BACOLOD City – For the second straight year, this city is suspending its world-renowned MassKara Festival.
In an interview with Panay News yesterday, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic makes mass gatherings “not possible at all.”
“Katag-as sang cases,” Leonardia pointed out, saying the city needs to curb further transmission.
Data from the Department of Health in Region 6 showed Bacolod with 2,009 active cases as of yesterday.
“How can you have (the) MassKara Festival with this kind of circumstance?” he said.
“Bisan ako kon pagustuhan, gusto ko eh. Kag amo man ‘na ang gusto sang halos tanan. But we have to live with realities,” added Leonardia.
The city mayor said MassKara could have a comeback “until the pandemic is officially declared nga wala na.”
The mayor did not say if he would issue an executive order on the suspension.
Meanwhile, Leonardia cited the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office’s (BTAO) “dancing traffic enforcer” competition.
Three were hailed as winners during the finals yesterday: Jemar Valencia (1st); Greg Leonaras (2nd); and Araceli Abad (3rd). They received cash prizes.
“(With) this event you can still feel the spirit of MassKara,” Leonardia said. “Makita mo sa guya sang mga tawo.”
People flocked to BS Aquino Drive yesterday to witness the competition, while the awarding of winners was done on BCPO’s grounds.
“Ang lesson naton sa natabo sang una was that we have proven may resiliency gid ang Bacolod. We will survive this for sure. The lesser fatalities, the better for us,” said Leonardia.
The MassKara Festival is held every October, with an ordinance setting the fourth Sunday of October as the permanent date of the highlights./PN
