BACOLOD CITY – As the Bacolodnons celebrate the city’s resilient spirit in the 45th MassKara Festival, which climaxes this weekend, organizers are also reaching out to fellow Filipinos in areas devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
On Friday night, festival chairperson Jojie Dingcong led this year’s MassKarade Ball dubbed “Sapphirus,” held at Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center, which also served as a fund-raising event for Kristine victims in the Bicol Region.
“We are one with the nation. The MassKarade Ball ties up with the GMA Kapuso Foundation for the relief efforts in Naga City and Bicol Region,” Dingcong said in an interview.
He shared that at some point, they thought of postponing the festival but decided against it to allow Bacolodnons to celebrate the Sapphire MassKara Festival as scheduled.
“Thinking about it, how do you stop a people from celebrating? We are on our 45th year. The good mayor, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, allowed me to talk to Annette Gozon-Valdes so that the MassKarade Ball can tie up with the GMA Kapuso Foundation,” he added.
Gozon-Valdes, senior vice president for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group of GMA Network, was among the special guests at the event, along with Katrina Ponce Enrile, administrator and chief executive officer of theh Cagayan Economic Zone Authority; and Maria Margarita Nograles, chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board.
Festival organizer Bacolod Yuhum Foundation distributed pledge forms to the guests of the MassKarade Ball.
“My goal is to raise PhP 1 million or PhP 2 million, but I think we will reach our goal. This is just a small dinner for 250 people so we’ll try to raise as much pledges as we can,” Dingcong said, adding that Ponce Enrile already committed to give PhP 500, 000.
Meanwhile, the final weekend of the 45th MassKara Festival features the MassKara ElekTroika Saturday night and the Street Dance and Arena Competition Sunday afternoon.
The ElekTroika will present 10 competing barangays in “illuminated floats, pulsating beats, and lively performances” from Megaworld’s The Upper East to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
The Street Dance and Arena Competition, the famous parade of masks and dance, will start at the BCGC Replica along Araneta Street and move towards the Paglaum Sports Complex, the venue of the Arena Competition.
Contingents from seven villages will “showcase a mix of traditional and modern choreography, celebrating Bacolod City’s rich culture, pride, and unity.” (PNA)