BACOLOD City — Bacolod City’s iconic MassKara dancers are set to bring the city’s trademark smiles and vibrant culture to the international stage as they prepare to perform at the 2026 Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong this February.
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that the street and arena dance champions from Barangay Tangub will represent Bacolod City in the prestigious event, marking the second time MassKara dancers will participate in the global parade. Their first appearance was in 2024, when they were joined by performers from Barangay Granada.
“MassKara goes global,” Gasataya said in a statement, as he confirmed that the Tangub dancers will perform from February 15 to 20, with the highlight being the Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 17 in Tsim Sha Tsui. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the parade will begin at 8 p.m. and feature various international performing groups celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse.
Ahead of their Hong Kong engagement, the Barangay Tangub MassKara dancers showcased their talent at the 2026 Sinulog Festival in Cebu City on January 18, where they joined the street dancing and ritual showdown as one of more than 40 guest contingents.
A total of 60 dancers and over 100 propsmen paraded from Mango Avenue to the Cebu City Sports Complex, wowing spectators with dynamic choreography, vibrant costumes, and infectious energy. The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) estimated that around 2.5 million people attended the Sinulog celebration.
Tangub Punong Barangay Noli Villarosa expressed pride in the group’s performance and the warm reception they received from the Cebuano crowd.
“I was happy seeing how Cebu enjoyed the performance, and our MassKara dancers really did well,” Villarosa said.
For many of the performers, the Sinulog appearance was a memorable experience. Sixteen-year-old dancer Angeline Samos, who performed at Sinulog for the first time, described the event as a highlight of her young dancing career.
“I never expected to come along and perform, and so far it was the best experience, especially when the crowd cheered during our performance,” she said.
City Tourism Officer Teresa Manalili, who accompanied the group along with Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Jose Marty Go, said the performances showcased more than just dance.
“The MassKara dancers showcased Bacolod’s culture, perseverance, creativity, and vibrant energy, enriching the overall festival experience and strengthening cultural exchange between Cebu and Bacolod,” Manalili said.
The upcoming Hong Kong performance adds to the growing international exposure of the MassKara Festival. In recent years, Bacolod dancers have performed at the Lantern Festival in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, the Busan International Dance Festival in South Korea, and the 125th Philippine Independence Anniversary Commemoration Parade in New York./PN
