MassKara Fest draws huge crowds in Bacolod
BACOLOD CITY—Thousands of residents and tourists flocked to Bacolod over the weekend for the 2026 MassKara Festival street dancing and arena competitions, featuring colorful costumes, elaborate choreography and the festival’s signature smiling masks.
Barangay Taculing emerged as grand champion of the barangay street dance and arena competition on Sunday, winning the P1-million top prize and P150,000 in special awards for Best in Theme and Concept, Best in Music and Best in Introduction.
Placing first runner-up, Barangay Mandalagan won P500,000 and the Best in Mask and Costume award worth P50,000. Barangay Handumanan finished second runner-up, receiving P300,000 and the P80,000 Casino Choice Award. Barangay Bata was named Most Disciplined Contingent and received P50,000.
In the elementary division, Mandalagan Elementary School won the championship and P750,000, along with several special awards. Sum-ag Elementary School placed first runner-up, while Montevista Elementary School finished third.
Bacolod City National High School dominated the high school division, taking home the P750,000 grand prize and several special awards. Abkasa National High School and Progreso Village National High School also received awards.
In the Merry Making competitions, Barangay Alangilan won the barangay minidance showdown, while Mandalagan Elementary School and Bacolod City National High School topped the elementary and high school divisions, respectively.
‘Peaceful’
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) estimated that 630,000 revelers gathered across major festival venues on the final day. It described the celebration as generally peaceful, crediting sustained police deployment, security monitoring and crowd control.
The PRO-NIR formally concluded its security operations on Monday, during an awarding ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office covered court in Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Police regional director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales commended police personnel, local government units, festival organizers and volunteer groups for helping maintain peace and order.
“Your service demonstrates that public safety is a shared responsibility and that through unity, cooperation, and steadfast dedication, we can achieve a common goal,” Reales said. “
He added: “Resilience gives us strength, unity gives us purpose, and service gives our work meaning.”
Police also reported the arrest of a theft suspect on Oct. 16 near the San Sebastian Cathedral and the recovery of a stolen mobile phone.
Representatives of Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Mayor Greg Gasataya attended the ceremony, along with personnel from the military, coast guard, fire service, jail bureau and local disaster response units.
