BACOLOD CITY – Barangays 39 and 29 topped this year’s Elektroika Diva and float parade competitions during the recent 45th MassKara Festival here.
Glittering costumes and colorful floats illuminated the streets during the parade from Megaworld’s The Upper East to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds.
DANCING diva Nikka Marie Peñol (second from left) of Barangay 39 is this year’s Elektroika Diva during the 45th MassKara Festival in Bacolod City. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod PIO)
Dancing diva Nikka Marie Peñol of Barangay 39 was crowned this year’s Elektroika Diva. She won P75,000.
Ashley Nicole Belnas of Barangay 29 and Althea Judema of Barangay Pahanocoy were first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively, pocketing P30,000 and P25,000.
Barangay 29, with a Saphirrus-inspired float designed by Jovic Gordillo and John Joseph Suarnaba, bested nine other participants and bagged P300,000 in the float competition.
Barangay 29 Captain Leonard Pascua said their achievement was unexpected.
“I’m speechless. It was unexpected because we had many struggles before the competition, especially with the heavy rains that almost hindered all our preparations.”
Barangay Pahanocoy and Barangay 17 were first and second runners-up, receiving P200,000 and P150,000, respectively.
Judges of the annual event at the BCGC on Oct. 26 were Cagayan Economic Zone Authority Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kristina Ponce Enrile, Demi Padua, Dr. Mark Gan, Tina Cuevas, Kelly Prehn, Rhiza Pascua, Bey Pascua, Derek Flores, Stanley Ng, Cleofe Abiso, and Annette Gozon-Valdes, president and CEO of GMA Films and president of GMA Worldwide.
Last year, Barangay 19 was the champion in the Electric MassKara and Elektrika Diva dance competitions.