This was stressed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his speech yesterday, October 23, during the 43rd MassKara Festival at the Paglaum Sports Complex, Bacolod City
The President said that because of the MassKara Festival, Bacolod City will be an example in the country that the Philippines is now ready to hold other huge festivals.
“What happened here in the MassKara festival was great… we all felt that our countrymen are ready to go back to their normal lives and continue with what we are doing to make each other’s lives better,” he said.
Marcos added that now that we already feel that the pandemic has weakened and we already know how to manage coronavirus disease (Covid-19), it is nice to see that we are all together in this kind of event to celebrate, dance, listen to good music and enjoy the talented performances of the residents of the city of smiles.
Marcos noted that his last visit in Bacolod City was during the election campaign.
The President also congratulated Bacolod City for holding the most successful MassKara Festival in the history of Bacolod City.
“After two years, we have an opportunity to open our doors to all the visitors coming not only in our country but also from other countries to join the MassKara Festival celebration,” Marcos said.
The President also narrated how the MassKara Festival started in 1980.
On April 22, 1980, the MV Don Juan, a luxury liner on its way back to Bacolod City from Manila, collided with an oil tanker, MT Tacloban, off Tablas Strait in Mindoro, leaving 176 dead and several others missing. It was, thus, a dark period for the local people.
Marcos also commended the city government of Bacolod for launching the Comprehensive Health Program that offers the hospitalization services, consultation including medicines as well as the launching social pension for indigent senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
For his part, Benitez also expressed his gratitude to Marcos for attending the MassKara Festival.
He said the “Balik Yuhum” is a pride of the Bacolodnons to show the resiliency of the people.
Benitez also said that it is a festival showing the return of our hope for the future just like the battle cry of the president- “Bangon muli Pilipinas.”
This is also our dream “Bangon Bacolod muli”. This is a test of our resiliency and our determination to ensure that in spite of tragedy and crisis we will overcome all obstacles,” he added.
The mayor noted that the MassKara Festival became popular because during the 1980s when tragedy and crisis struck, the city rose and made the festival a reminder of the resiliency of the people.
“ To ensure that the future is much-much better than where we are right now, together with this administration, together with your leadership Mr. President, we can now be assured that moving forward Bacolod will be in greater heights,” Benitez said.
He said the 2022 MassKara Festival is the most historic, grandest and most beautiful festival in the whole decade of Bacolod.
The festival was also attended by Presidential son and Ilocos Norte First District Congressman Sandro Marcos; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr.; Alliance Global Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tan; Senator Francis Tolentino; Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.
Also present were Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson; Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer; Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya; Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Jose Francisco Benitez; Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez with his wife, Nikki, and their son Victorias City Mayor Javi Benitez; and the members of the City Council.