‘Dancing traffic enforcers’ make MassKara Festival alive

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – It feels nostalgic.

This was how Mayor Evelio Leonardia described the feeling upon witnessing

traffic enforcers wearing colorful masks, and dancing the previous MassKara Festival music during the search for the best dancing traffic enforcer here early this week.

It’s been two years since Bacolodnons have celebrated the grand festivity here due to the pandemic.

Despite this, Leonardia said that Bacolodnons still have that happy disposition. “Right now we are in crisis again—a pandemic— but we have proven that Bacolodnons are resilient. We will survive this,” the mayor added.

The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) headed by Police Major Ruel Culanag launched the activity this year to develop the talent and skills of the traffic enforcers in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations while in the performance of their duty.

As partners of the police in law enforcement operations, their enhanced skills, devotion to duty, and quality service is necessary for the successful implementation of their mandated task and should therefore be given such utmost importance, according to Police Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Ten participants advanced to the grand finals held at the BCPO last Tuesday, October 19. Jemar Valencia, 29, of Barangay 35 emerged as the champion.

According to Valencia, he was hired as a traffic enforcer here since 2017.

As a dance instructor, it was not hard for Valencia to showcase his talent and skills in dancing.

However, since the pandemic started, he was not able to perform and teach dances during tribal and hip-hop competitions and mask dances here and in some parts of Negros Occidental.

Valencia is assigned to man the traffic flow, along with his two other colleagues on Ramos-Lacson Streets.

“Hilig ko na gid nga daan magsaot, kis-a gapractice ko sa balay or sa tunga mismo dalan, depende sa condition sa lawas,” he said in a media interview.

During the competition, Valencia said that he felt he was going to faint because of suffocation as he was wearing a face mask while dancing in the middle of the road amid the hot weather.

But, fortunately, he was able to endure everything and finished his dance.

Valencia said he did not expect that he would be hailed as the grand winner, since he has not danced a lot due to the pandemic.

Valencia received P10,000 cash prize, one sack of rice, a token, a certificate, and another P5,000 worth of gift certificate from SM Bacolod. For the second place,

Greg Leonaras received P6,000 and one sack of rice, while Araceli Abad who ranked third received P3,000 and a sack of rice.

Other participants included Jay-r Arazo, 4th placer, Hazel Nagar, 5th placer, Richie Navarra, sixth placer, Gary Gonzales, 7th placer, Randy Ecraela, 8th placer, Rocky Leganada, 9th placer, and Joemar Langote, 10th placer. They each received P1,000 cash prize, certificates, and gift packs.

Leonardia said the event mirrors the MassKara Festival, since it featured the previous MassKara Festival music, and it was held during the supposed highlight week of the festival.

“With this BTAO event, we were able to feel the spirit of MassKara. Hearing this dance music makes me feel homesick, it is like you long for it but you can’t have it,” the mayor said.

Leonardia also lauded the rest of the traffic enforcers here for doing their job well. “To our traffic enforcers, you are an inspiration to all of us. You play a major role in our society,” he said.

“I am very proud of you,” Leonardia said, as he recognized their efforts to ensure the safety and order in the streets of the city. (Photos courtesy of Bacolod City PIO)