Bacolod City’s MassKara dancers go to Europe

BACOLOD CITY – A group of MassKara Festival dancers from this city flew to Milan, Italy on Friday to perform in the Sandiwa Fiesta Europa’s 126th Philippine Independence Day event over the weekend.

This is the first time that MassKara, one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines, will be showcased in Europe to promote the top tourism event of Bacolod, held in October each year.

“A dream turned into reality,” Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairperson of the committee on tourism and international relations at the City Council, said in a Facebook post that included a photo with 12 MassKara dancers from Barangay Granada at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City.

The trip finally pushed through after the performers obtained their Schengen visa approvals from the Italian Embassy, following the initial denial of their applications “due to a lack of required documentation or unclear personal situation.”

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez shouldered the travel expenses of the delegation, according to his spokesperson, Singcang-Airport village chief Caesar Distrito.

“The mayor extends his appreciation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy for their assistance in the application and the eventual approval of the Masskara dancers’ travel visas,” he added.

Distrito said the Philippine Consulate office invited the Masskara dancers as guest performers in the Milan event June 29 and 30.

The Sandiwa Fiesta Europa is the culmination of the month-long commemoration by the Filipino community in northern Italy of the 126th anniversary of Philippine independence, featuring a grand parade, a series of band concerts and cultural performances.

The MassKara dancers also performed in New York City in the United States during the 125th Philippine Independence anniversary commemoration parade in June last year. (PNA)