Every month of October Bacolod City celebrates the festival of epic proportions known as the MassKara Festival
Since 2010 i have been supporting a contingent by providing them costume materials in any way that i can.
This 2014 i joined the team from Brgy Villamonte headed by their choreographer Sir Panoy Cabalcar.
Preparations were done early just like in any masskara editions.
Last September 3 auditions were held. The gymnasium of villamonte is dilled with aspiring dancers.
Second week of September we went to Divisoria to buy fabrics rhinestones trimmings and trinkets for the costume materials.
Anyone who has an experience i festival productio would know how costly it is to dress up 60 dancers.
By october 2 i aarived in Bacolod from a butt-numbing 8hr trip from Cebu.
During this time nightly rehearsals were already in full swing they were already polish ing the dsnce routine.
October 14 we went to Robinson’s Place Bacolod to set up the mannequins for the annual mask and costume exhibit. This is also the first time the public will be able to see what the 20 contingents from different barangays and 11 schools will wear during the streetdsncing competition.
October 16- we had our scheduled dress rehearsal. This is the first time that we opened oyr rehearsals to the public in full view ans in full costume. The gymnasium is full the the brim with eager supporters and fans.
October 17 it was a Friday. And tourists are starting to arrive in Bacolod City. Its was the first day of the MassKara highlights: the schools category of the streetdancing competition. As expected thlysands of locals and toursists alike showed up along the parade route from Paglaum Sports complex to the city Plaza passing through Araneta street.
Just like in the past the city is bombarded once again with the burst of colors. The costumes were elaborately designed and the masks too!
Thi is just he schools category. Wait till you get to see the 20 barangays compete for the ultimte showdown.
In the end the school representing the Pahanocoy Baybay won the top prize. My alma mater ETCS1 won the Best in Costume and the Best in Mask citatio s. They also fi ished as first runner up.
In the high school category sum-ag nationla high school emerged victorious while Generoso villanueva jr. National high school finished first runner up, also bagging the bet in costume and best in mask awards.
Ocotber 18 D-Day. It’s competition time. I had mixed emotio s t thst time. I am excited but kinda worried at the same time will i make it in thr streetdancing? Will i just collapse under the heat of the sun? Or will i simply just enjoy the rowdy crowd at the street.
We arrived at the paglaum sports complex just in time for the competition. We were then greeted by eager photographers taking our photos and selie shots it was fun!
Then one by one each contingent we called on stage to present their routine we were contingent number two representing barangay villamonte. When our group entered the rena there was a deafening sou d of cheer from the bleachers.
Everyone was excited to see our dance and then finally the music started…
It was the most exciting 6 minute of my life… Ever.
It was a good performance i must say.
By 330pm we were already out in the street dancing to the medley of Samba de Janeiro and Harry Belfonte’s Caribbean Disco show much to the delight of the cheering crowd.
At the end of the day we emerged as first runner up winner. We also got the Best in Mask and the Best in costume special awards. The dancers fro. Barangay Granada emerged as rhis year’s Grand Champion they also won the Best in Concept and the Best in Choreography award.
We may not have won the highest honors we have lways dreamed of but personally, i am still satisfied with the results. We have worked so hard and we have done our very best and that’s the more importsnt thing for me.
I would also like to say thnk you to Unilab for supporting our dancers by providi g multivitami sa daily for 100dsncers for the whole. Onth of October. This has greatly helped our dancers in sustining their energy up until the competition dy yan ang Galing at Husay ng Unilab! And also to Smart for providing us finncial support which has helped us in so many ways. Thank you!
And after having been involved ed in MassKara productio s since 2010 i am finally taking a bow and will. Be lesving masskara Festival. Next year i will just return to thr city to experience the fun snd colors of the festivities simPly as a spectator taking photographs and enjoying the the beat of htr Masskara music.
I am looking ing forward to a sress-free nd a more relaxed Masskara festival 2015!
