BARANGAY Granada proved its supremacy in the street and arena dance competition when it was adjudged champion for the third straight year during the 37th MassKara Festival held at the Bacolod public plaza, Sunday.
The champion, which received a cash prize of P100,000 and a trophy, bested 16 other barangay-participants.
Barangay Granada, with choreographers Philip Lamirez, Joedem Casabuena, and Romnick Rafael, was also named Best in Concept and Best in Choreography. They received P5,000 for each award.
Barangay Tangub was named first runner-up, and received P75,000 in cash and a trophy. Last year, Tangub was also first runner-up.
Barangay Banago was awarded second runner-up and received P50,000 in cash and a trophy. Banago was also chosen Best in Costume and Best in Mask, with P5,000 for each award.
Barangay Pahanocoy was third runner-up, with P30,000 in cash and a trophy while Barangay Alangilan settled for fourth runner-up with P20,000 in cash and a trophy. In 2015, Barangay Alangilan was second runner-up.
The Silver MassKara Festival Organization gave an additional P15,000 to the champion barangay for its closing ceremony performance at Bacolod Government Center last night.
Granada village chief Alfredo Talimodao said he is very thankful for those who sponsored and prayed for the success of their MassKara dancers.
“It is for the people of Barangay Granada. We are deserving of this award,” he said.
Talimodao said they allow to become MassKara dancers only those who have discipline.
He added that he is also thankful for the choreographers, who are all residents of Barangay Granada, and for the cooperation of MassKara dancers and their parents.
Lamirez said they trained their dancers for almost three months, and they are very thankful and happy to retain the crown.
He added that they practiced more and they disciplined their dancers to perform well.
“We did our best to be part of the history of MassKara Festival,” he added.
rLamirez said he is also thankful for the support of Barangay Granada officials by helping them in their daily rehearsals.
Other performers were Barangays Bata, 5, 7, 29, Pta.Taytay, Felisa, 39, 26, 8, 33, Alijis, and Barangay 6.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, acting director of Bacolod City Office, said about 18,000 MassKara revelers joined the celebration on Araneta Street and at the public plaza.
He added that during the school category on Saturday, there were about 12,000 spectators watched along Araneta Street and the public plaza.