Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Mark Molina, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Eusebio Tanco (l-r) at the Paglaum Stadium on Sunday*
STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. chairman Eusebio Tanco gave an additional P270,000 in cash prizes to the participating barangays in the MassKara street and arena dance competition at the Paglaum Stadium on Sunday, October 23.
Tanco, who was at Paglaum enjoyed the performances and felt sorry for the performers who fainted, Mark Molina, STI West Negros University executive vice president, said Monday.
“As far as STI is concerned, it’s not just the winning. It’s the effort of every barangay that makes the festival a success,” Molina said.
STI, which owns WNC, gave the 17 participating barangays P10,000 each in prizes, he said.
It also gave Barangay Tangub, fifth place winner – P50,000, Barangay 31, sixth placer – P30,000 and Barangay Alangilan, seventh placer – P20,000, Molina said.
Meanwhile, the festival organizers gave the prizes of the grand champion up to the fourth runner up.
Barangay Granada received P1 million for winning the grand championship and an additional P50,000 for its Most Disciplined Contingent and Best in Music special awards.
Granada was also grand champion of the MassKara street and arena competitions in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Barangay Sum-ag, the first runner up won P500,000, Barangay Estefania, second runner-up – P300,000, Barangay 35, third runner up – P250,000 and Barangay Singcang-Airport, fourth runner up – P150,000.
Pinky Mirano Ocampo, MassKara Festival director, on Monday thanked all Bacolodnons and everyone else who helped make the 43rd MassKara Festival a success.
“Your support has truly been amazing and this has contributed in putting back the MassKara Festival as one of the best festivities in our country,” she said.*