THE Bacolod City Council has accredited the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. as the new organizer of the MassKara Festival in the city.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on law, said Mayor Greg Gasataya named Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. as the new organizer of this year’s MassKara festival.
He said they expect to grant the mayor an authority to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the foundation this week.
Gugma is the Hiligaynon word for love.
The foundation was led by Rodney Mitz Ascalon, serving as both foundation president and festival director.
Ascalon said Gugma is more than love. It’s service. It’s sacrifice. It’s giving without asking in return. That’s what this foundation stands for -- and what this year’s MassKara will reflect.
Ascalon, 45, a graduate of Mass Communication at the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, was already making waves in the performing arts scene, earning special citations for his dedication and artistry.
As a dancer, choreographer, and cultural advocate, he has been a core member of the USLS pep squad, JB Dance Company, and the founder of “The Artians,” nurturing creative talent within the La Sallian community.
In 2022, he earned national recognition as a Best Live Events Director nominee at the Aliw Awards for his creative initiatives.
“MassKara has always been more than just a festival for me. It’s a mirror of who we are as Bacolodnons joyful, creative, and resilient,” Ascalon said.
As festival director, Ascalon opts to bring a calm, steady hand and a visionary mind, blending tradition with bold innovation.
“I’m inspired by Mayor Gasataya’s leadership and vision for Bacolod, a city that leads with heart and serves its people first. That same spirit guides how we shape MassKara moving forward. This is not just a role, it’s a homecoming. I’m here to give back to the city that raised me,” he said.
The foundation’s core team includes Atty. Hannah Lea Tañoso Dela Torre, board of director, corporate secretary and legal affairs head; Joanna Angelica Ortillo, board of director, foundation treasurer; Edsel Prado, board of director, in charge of accounting and finance; and Christine Panes-Ceraspe, board of director, overseeing administration and secretariat operations to streamline the foundation’s internal coordination. (MAP)