10 barangays, 7 schools join MassKara 2025 dance tilt

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Ten barangays and seven elementary schools are set to compete in the MassKara Festival 2025 arena and street dance competition, the highlight of this year’s festivities.

Dr. Bhadz Defensor Jr., chairman of the Arena and Streetdance Committee, announced in a press conference Friday that PHP 1 million in cash prizes is at stake for the champion in the barangay category and PHP 750,000 for the school category.

Other prizes will be announced in the coming days.

Defensor said all is set for the MassKara Festival 2025 arena and street dance competition, which will be held during the festival’s final week.

The school category will take place on Oct. 18, marking its strong resurgence in the festival lineup.

The official order of performance is: Don Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School II, Asuncion L. Lizares Elementary School, Estefania Elementary School, Education and Training Center School I, and Paglaum Village Elementary School.

The following day, Oct. 19, the barangay category takes center stage.

The official order of performance is: Barangay Handumanan, Barangay 21, Barangay 39, Barangay Tangub, Barangay 6, Barangay 29, Barangay Bata, Barangay 13, Barangay 11, and Barangay 7.

This year’s competitions will begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex with the arena performances.

From there, contingents will proceed to the streets for 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.

“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 will provide subsidies of PHP 750,000 for each barangay and PHP 500,000 for each school.

The subsidies must be liquidated to ensure transparency and accountability.

Also slated in this year’s MassKara is the MassKaralympics 2025, a centerpiece event of the celebration, featuring 28 sporting competitions.

The competitions will showcase barangay representatives, local athletes, and national icons.

Billed as a “festival within the festival,” the MassKaralympics highlights a wide range of sports, including the 1st Mayor Greg Gasataya MassKara Volleyball Cup, the 4th MassKara Tchoukball Tournament, the MassKaRun, Bike, and Zumba, the 1st Mayor Greg Gasataya MassKara Pickleball Tournament, and the 1st MassKara 3×3 Basketball Tournament.

Among the top five highlights are the 1st Mayor Greg Gasataya MassKara Football Cup, the 1st MassKara Volleyball Cup, and the much-anticipated “Legends Rise: MassKara Gugma All-Star Exhibition Game,” featuring some of the country’s most celebrated basketball heroes under the Gilas Legends banner.

The Gilas Legends — a roster of players who once carried the country’s colors in international competition — headline this year’s tournament.

Fans can expect to see iconic names such as Marc Pingris, Dondon Hontiveros, Gary David, Jeff Chan, Arwind Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo, Cyrus Baguio, Willie Miller, Ryan Reyes, and Asi Taulava.

Other events add variety and excitement to the lineup, including the BMX and skateboard competitions featuring rising talents such as Motic Panugalinog and Guetler Mariano, as well as the City of Smiles International Marathon.

Competitions are staged in key venues across the city, such as the USLS Coliseum, Montalbo Gym, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Bacolod Skate Park, and the Provincial Capitol Lagoon.

Festival Director Rodney Ascalon said the MassKaralympics underscores Bacolod’s commitment to both sports and inclusivity.

“It’s not just about competition; it’s about celebrating community, unity, and the enduring Bacolodnon spirit of resilience and joy,” Ascalon said.

With barangay athletes standing shoulder-to-shoulder with national legends, MassKaralympics 2025 strengthens its place as one of the most awaited features of the MassKara Festival.