BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The world-famous MassKara Festival, which opened Oct. 1, enters its finale week with highlights slated from Oct. 17 to 20.
The 20 days of nonstop merrymaking will be capped with streetdancing competitions at the public plaza on Oct. 18 and 20, the four-night Electric MassKara at the Tourism Strip along Lacson St. on Oct. 17 to 20, and the Diamond Year or the 75th Charter Anniversary of Bacolod on Oct. 19, with Bisperas de Diamante on Oct. 18.
In the streetdance competitions, 10 schools are performing on Oct. 18 and 15 barangays are performing on Oct. 20. The streetdancing is the essence of the MassKara Festival, as Bacoleños take to the streets to dance to the music and drum beats, to celebrate life and its abundant blessings to their city.
For the Electric MassKara, the whole 18-block Tourism Strip at Lacson St. is converted into one giant street party, to encourage revelers to dance, instead of just watching people dance or sing.
Now on its 7th year, the Electric MassKara is considered one of the country's happiest and longest street parties, with the entire Tourism Strip jam-packed with partygoers.
Business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan will be the guest of honor and speaker on the 75th Charter Day on Oct. 19 at the Bacolod Government Center.
Now on its 34th year, the MassKara Festival's theme is "Rediscover and Celebrate Bacolod." The festival is run by the Kasadya Bacolod Foundation.
The MassKara Festival was named last year by international news organization CNN (Cable News Network) as "one of the 12 best things in the Philippines" in its CNN iReport: Eye on the Philippines.
Also last year, the international magazine National Geographic has chosen the MassKara Festival as one of the "12 must-do things in the world for October." (FREEMAN)