BACOLOD City is beaming with pride after a MassKara dance group, accompanied by Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang and multi-awarded choreographer Segundo Jesus “Panoy” Cabalcar, was adjudged as the Best Foreign Group in the recently concluded Colorful Festival mounted by Daegu City, South Korea.

MassKara made an international name for the City of Bacolod as it once again conquered the world with their yearly participation in various colorful festivals outside the country with the latest being in Daegu City, South Korea.

Councilor Ang, chairperson of the sangguniang panlungsod committees on tourism and international cooperation, in her Facebook account said, “Our MassKara dancers are beyond amazing in terms of their skill, talent, determination, grit, and spunk in spite of setbacks. They managed to come out victorious.”

She congratulated the group on winning the competition which boosted the image of Bacolod to the international community.

She shared that the team was assembled less than two weeks before leaving for the competition.

They only had four days to practice since most of the dancers had to perform in four barangay fiestas last May 1.

And the mother of one of the dancers, Joedem Casabuena passed away and was buried just two days before leaving for Daegu.

They had to stay up late finishing their costumes because the dancers made their own costumes, masks and headdresses.

They arrived in Daegu exhausted from the long layover and were made to perform for the eliminations just a few hours upon arrival.

“Our team had the fewest members among all the 73 competing groups and yet, when it was their turn to take the stage, they danced with boundless energy, filled up the designated area and wowed the audience. Shout out to champion choreographer Panoy Cabalcar and all our dancers! Thank you Mayor Bing Leonardia for your support!” she said.

(Photos by Councilor Em L. Ang, Segundo Jesus “Panoy” Cabalcar and the Facebook account of Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia)