Mayor: MassKara already a country’s icon
-A A +AWednesday, October 17, 2012
BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said on Tuesday that MassKara Festival has become an icon of the Philippines.
"We have seen how MassKara festival has evolved to what it is today. I have seen it from its start and until now. I am really very positive that MassKara will continue to grow. Over the years, we have seen how it grew due to the cooperation of our people. I believe that MassKara Festival is a uniting factor for Bacolod. This is already becoming the heart and soul of Bacolod City because this is a time of the year when we have our homecoming of sorts, show to the world that as a people, when we work together, we can really reach greater heights that probably other cities are wishing they had," he said.
The essence of the MassKara is the participation of the people, the mayor added.
"I would like to emphasize that the main event of the MassKara Festival is the street dancing and the arena competition. That must really be considered as highlight. Without it, I don't think we can call this a MassKara Festival. The advantage now is that, over the years, there are many innovations that were added to the festival. The Lacson strip is a perfect mix to the arena and street dancing competition. In 2007, I copied this concept in Malate when they closed their streets to have a party and it was successful. The Lacson Street thing has even faced objection when it was first introduced because of the noise and mess. But it became a success and now everybody is looking forward to that," he said.
The LCC Arfien has added another innovation with the entry of the MassKara giant puppets.
The festival has unified the people of Bacolod and Bacolod was identified to this festival. This is a rallying point and has become a bond that has kept us together as a people, the mayor said.
If we can work as a team, we can make things possible. All the awards and achievements that were bestowed upon Bacolod City were a validation that Bacolod has economically grown from the material point of view, physical and infrastructure, Leonardia said.
"The MassKara Festival should remind us that, if we only cooperate with each other, we can make more good and great things for our city. That is the kind of spirit that will make MassKara and Bacolod City surge ahead," he said.
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on October 17, 2012.
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