BACOLOD CITY – A 22-year-old tourism student of the University of Saint La Salle (USLS) here was crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara 2023 on Monday, October 16.
Yvonne Catamco, a fourth year college student taking up Bachelor of Science (BS) in Tourism Management, bested 14 other candidates in the competition held at the USLS Coliseum.
YVONNE Catamco, 22, was crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara 2023 during the coronation night held at the University of Saint La Salle (USLS) Coliseum in Bacolod City on Monday, October 16. (Photo courtesy of EP Studios via Miss Bacolod MassKara)
She received a bouquet of flowers, a plaque, and a cash prize of P150,000.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, accompanied by wife Nikki, their son Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe 2022 Kara Daniela Villarosa, and Sen. Raffy Tulfo were among the judges in the pageant.
Catamco also won Best in Swimwear and received corporate awards Miss Northwest Inn, Miss DITO Telecommunity, Miss Megaworld, and Miss Air Asia.
An advocate for underprivileged children, Catamco, in a media interview after winning the pageant, said that she had been under a lot of pressure in this year’s pageant since it was her second time to join the competition.
“I really used that pressure to work harder,” she added.
Catamco joined last year’s pageant but failed to win the crown. She, however, received the Miss Congeniality award.
Catamco said that she was happy that she was able to achieve her dream and thanked everyone who supported her from her first journey up until the final leg of the competition.
First runner-up was Tracy Mae Sunio, 23, a former psychology student at Riverside College Inc. who currently works as a virtual assistant. She advocates for Diverse Disabilities Awareness.
Second runner-up was 23-year-old Elli Rose Elola, a graduate of B.S. Psychology at the University of the Philippines. She advocates for mental health awareness.
They received P100,000 and P50,000, a bouquet of flowers, and a plaque, respectively.
Elola was Best in Evening Gown and Darling of Social Media.
Miss Photogenic was Allona Nejar. Best in Talent and Festival Costume was Marianel Tan.
Other candidates were Georgette Ysabelle Millan, Therese Pira-an, Geralyn Joy Basto, Jada Biaxyl Celeste, Janine Cabrillos, Cailah Jhane Delarma, Rose Mariel Sansing, Kyle Santillan, Maria Ericka Panganiban, and Crizwin Claire Española.
Each candidate was given an P80,000 cash subsidy by the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. after besting more than 70 ladies who auditioned for this year’s beauty pageant.
Actor and model Marco Gumabao and actress and influencer Janeena Chan hosted the coronation night while actor Carlo Aquino serenaded the ladies.
Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2009 and actress Bianca Manalo was a member of the Board of Judges chaired this year by Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Margarita Guiterrez, president of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP).
Other judges were Harold Geronimo, vice president and head of public relations and media affairs of Megaworld, Lovelyn Segovia, Philippines Air Asia chief executive officer (CEO) Ricky Isla, Jonathan Lochbaum, vice president of Global Strategic Business Process Solutions, fashion designer Avel Bacudio, and publicist Keren Pascual.