PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will visit Bacolod City during the highlights of the 38th MassKara Festival on October 20.
This was confirmed Sunday night by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas, who declared open this year’s 22-day MassKara Festival in rites held at the Diamond Jubilee Tower of the public plaza.
Aranas, a Negrense, said it is historic that President Duterte will attend the MassKara Festival for the second time.
Last year, Duterte officially opened the MassKara Festival at the public plaza.
“In 2016, the President was here, and this year will be the second time that he will be here," Aranas said.
He said that although Duterte abolished the Negros Island Region (NIR), it doesn’t mean that the President does not love the Negrenses.
“It is not true because he will give us a state. We will have our own state because that is the plan of President Duterte, that is why he will come here to assure us,” Aranas added.
The BIR official lauded the efforts of the city officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia in staging the MassKara Festival, adding that despite the heavy rain before the opening, thousands of people still came.
“It shows commitment. So let’s move forward, remain committed that this MassKara Festival will be full of happiness. I hereby declare the 2017 MassKara Festival open. Enjoy and never forget the heart of excellence,” Aranas said.
He said that on October 5, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez will also be in Bacolod.
This year’s MassKara Festival is themed “Bacolod: City of Southeast Asia.”
Leonardia said he was thankful to Aranas for attending the opening of the festival despite the short notice.
He said that last year, it was also Aranas who confirmed that the President will be the official guest of the opening of 2016 MassKara Festival.
“Because of Deputy Commissioner Aranas, President Duterte arrived in Bacolod,” he added.
Leonardia said he was happy that Aranas again announced that the President will arrive in Bacolod for the festival.
Two hours before the opening of the 38th MassKara Festival, there was a heavy downpour.
“While the rain was pouring, the city officials and all of the MassKara organizers are saying that the rain will stop,” Leonardia said.
The parade started at 6 p.m. from the Old City Hall towards the Diamond Jubilee Tower participated by the 2016 MassKara Festival winners in the street dancing, drumbeating, and mardi gras costume competitions.
“I am happy with how the opening ceremony turned out. There was symbolism that despite of heavy rain, the people were still there. That was how the MassKara Festival was conceptualized,” Leonardia said.
He said the MassKara Festival is all about the resiliency of the Bacolodnons.
“This was an opening ceremony like no other. This was the most colorful and exciting,” Leonardia added.
Also present were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Em Ang and Bartolome Orola, and Department of Foreign Affairs Bacolod consular office head Carolina Constantino.