The first two nights of the MassKara Festival on Friday and Saturday drew massive crowds and no untoward incidents occurred, PCol. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, said on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Award-winning Filipino singer-songwriter TJ Monterde’s concert at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds drew a record-breaking crowd of 100,000 on Saturday, Coronica said.
An estimated 45,000 persons also gathered to witness the MassKara Grand Countdown Salubong at the BCGC on Friday night, he said.
“The police are on top of every situation. Our main goal is to end this festival successfully and safely,” Coronica said.
“We are asking people to cooperate and be vigilant while enjoying the festival,” he added.
On top of the gun ban in Bacolod City, not allowed at the festival sites are pointed barbeque sticks and bladed weapons, use of backpacks, glass bottled drinks, pranks/jokes that could cause mass panic/stampedes, lighting of firecrackers, except when authorized by the organizers, and littering of garbage, the police said.
“This could be the best MassKara we’ve ever had, and we are so excited to see what’s next,” Kuster Y. Cadagat, MassKara Festival Director for Cultural and Accredited Events, said on Saturday night.
Councilor Jason Villarosa said he was stuck in traffic for almost 20 minutes on Saturday, “but seeing this overwhelming turnout shows how successful the MassKara Festival has become.”
During the opening night on Friday popular pop-rock band December Avenue serenaded the jampacked crowd.
The celebration also featured various colorful dance performances, games, local bands, and the presentation of Miss Bacolod MassKara.
“Let’s enjoy the MassKara Festival. We have many activities lined up for this year’s celebration,” Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
The next expected big crowd will be on Oct. 18 with performances from SB19, Flow G, and Skusta Clee, organizers said.*