Bacolod ‘Masskara’ a hit in Shanghai

The Bacolod “Masskara” festival presentation was a big hit during the World Tourism held in Shanghai, China recently and was participated in by other countries.

Thelarge audience was moved and fascinated bythe strange sound and movement ofperformers of Masskara which means “many faces.” It dramatizes the Negrenses fortitude and unconquerable sout.

The Bacolod delegation was composed of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, former Bacolod Re John Orola who represented Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon and Capt. Debbie Las Piñas of Barangay Villamonte together with their 25 Masskara dancers, and Ms. Girlie Balsunce of the Masskara Foundation.

This year’s Shanghai world tourism festival was reportedly the biggest in Shanghai’s history, and viewed by more than 14 million domestic and foreign tourists.

Philippine Consul General Jesus Yabes led in welcoming the Bacolod City delegation with Philippine tourism attache Tess Mauricio of the Department of Tourism-Hong Kong who were flown to Shanghai by the Philippine Airlines, which arranged the participation of the Masskara Festival.

Some 500,000 people came to witness the grand parade in Shanghai’s commercial district. The finale was the presentation of smiling Masks with the 2004 title holders Miss Philippines-International Margaret Ann Bayot and Miss Philippines-World Karla Bautista.

Leonadia and Orola also met with Shanghai Chamber of Commerce officials hosted by Philippine commercial attache Jorge Judan and Yabes.

According to Orola, a lawyer, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce expressed interest to explore opportunities in trade, tourism and investment mutually beneficial to both countries (Philippine and China), Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, in particular. Agri-tourism projects, food production and industrial technology topped the topics of discussion of Leonardia and Orola with the Chinese businessmen.

The expenses of the Bacolod delegation to the China trip were shouldered by the Shanghai Tourism Committee in cooperation with the Philippines’ Department of Tourism, according to Orola.