BARANGAY Banago was declared as champion in the Electric MassKara performing floats competition during the 40th MassKara Festival highlights at the Lacson Tourism Strip in Bacolod City on Friday, October 25.
The Electric MassKara was officially opened by Tourism Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns Erwin Enrile along with Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
The champion team received cash and trophy for besting 13 other barangay participants.
Barangay 16 was named the first runner-up, while Barangay 37 was the second runner-up. The winners also received cash and trophies.
Other participants were Barangays Cabug, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 32, 36, 40, and 45.
Enrile said he was sent by President Rodrigo Duterte as his representative to the MassKara Festival after it was announced that the President was suffering from "unbearable pain" in his spine following a motorcycle accident.
He said the President sent a representative because they recognized that MassKara Festival is one of the major festivals in the country.
"Festivals like these contributed largely to the tourism growth of the Philippines. The MassKara Festival is fun because that is our theme. It's More Fun in the Philippines," he added.
Enrile recalled that President Duterte attended the coronation ceremony of the Emperor of Japan and it was reported that Duterte was not feeling well.
The President asked the Tourism Secretary to represent him, but the latter was also in Japan for the G20 Tourism Ministers' Summit so Enrile was chosen to represent Duterte instead.
Enrile said it is his first time to experience the MassKara Festival, adding that he was glad to be in Bacolod.
"I heard a lot about MassKara and I think festivals like this really contribute to tourism and embodies the slogan, 'It's More Fun in the Philippines', where foreigners see the festive nature of Filipinos," he said.