Barangay Granada won the 43rd MassKara Festival street and arena dance competition grand championship and P1 million on Sunday, October 23, festival director Pinky Mirano Ocampo said.
The awarding of the winners, a concert and fireworks at the Paglaum Stadium in Bacolod City capped the three-week MassKara Festival celebration.
Barangay Granada also won the best in music, most disciplined and Pau-Pau Choice awards, she said.
Granada was also the champion for three successive years in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The first runner was Barangay Sum-ag that also won the best in mask and costume award and took home P500,000, Ocampo said.
The second runner up was Brgy Estefania that also won the best in in concept award and P300,000.
The third runner up was Brgy. 35 that won P250,000, fourth runner up was Brgy Singcang – P150,000, fifth runner up – Brgy Tangub – P50,000, sixth runner up – Brgy 31 – P30,000 and seventh runner – Brgy Alangilan – P20,000, Ocampo said.
Barangay Alijis won the best in introduction award.
Some of the participating barangays began their performances by reacting the events that led to the celebration of the MassKara Festival.
The festival began in 1980 to cheer up Negrenses as Negros Occidental and Bacolod were reeling from a sugar crisis that caused the economy to plunge during the term of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and following the death of many from the province on board the MV Don Juan that sank in the Tablas Strait off Mindoro.
Among the judges of the competition were broadcast journalist and talk show host Korina Sanchez-Roxas, singer Pops Fernandez, actor Derek Ramsay, Puey Quiñones and Gian Direkto who represented Air Asia president Ricky Isla.
Seventeen barangays joined the competition.
The results were based on 60 percent arena performance and 40 percent street performance, Ocampo said.*