THE appeal of MassKara Festival dancers is reverberating throughout the world, as evidenced by the awards and citations it received through the years.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said this when he addressed the 10 MassKara Festival dancers and their choreographer, who paid a courtesy call on him recently upon returning from Andong City, South Korea.

The dancers won the bronze medal at the World Mask Dance Competition, one of the highlights of the 2018 Andong Mask Dance Festival held in Andong City on September 28 to October 7.

“This enhances further the attraction and image of our very own MassKara Festival. We are truly proud of our MassKara Festival,” the mayor said.

In 2012, during the administration of Leonardia, the National Geographic magazine named the MassKara Festival as "one of the 12 must-do things in the world in October." Also in the same year, Cable News Network (CNN) chose the MassKara Festival as "one of the 12 best things in the Philippines."

The MassKara dancers who competed in Andong were Jesus Surell, Airick Bayking, Jestoni Valor, Jerick Urbina, John Rey Tobongbanua, Marlon Imperial, Alvin Cardiente, Alanel Cordero, Eduardo Cautibar Jr., and Argie Tacadao.

They are all from Barangay Tangub and choreographed by Segundo Jesus “Panoy” Cabalcar Jr., who also conceptualized their performance, and designed their costume.

The MassKara Festival dancers represented the Philippines and competed against mask-based festival dancers from 12 countries like Russia, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Israel, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

For their part, the MassKara dancers said, “It is an honor to represent the Philippines and Bacolod internationally.

Indeed, the MassKara is a world-class and world-renowned festival.” (PR)