Ten barangays and seven elementary schools will showcase community pride during the MassKara Festival 2025 dance competitions, a centerpiece of Bacolod’s world-famous celebration.
The school category will take place on Oct. 18, marking its strong resurgence in the festival lineup.
The official order of performance will be Don Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School, Rizal ES, Andres Bonifacio ES II, Asuncion L. Lizares ES, Estefania ES, Education and Training Center School I, and Paglaum Village ES.
The barangay category will take center stage the following day, Oct. 19.
The official order of performance is: barangays Handumanan, 21, 39, Tangub, 6, 29, Bata, 13, 11, and 7.
This year’s competitions will begin with arena performances at the Paglaum Sports Complex. From there, contingents will perform in the traditional street-dancing parade.
All groups will then converge at the Bacolod public plaza for the announcement of winners and a symbolic community dance.
Festival director Rodney Ascalon said the format has been flipped to give both the arena and street performances equal energy and exposure.
“We are flipping the traditional format,” Ascalon said in a press release Sept. 19. “Instead of starting in the streets and ending in the arena, we begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex where contingents showcase their full performances, then bring the same energy to the streets.”
“It allows both the judges and the public to experience the best of MassKara in two powerful stages of celebration,” he added.
Preparations at the Paglaum Sports Complex are already underway with strong support and coordination from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
To support the contingents, the Bacolod City government allocated financial assistance of P750,000 for each competing barangay, and P500,000 for each school.
The subsidies must be liquidated to ensure transparency and accountability. ||
