BACOLOD City – In response to widespread social media backlash, the city government has decided to retain the traditional title of “MassKara Queen” for its annual festival queen, reversing an earlier announcement that suggested a rebranding to “Miss Supercity Bacolod”.
The decision came after a contentious post by the city government led to significant public outcry among residents, Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Tourism, confirmed.
The proposed name change had stirred emotions due to the longstanding cultural significance and historical ties associated with the original title.
“Residents strongly prefer the ‘Miss MassKara Queen’ title because it holds historical significance and represents the identity of Bacolod,” Villarosa explained.
He further noted that Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez supported reverting to the original title, attributing the mix-up to a typographical error in social media communications by the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF), which had initially posted the revised title.
The MassKara Festival, scheduled for October with major events culminating on the fourth Sunday of the month, has been a focal celebration for Bacolod City, officially marked every October 19th in commemoration of the city’s inauguration.
City Ordinance No. 33 has institutionalized the festival as a permanent event, assigning BYF as the primary organizer responsible for the festival’s planning and execution./PN
