Leonardia launches 2012 MassKara

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — More than a million people have flocked to the 2011 MassKara Festival through its 19 days of celebration, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said during the closing rites of the city's world-famous festival.

Leonardia then launched the 2012 MassKara, to have earlier preparations so that more people shall be involved to ensure it will be an event people will long remember.

He said this year's MassKara was his 11th as city mayor and he wanted next year's, which will be his last in office, to be "better than the best."

Leonardia further named the Silver MassKara Festival Organization again the official organizer and Eli Francis Tajanlangit as the festival director of the 2012 celebration.

"We cannot do away with MassKara. It is part of us and part of the system of Bacolod, and it has even now become a necessity. Every time we have the MassKara it invigorates us to do even better and move the city forward," the mayor said. - THE FREEMAN