THE Silver MassKara Festival Organization Inc. (SMFOI) submitted its audited financial statements from 2016 to 2018 to the City Council Tuesday, April 30.
Eli Francis Tajanlangit, director of SMFOI, presented the audited financial statements from 2016, 2017 and 2018 to the members of the media along with Councilor Em Ang and some staff of the city councilors at the Bacolod Business Inn Hotel Tuesday afternoon.
"I apologize for taking you off your busy schedules, but as everyone knows, this report has been sitting for a long time already and we can no longer hold it. I was waiting for the organizers of the previous three festivals before we returned in 2016 to render their own report and accounting for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 because as you will see, my report raises an important question only those reports could answer," said Tajanlangit, who started organizing the MassKara in 2004 until 2012.
He said in 2004, the SMFOI has a total revenue of P5 million and it increased to P11 million in 2012.
In 2016, the SMFOI has total revenue of P9.8 million; P13.2 million in 2017; and P15.4 million in 2018.
"From 2004, the festival grew from a simple event at the public plaza and reclaimed area to what is now, with three major festival sites and multiple events, often held simultaneously," Tajanlangit said.
He said that was made possible because of the sponsorships market started believing in the festival as marketing platform, thus the funds they raised consistently grew from year to year.
"In 2004, we could hardly raise enough sponsorships that Mayor Evelio Leonardia and myself were forced to turn to our personal friends to be able to raise the P6 million we spent," he added.
Tajanlangit noted that by the time they left in 2012, they were able to generate P10 million in funds, and they no longer have to call on their friends.
From 2013 to 2015, the previous administration or the Kasadya Bacolod Development Foundation failed to submit their reports.
"We have no data as to the intervening years of 2013, 2014, and 2015. It is important to know this because when we came back in 2016, it felt like we were starting all over again. We only raised P9 million, almost the same level in 2012," Tajanlangit said.
"What happened here? Why has it dropped back to the level of 2012 when historical data shows it has consistently gone up even in the worst of times?" Tajanlangit asked.
Tajanlangit pointed out that the annual MassKara reports are needed because they should collectively guide them in the future especially as to what to pursue and what to avoid.
"That is imperative because the MassKara is an event that cannot be replayed. You commit a mistake and it can no longer be addressed. There is no take two so we need to remove all the possible risks we could see. The reports will tell us that," he said.
SMFOI records showed that in 2016, they have total assets of P1.4 million; P1.6 million in 2017, and P2.4 million in 2018.
In 2016, SMFOI has a total of P7.2 million festival production costs; P8.6 million in 2017; and P10.4 million in 2018.
The SMFOI also have a total of P1.7 million operating expenses in 2016; P4 million in 2017 and P4.4 million in 2018.
"Operating this festival is not a bed of roses. Yes, we enjoy this work, but it does carry a critical responsibility. Our appointment stipulates we can raise sponsorships and all, but it frees the city from any liability our actions may lead to it in this regard. Thus, a deficit which we faced in 2004 and 2010 are disasters only us should handle," Tajanlangit said.
He said the tradition of publicly accounting and reporting on the MassKara started with their organization.
"We have been consistently doing this. We only consolidated the last three years because of the unique circumstances here. We are not required, but we do this before the Sangguniang Panlungsod because they are the representatives of our people to whole we owe an accounting," Tajanlangit added.