Bacolod positions MassKara Festival as sought-after global event

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city will mount a better and bigger MassKara Festival in October to celebrate the 45th year of one of the most colorful festivities in the country.

“This 2024, we are starting to bring in international entertainment. We are creating awareness in the international communities. We hope that tourists who will come are not just local, but international as well,” Benitez said during the launch of the Sapphire Edition held at L’ Fisher Hotel on Saturday.

The 45th MassKara Festival will start with a “salubong” (welcome) on Oct. 11 and culminate with the street and arena dance competition on Oct. 27.

He aims to make the MassKara Festival to become a sought-after global event.

“Our street and arena dance competition is world-class. When people see it, they are amazed,” he added.

The Bacolod City government will release PHP11 million to fund the festival expenses, including support for the participating villages.

At least four festival sites have been confirmed, including the Bacolod City Government Center, Bacolod Public Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip and Megaworld’s The Upper East.

Lead organizer Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., led by president Katherine Matiling, unveiled this year’s official logo bearing a colorful mask as the festival’s symbol with added elements, highlighting the message of sustainable development.

“The music has also been rearranged and the new music video will be released in a few weeks,” she added.

At the launch, people who made excellent contributions to the Masskara Festival were honored, including the founder, the late mayor Jose Montalvo, and co-founder artist Ely Santiago, who designed the first festival logo.

Also recognized were the first Masskara Queen in 1981, Cissi Villacin, and choreographer Donna Porter.

Other major events this year are the MassKaralympics on Oct. 4 to 25; MassKaNamit cookfest, Oct. 15 to 17; Miss Bacolod MassKara finals night, Oct. 19; Lacson MassKara 2024: Kingdom, Oct. 25 to 27; MassKarade Ball, Oct. 25; and Electric MassKara, Oct. 26.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)