Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez led the festive start to the 44th MassKara Festival that drew a crowd of 17,000 to the Bacolod City Government Center grounds Friday night, October 6.
Benitez promised bigger and better 16-days of festivities filled with numerous entertainers and performances.
He also took up the call of comedian and television host Vice Ganda to be invited to the 44th MassKara Festival.
Benitez offered ABS-CBN the same offer he gave to TV5 to bring in Eat TVJ of Tito Vic and Joey who are set to arrive on October 20 and 21.
If Vice Ganda is okay with the offer she is more than welcome, he said.
Benitez, in his countdown speech, said the “MassKara Festival has been to different countries all over the world…We are having the best MassKara yet.”
He said President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Liza, are expected to also attend the festival.
Bacolod City Police Director, Col. Noel Aliño, said that the crowd estimate during the Grand Countdown Salubong was 17,000.
It was highlighted by a variety of performances that showed snippets of various MassKara activities from October 7 to 28.
Festival highlights like “Bida ng Bacolod”, “MassKara Elektrika Diva”, Miss Bacolod MassKara, and MassKara Streetdance and Arena Competition were presented during the countdown show.
Pop rock band “The Juans” who sang their hit songs also highlighted the countdown.
Festival Chairman Jojie Dingcong also said that they are promising a bigger MassKara this year and hope that the festival-goers enjoy the celebration.
The festival countdown that was capped by fireworks was also attended by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and other city officials.*