19/09/2025
Magic 10 Barangays, 7 Schools Ready for MassKara Festival 2025 Dance Competitions
BACOLOD CITY — The Magic 10 Barangays and seven elementary schools are set to bring community pride to the MassKara Festival 2025 dance competitions, a centerpiece of Bacolod’s world-famous celebration.
The School Category will take place on October 18, marking its strong resurgence in the festival lineup.
The official order of performance is: Don Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Andres Bonifacio Elementary School II, Asuncion L. Lizares Elementary School, Estefania Elementary School, Education and Training Center School I, and Paglaum Village Elementary School.
The following day, October 19, the Barangay Category takes center stage.
The official order of performance is: Barangay Handumanan, Barangay 21, Barangay 39, Barangay Tangub, Barangay 6, Barangay 29, Barangay Bata, Barangay 13, Barangay 11, and Barangay 7.
This year’s competitions will begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex with the arena performances.
From there, contingents will proceed to the streets for the traditional street dancing parade.
All groups will then converge at the Bacolod Public Plaza for the announcement of winners and a symbolic community dance.
Festival Director Rodney Ascalon said the format has been flipped to give both the arena and street performances equal energy and exposure.
“We are flipping the traditional format,” Ascalon said. “Instead of starting in the streets and ending in the arena, we begin at the Paglaum Sports Complex where contingents showcase their full performances, then bring the same energy to the streets.”
“It allows both the judges and the public to experience the best of MassKara in two powerful stages of celebration,” he added.
Preparations at the Paglaum Sports Complex are already underway with strong support and coordination from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
To support the contingents, the Bacolod City Government will provide subsidies of ₱750,000 for each barangay and ₱500,000 for each school.
The subsidies must be liquidated to ensure transparency and accountability.
Via | Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc.
