Security tight in Bacolod for MassKara Festival

ALL SET The stage in front of the Bacolod City Hall building is ready for the opening on Friday night of MassKara Festival, the city’s world-famous festivity now on its 45th year. —LEVI TRIO

BACOLOD CITY— A gun ban has been imposed in this city and at least 1,859 security personnel composed mostly of local police officers have been deployed to secure the world-famous MassKara Festival that will culminate with street dancing competition by dancers wearing smiling masks on Oct. 27.

The gun ban was approved by the Philippine National Police based on the request of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez that was conveyed by the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6), said Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, the region’s director.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, in a directive on Friday, suspended the permits to carry firearms outside of residence in Bacolod City from 12:01 a.m. of Oct. 11 to 12:59 p.m. of Oct. 27, except for personnel from the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniforms.

According to Wanky, they also requested Mayor Benitez to issue an executive order preventing the public from flying drones during the festival, especially over large crowds, as they can be used to carry bombs and other deadly weapons.

‘Grand Salubong’

He said they were asking that only the PNP and other law enforcement agencies be allowed to fly drones for security surveillance purposes and the festival organizer, Bacolod Yuhum Foundation.

The MassKara’s two-week festivities would kick with a “Grand Salubong” in the evening of Oct. 11, where bands performed in front of the Bacolod City Government Center until midnight to usher in the 45th year of the festival, which organizers promised to be bigger and more festive.

“We are aiming for zero crime during the festival,” said Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, during the send-off rites of the security forces at the Bacolod City Police Office headquarters on Thursday.

The security forces included 1,199 policemen and 330 personnel from other law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Army.

Also part of the contingent were 230 force multipliers and 100 personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and rescue groups.

The beginning

The name MassKara, which means a multitude of faces, was coined by the late artist Ely Santiago, from the word mass, which means a multitude of people, and the Spanish word, cara or face.

The festival of smiles started in the 1980s when Negros Occidental, including its capital city of Bacolod, was reeling from a sugar crisis and the sinking of Bacolod-bound MV Don Juan after it collided with a fuel tanker in the waters off Romblon on April 22, 1980, where many Negrenses died. It was created to lift the spirits of the people and bring back smiles on their faces.