BACOLOD City – Barangay Granada clinched another victory in the 45th MassKara Festival, maintaining its champion status in the street dance and arena competition. This marks the barangay’s third consecutive win, having also secured titles in 2022 and 2023.
Participants danced from Araneta Street near the Bacolod Public Plaza to the Paglaum Sports Complex, where the final performances took place.
Granada won the top prize of P1 million, with Barangay Bata taking first runner-up honors and P500,000, and Barangay 12 securing second runner-up with P300,000.
Barangay Granada’s consistent victories began with their first grand slam in 2014, 2015, and 2016. This year, Barangay Granada village chief Armando Vito expressed gratitude for the win, citing challenges such as bad weather during rehearsals.
Vito also announced that Granada would take a break from next year’s competition to rest and conserve resources.
Joedem Casabuena, one of Granada’ s choreographers, credited their success to teamwork and dedication, emphasizing that they gave their all despite being last year’s champions.
Each participating barangay received a P700,000 subsidy from the city government for the street dance and arena competitions.
The city government also provided a P300,000 subsidy per barangay for the Electric Float Parade and Elektroika Diva competition on October 26, which spanned from The Upper East-Megaworld to the Bacolod City Government Center.
Granada also swept several minor awards, including Best in Music, Best in Theme and Concept, and Best in Mask and Costume, each earning P25,000.
It also won the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Choice Award with P15,000 and the P100,000 Todo Na DITO Award.
Other participating barangays in the street dance and arena competition were 21, 35, 6, and 18.
In individual accolades, Panoy Cabalcar of Barangay 12 received the DITO Pillar of Dance Excellence award, along with P10,000.
In the Elektroika Diva competition, Nikka Marie Peñol of Barangay 39 was crowned this year’s winner, taking home P75,000.
Ashley Nicole Belnas of Barangay 29 and Althea Judema of Barangay Pahanocoy claimed first and second runner-up titles with P30,000 and P25,000, respectively.
Barangay 29 won the Electric Float competition with a Saphirrus-inspired float designed by Jovic Gordillo and John Joseph Suarnaba, earning P300,000.
Barangays Pahanocoy and 17 were awarded first and second runners-up, winning P200,000 and P150,000, respectively./PN
