Thousands trooped to the streets of Bacolod, braving the heat and the crowd, to watch the Streetdancing Competition of the 2008 MassKara Festival. They were not disappointed as dancers in colorful costumes and smiling masks performed to well choreographed and synchronized moves.
It was my first time to watch MassKara Festival live in the streets and I had a great time. The color and festivity really gets to you that you would want to join the street dancers in their revelry. Indeed, Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival is one, if not the most colorful festival of the Philippines.
Bacoleños and tourists were treated to three days of street dancing and fabulous costumes from the contestants of the Schools, Barangay and Open Categories. The Electric Masskara Streetdancing along Lacson Street is also a crowd drawer. The street was so crowded that organizers had a hard time controlling the crowd thus the Electric Masskara was late to start.
Many observed that the 29th Masskara Festival is the best so far. Considering this is the eve of the 30th Masskara Festival, people will surely expect more in the 2009 Masskara Festival.
Here are the list of winners for 2008 Masskara Festival.
School Category
Elementary Level
Grand Prize: Rafael Alunan Elementary School
First Runner Up: Jose Gonzaga Elementary School
Second Runner Up: Rizal Elementary School
Special Awards:
Best in Costume: Rafael Alunan Elementary School
Best in Mask: Jose Gonzaga Elementary School
Best in Concept: Rizal Elementary School
Best in Choreography: Rizal Elementary School
Best in Call and Response: Mandalagan Elementary School
Secondary Level
Grand Prize: Domingo Lacson National High School
First Runner Up: Bacolod City National High School
Second Runner Up: Alangilan National High School
Special Awards:
Best in Costume: Handumanan National High School
Best in Mask: Handumanan National High School
Best in Concept: Domingo Lacson National High School
Best in Choreography: Alangilan National High School
Best in Call and Response: Handumanan National High School
Electric Masskara
Grand Prize: Barangay Villamonte
First Runner Up: Barangay 33
Second Runner Up: Barangay Singcang-Airport
Barangay Category
Grand Prize: Barangay Bata
First Runner Up: Barangay Mandalagan
Second Runner Up: Barangay 23
Special Awards:
Best in Costume: Barangay Mandalagan
Best in Mask: Barangay 30
Best in Concept: Barangay Bata
Best in Choreography: Barangay Bata
Best in Call and Response: Barangay Mandalagan
Open Category
Grand Prize: Barangay Mandalagan
First Runner Up: Barangay Villamonte
Second Runner Up: Barangay 23
Special Awards:
Best in Costume: Barangay Villamonte
Best in Mask: Barangay Mandalagan
Best in Concept: Barangay 23
Best in Choreography: Barangay Villamonte
Best in Call and Response: Barangay Villamonte
