Barangay Tangub wins MassKara 2025 street dance title

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By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Seven years after their 2018 victory, Barangay Tangub reclaimed the championship title at the 46th MassKara Festival Street Dance and Arena Competition held on Sunday, October 19.

Led by Barangay Captain Noli Villarosa, the group won the PHP 1 million grand prize and swept multiple special awards including Most Disciplined Contingent, Best in Music, Best in Theme and Concept, and Best in Mask and Costume.

Each special award carried an additional PHP 50,000 prize, further increasing their total winnings.

Tangub also received PHP 20,000 each from sponsors Mang Inasal and Dito Telecommunity for being the grand champion.

The winning performance was choreographed by Joedem Casabuena and Mark Philip Lamirez, with costume and mask designs by Christopher John Puerta.

Casabuena and Lamirez previously led Barangay Granada to a historic grand slam in earlier editions of the MassKara Festival.

In a media interview on the sidelines of the event, Villarosa said he did not expect to win due to the high level of competition, but was grateful for the achievement.

He said Barangay Tangub spent PHP 5 million in total for the competition.

Villarosa added that the cash prize will be distributed among the MassKara dancers, as the barangay was able to shoulder all expenses during the four-month preparation.

He thanked the choreographers and designers for their hard work and dedication.

He also said they want the MassKara dancers to participate in the Aliwan Fiesta, citing Bacolod City’s prominence in the country’s cultural landscape.

Villarosa plans to discuss this with Mayor Greg Gasataya and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez.

The Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers top cultural festivals from across the Philippines.

Barangay Bata, choreographed by Ronelo Mabilog, was named first runner-up and received PHP 500,000, along with the award for Best in Introduction.

Barangay 29, choreographed by veteran Segundo Jesus “Panoy” Cabalcar Jr., earned second runner-up honors and a PHP 300,000 prize, as well as awards for the Merry Making Competition and Community Dance.

Dito Telecommunity also awarded PHP 10,000 to Barangay Bata and PHP 5,000 to Barangay 29.

In the Merry Making Contest, Barangay Tangub and Barangay Bata placed second and third, respectively, earning an additional PHP 20,000 and PHP 10,000.

Other participating barangays included Handumanan, 21, 39, 6, 13, 11, and 7.

The street dancers first performed at the Paglaum Sports Complex, where Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco was in attendance, before parading to the Bacolod Public Plaza for the awarding ceremony.

The 19-day MassKara Festival concluded with a grand fireworks display.

Frasco said the story of MassKara reminds the world that amid hardship, there is always hope.

“In Bacolod, you have turned challenges into celebration, despair into determination — that’s why everyone who comes to Bacolod feels the spirit that truly makes this a ‘City of Smiles,’” she said.

She added that the Department of Tourism is proud to support the city through tourism infrastructure and the upcoming Terra Madre Asia Pacific, which will showcase Bacolod on the global stage.

Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed appreciation to the public, sponsors, participants, and organizers for making the event a success.

“Madamo madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo pag himo sang tanan-tanan na sakripisyo para ipakita kung ano ang Bacolod City kag kung ano ang Bacolodnon,” he said.

Despite the rains brought by Tropical Cyclone Ramil, Gasataya lauded the resilience of both the participants and the people.

He announced that bigger prizes will be offered for next year’s street dance competition and that the city is also discussing subsidies for participants.

He said the city government plans to provide free training for choreographers, designers, and dancers as early preparation for the 2026 MassKara Festival, which will mark the festival’s 50th year.

This year’s celebration, themed “One Smile, One City, One Heart,” was spearheaded by the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., chaired by Rodney Mitz Ascalon.