ANDONG City (South Korea) Mayor Young-sae Kweon who concurrently serves as president of the International Mask Arts & Cultural Organization (Imaco) and other Imaco officials and delegates have sincerely expressed their appreciation to the City of Bacolod through Mayor Evelio Leonardia and his fellow officials for the warm reception and hospitality shown to them during the city’s hosting of the 7th Imaco International Conference held in Bacolod City on November 5 to 7.
Mayor Young-sae Kweon said, “I am really grateful to all Bacolod officials and its citizens for their warm hospitality shown to us during the conference. Everyone has indeed shown their smiles. Bacolod’s MassKara Festival is now an important part of Imaco. Our relationship will be developed further with the success of this year’s international conference.”
Hongsik Jeong, Imaco secretary-general said, “I am grateful for the support and cooperation showed by the City Government of Bacolod, its officials, and citizens.”
Mayor Leonardia also thanked Imaco for bringing the delegates together and making the participants realize their significant contributions to the mask culture.
“Without Imaco, we would not have met and we would not have been made aware that there is such existence of this culture and the masks have brought us all together. The MassKara festival has a story of evolution. It has become an icon, a source of income and is already part of our culture in Bacolod. Year in and year out, we look forward to the holding of the MassKara Festival,” the mayor said.
“When we talk about the mask, for me, it is that significant and important. Aside from its relevance to world culture, personally, I feel that the MassKara festival of which I was part of when it started, this has started my being politician, a big factor why I became mayor. We can say that I am the mayor of the MassKara festival. One more proof that the mask is in my heart and soul. I named my only daughter Kara because of the MassKara,” Leonardia added.
Former Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang said that these ties started three years ago when she authored a local bill that aimed to strengthen the sisterhood relationship between Andong City, South Korea and the City of Bacolod.
It has led to the city’s participation in the Andong City Mask Festival, bringing MassKara festival dancers to their festival.
“We started talking about the active participation of Bacolod in Imaco activities. Mayor Bing and I were fortunate to attend the 6th Imaco international conference in Laos. It opened our interest to bring the MassKara festival to the global stage. We brought the MassKara festival to various countries. MassKara Festival is undoubtedly one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines. It brought Bacolod to the world map and has become a sought-after festival. We have increased tourist arrivals because of the fun experience that our MassKara has given to those who came to the festival in the month of October. We thank Imaco for giving us the inspiration and example. We have replicated some of the good practices of Imaco and its member countries,” she said.