BACOLOD City – For the first time in the history of the MassKara Festival, this year’s champion of the street and arena dance competition will receive P1 million in cash prize.
Councilor Jason Villarosa, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on tourism, reiterating Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s statement, already submitted the list of prizes for the winners of the street and arena dance competition and Electric MassKara but he did not disclose the prizes for the runners-up.
“Ang runners-up to be decided man gihapon. We are still finalizing kon pila gid ang prizes for the street dance and arena, as well as the Electric MassKara competition,” Villarosa said.
Seventeen barangays are joining the street and arena dance competition while 15 barangays will compete in the Electric MassKara.
The Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. (BYFI), this year’s festival organizer, will provide the funds for the prizes after the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved their accreditation, the councilor added.
The organizer also provided a budget as a subsidy – P500,000 for each participating barangay in the street and arena dance competitions and P200,000 for each participant in the Electric MassKara.
Bacolod City suspended the celebration of the MassKara Festival for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To recall, Barangay Estefania bagged the grand prize of P250,000 for the street and arena dance competition during the celebration of the 40th MassKara Festival in 2019.
Meantime, Villarosa said that on Sept. 30, the city will launch the festival to be followed by a kickoff on Oct. 1 at the Bacolod City Government Center.
The celebration will run until Oct. 23, the highlight of the Masskara Festival./PN
