PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will lead the opening rites of the 37th MassKara Festival at 4 p.m. Sunday, October 2, at the Bacolod public plaza.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said this was confirmed by the Presidential Management Staff during their meeting Friday, September 30, with festival organizer Silver MassKara Festival Organization.
Leonardia said he will welcome and introduce Duterte during the program. He also gave credit to Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas, a Negrense, for constantly following up the invitation with the Office of the President.
Also expected during the opening rites are Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Other national officials who have confirmed attendance are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, Road Board chairman Chito Clavena, and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, chairperson of the League of Cities of the Philippines.
Although the formal opening of the 23-day festival will be held on Sunday yet, the MassKara kiosks will already start operating Saturday.
Leonardia said this year’s MassKara opening will be the most star-studded in all the 37 years of the festival.
“It is overwhelming and by the President’s presence alone, we can say that MassKara Festival 2016 is off to its greatest start,” the mayor had earlier said.
Meanwhile, other official events set for October 1 include a medical mission, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bays Center; MassKara Queen Press Presentation, 3 p.m. at Business Inn; and DepEd Parade and Drum and Bugle Corps, 3 p.m.
Aside from the kiosks at the plaza, carnival sites at the SM City Bacolod grounds and behind the Bacolod Government Center will also be opened.
