2023 Bacolod MassKara Festival set Oct. 7-22

The 44th edition of the Masskara Festival will kick off on Oct. 7 and run until Oct. 22, with a “more spectacular” street and arena dance showcase to culminate the celebration of the “festival of many faces.”

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the 15-day festivity would be launched with a countdown at midnight on Oct. 6.

“We want a more spectacular street dance competition,” the mayor said in a press briefing.

He added that from the previous 17 participating barangays, the number would be trimmed down to only 10 to showcase the best performances of the Masskara dancers.

Benitez said the city government intends to provide bigger subsidies to the participating barangays this year.

“That is our main attraction, the street dance. We would like to emphasize and give all the support that we can give for them to give an attractive performance,” he added.

In June this year, dancers from the defending champion Barangay Granada performed in New York City for the first time during the 125th Philippine Independence Anniversary Commemoration Parade.

Performers from Barangay Sum-ag, last year’s runner-up, were featured in the 2023 Busan International Dance Festival in Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, also in June.

Bacolod was recognized for Best Festival Practices and Performances in the Aliw Awards 2022 in December last year, with the return of the Masskara after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/Andrew Altarejos file photo)