BACOLOD City – As the MassKara Festival gears up in the city, there’s an expectation of seeing Badjaos, a sea-faring indigenous ethnic group.
The festival kicked off with a “salubong” (a term meaning “welcoming” in Filipino) countdown last night. Major highlights are slated for Oct. 21 with the Electric MassKara and Oct. 22 featuring the Street and Arena Dance Competition.
However, the Anti-Mendicancy Task Force, responsible for monitoring the Badjaos’ presence during the festival from Oct. 6 to 22, hasn’t reported any sightings yet.
“As of now, no Badjaos have been spotted in the City of Smiles,” confirmed the city government’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Sally Abelarde.
Last week, the DSSD was informed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 that approximately 50 Badjaos from Iloilo traveled to Bacolod.
Abelarde added that upon their arrival at the Bredco port, these individuals proceeded to the Bacolod South Terminal and took a Ceres bus for Mabinay, Negros Oriental./PN
