BACOLOD CITY – The city government has allotted P10.3 million to subsidize participating barangays in this year’s MassKara street dance and arena competition and Electric MassKara competition.
The city council approved the financial assistance during its session on Tuesday, September 12.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said that P700,000 will be given by the city government to each barangay joining the MassKara street dance and arena competition while an additional of P50,000 will come from the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation.
There are 10 participating barangays in the street dance and arena competition – defending champion Barangay Granada, Sum-ag, Tangub, 34, Vista Alegre, Mansilingan, Handumanan, Cabug, 21, and 40.
This city will provide P300,000 aid to each participant in the Electric MassKara which has 11 competing contingents. They are Barangays 5, 32, 18, 14, Bata, 19, 24, Singcang-Airport, 12, 25, and 17.
Benitez said that cash prize for this year’s winners is the same as last year's.
The winner of the MassKara street dance and arena competition will receive P1 million and P500,000 for the Electric MassKara champion.
The Electric Masskara competition will be held on October 21 at the Bacolod City Government Center while the MassKara street dance and arena competition will be on October 22 at the Paglaum Stadium here.
Meanwhile, Benitez said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to grace the highlights of the festival from October 1 to 23.
The President witnessed the return of the MassKara Festival here last year after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Last month, the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation unveiled the MassKara Festival 2023 official face during the launching and Sponsors Night at Stonehill Suites here.
The mask was designed by Bacolod multimedia artist Myish Endonila.
“MassKara! Sinadya sa Bacolod” is the official theme song of this year’s festival written and produced by Marvin Querido and performed by celebrity Kyle Echarri, Janeena Chan, and Anthony Rosaldo.