BACOLOD CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte lauded the Bacolodnons for a successful staging of the 39th MassKara Festival as he joined the city’s celebration for the third consecutive time on Saturday night.
“Pupunta ako dito kasi maganda talaga ang MassKara (I came here because MassKara is really beautiful), sadya (enjoyable),” the President said in his message before the crowd at the Bacolod Public Plaza.
“Malipayon nga MassKara sa inyo tanan (Happy MassKara to all of you). It is my pleasure to join you once again in celebrating the MassKara Festival,” he added.
Duterte extended his “sincerest congratulations” to the local government of Bacolod for organizing another successful MassKara celebration.
“This event is truly a showcase of a unique cultural heritage and rich history of your hometown, the City of Smiles,” he said, adding that MassKara tells an inspiring story of the Filipino resilience.
“It is proof that despite the many struggles we face, we can overcome any adversity through cooperation and perseverance,” Duterte said.
In the middle of his speech, the President, asking if his daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was still around, joked that he will not say MassKara is much better than Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival as the mayor will get mad at him.
Instead, he said their festival in Davao City is “daw ga tabla” or almost as good as MassKara.
“Diutay lang inyo advantage, gamay lang. Magaganda ang babae dito (You just have a small advantage. The women are beautiful here)” the President quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Hours before the President arrived, the presidential daughter also joined the afternoon crowd at the plaza, where the arena dance competition for the 11 public elementary and high school contingents was held.
In the evening, the Chief Executive witnessed the performance of Mandalagan National High School, which was later declared champion.
The President also said he was “really aghast” when Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya told him that Bacolod is already 80 years old, pointing out it seems having a celebration of dance and performance is part of the “genetics” of the people of Bacolod.
For his part, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the MassKara Festival has become an icon of Bacolod, which unites and brings together the people of the city.
“What pushed the MassKara Festival a cut above the rest, is the fact that this is the only festival in the Philippines today, outside maybe of Davao, where the President graced us with his presence for the third consecutive year,” the mayor said.
“When he came in 2016, right after his election, we called that unprecedented. When he came in 2017, we called that historic. Now he’s back for the third time, I don’t know how to call that anymore,” he added.
Leonardia noted there is “no doubt, MassKara Festival is one of the major tourist attractions of the Philippines.”
“This is the festival of the people of Bacolod, by the people of Bacolod, and for the people of Bacolod,” the mayor said. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
