangcay, both 19, were first and second runners-up, respectively.
Granada, who was chosen Darling of the Social Media, will be the Mutya ng Pilipinas official candidate of the city, while Masangcay, who won the Best in Festival Costume in another design by Benitez, will represent Bacolod in the Lin-ay sang Negros pageant.
Edwin Benitez also designed the swimwear of the candidates.
Other candidates were Jhela Mae Velasco, Helcie Jamili, Chattea Cajucson, Franches Anne Laquibla, Yvonne Catamco, Frances Marie Monsale, Alyssa Marie Villanueva, Alexandria Margarette Colmenares, Kristel Mae Nacionales, and Teresa Brunner.
Aside from Cortesi, other pageant judges were Hannah Arnold, Bb. Pilipinas International 2021; Tracy Maureen Perez, Miss World Philippines 2021; Michael Ver Comaling, Mr. National Universe Philippines 2022; Erik Lennart Visser, Ginoong Pilipinas 2019 Grand Winner; Jim Ryan Ros, Aces & Queens lead make-up mentor; and Cary Santiago, National Costume Designer for Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, as the chairman of the board of judges.
The coronation night was hosted by Miss Universe Philippines 2020 4th Runner-Up Billie Hakenson, and Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2022 Pauline Amelinckx. The show was fueled by the performances from guest celebrities Zach Tabudlo and Kyle Echarri.*
