• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The grand prize for the champions of the MassKara arena and street dance competition in the Barangay category will remain at P1 million.
In the school category, a P750,000 prize awaits the winner.
The School Category will take place on October 18, marking its strong resurgence in the festival lineup.
The official order of performance is Don Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School II, Asuncion L. Lizares Elementary School, Estefania Elementary School, Education and Training Center School I, and Paglaum Village Elementary School.
The following day, October 19, the Barangay Category takes center stage.
The official order of performance is Barangay Handumanan, Barangay 21, Barangay 39, Barangay Tangub, Barangay 6, Barangay 29, Barangay Bata, Barangay 13, Barangay 11, and Barangay 7.
This year’s competitions will begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex with the arena performances.
From there, contingents will proceed to the streets for the traditional street dancing parade.
All groups will then converge at the Bacolod Public Plaza for the announcement of winners and a symbolic community dance.
Festival Director Rodney Ascalon said the format has been flipped to give both the arena and street performances equal energy and exposure.
“We are flipping the traditional format,” Ascalon said. “Instead of starting in the streets and ending in the arena, we begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex where contingents showcase their full performances, then bring the same energy to the streets.”
“It allows both the judges and the public to experience the best of MassKara in two powerful stages of celebration,” he added.
Barangay Bata has set its sight on claiming the championship title at this year’s MassKara Festival street and arena dance competition, having finished as the first runner-up last year.
“We’re obligated to join since we were the first runners-up last year, and we’ve been practicing for two weeks now. Just wait and see,” Brgy. Bata captain Remus Abaring said.
Captain Cecelia Chaves of Barangay 13 stated that it’s the first time under her term to join the competition, saying they will try their luck.
Chairman of the Arena and Street Dance Competition Dr. Bhadz Defensor said that Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has allowed the use of Paglaum Sports Complex as the venue for the arena competition.
Contingents will create their own music for the arena competition and must include the chorus of the official MassKara theme song, while old festival songs will be used for the streetdance competition.*
