![DARLING OF THE PRESS. Miss Bacolod MassKara Candidate No. 8 Janine Cabrillos won as the Darling of the Press. She received the award from Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez, Carla Cañet of Sunstar Bacolod, and Mae Singuay of Panay News in rites held at SM City Bacolod on Sunday, October 1.
[Sigrid Lo photo]](http://media.assettype.com/sunstar%2Fimport%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2F2023%2F10%2F02%2F468665.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
The City Government of Bacolod will officially open the 44th MassKara Festival on October 6, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Friday, September 29.
Benitez said the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., the overall organizer of the 2023 MassKara Festival, will have pre-activities starting October 1.
"But the launching and the start of the festival will be on October 6," he said.
He added that the putting up of kiosks at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) and Bacolod public plaza will start on October 5.
The Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. has already identified the festival sites, which are BCGC, Robinsons Place Bacolod, Bacolod Public Plaza, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, The Upper East Megaworld, Old Bacolod City Hall, Lacson Tourism Strip, and SM City Bacolod.
On October 1, the Yuhum Foundation held the first official public and press presentation of the 15 candidates for this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara at the Atrium of SM City Bacolod.
The 15 candidates who have their official sashing ceremony are Georgette Ysabelle Millan, Therese Pira-an, Tracy Mae Sunio, Marianel Tan, Geralyn Joy Basto, Allona Nejar, Jada Biaxyl Celeste, Janine Cabrillos, Cailah Jhane Delarma, Elli Rose Elola, Rose Mariel Sansing, Kyle Santillan, Ma. Ericka Panganiban, Crizwin Claire Española, and Yvonne Catamco.
Moreover, the City Council has already approved the operation of the carnival at the back of the BCGC.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on laws, said that prior to the approval of the operation of the carnival, the City Council held a committee conference with the owner of the carnival after they put up their materials at the BCGC’s Football Field without approval from the council.
He said it was explained by the owner of the festival that they wanted to ensure the safety of the MassKara revelers.
"They need to test their rides and it takes one to two weeks to set up their equipment for the safety of the public," he added.*