BACOLOD CITY — The celebration of the 45th annual MassKara Festival in October will be one of the most colorful festivities in the country, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Saturday.
"This 2024, we are starting to bring in international entertainment. We are creating awareness in the international communities," said Benitez during the festival's launch of the Sapphire Edition at the L' Fisher Hotel in this city.
"We hope that tourists who will come are not just local, but international as well," added Benitez.
The festival will kick off with a "salubong" (welcome) on October 11 and culminate with the street and arena dance competition on October 27.
Benitez said he wanted to make the MassKara Festival a global event.
"Our street and arena dance competitions are world-class. When people see it, they are amazed," he said.
The city government will release P11 million to cover the festival expenses, including support for the participating villages.
At least four festival sites have been confirmed, including the Bacolod City Government Center, Bacolod Public Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip and Megaworld's The Upper East area.
According to Katherine Matiling, president of the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., lead organizer of the festival, this year's official logo bears a colorful mask as the festival's symbol "with added elements, highlighting the message of sustainable development."
"The music has also been rearranged and the new music video will be released in a few weeks," she also said.
During the launch, individuals who made excellent contributions to the Masskara Festival were honored, including the founder, the late mayor Jose Montalvo, and co-founder artist Ely Santiago, who designed the first festival logo.
Also recognized were the first Masskara Queen in 1981, Cissi Villacin, and local choreographer Donna Porter.
Major events this year are the MassKaralympics on October 4 to 25; MassKaNamit cookfest, October 15 to 17; Miss Bacolod MassKara finals night, October 19; Lacson MassKara 2024: Kingdom, October 25 to 27; MassKarade Ball, October 25; and the Electric MassKara, October 26.
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