BACOLOD CITY, Sept 9 (PNA) — The 2014 MassKara Festival was launched Tuesday in rites led by Mayor Monico Puentevella and festival organizer Kasadya Bacolod Foundation Inc.
“We will have a bigger, better and merrier festival. If you enjoyed last year’s MassKara, you will enjoy it more this year,” the mayor said during the event held at the lobby of the Bacolod People’s House.
This year’s theme of the October festivity is “One Rhythm. One Bacolod. A Million Smiles.”
The month-long festival, which will start on October first, will kick off with a mass at the public plaza as the city’s way to thank God for sparing Bacolod from the super typhoon Yolanda’s devastation last year.
Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to the MassKara Festival, adding that this year’s theme reflects the city’s effort to encourage unity between city government and the people of Bacolod.
“It speaks of oneness and unity. It’s more than just promoting Bacolod as a tourism destination,” Gasataya said.
Nestor Guillaran, who represented festival director Rhoderick Samonte, presented the events for the coming festival.
He said SM City Bacolod, Bacolod People’s House, Lacson Tourism Strip and the Bacolod public plaza have been identified as festival sites.
Highlights include the MassKara Queen Coronation Night on October 10; MassKara by the Sea, October 12; Streetdance School Category, October 17; Streetdance Barangay Category, October 18; and the Kaadlawan sang Bacolod and the opening of the MassKara Float Parade, October 19. The MasskaraLand will be unveiled on October 17.
Guilaran said 11 schools will participate in the School Category while 20 barangays will compete in the Barangay Category.
Various sporting events will also be featured, including karatedo, volleyball, autocross, softball, golf, ultimate frisbee, eskrima, wakeboarding, motorcycle drag racing, basketball, and boxing.(PNA)