Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia's vision of turning Lacson Street into a tourism belt for Bacolod City kicked off last night at the launching of the first Electric MassKara set on Oct 19 and 20 at the MassKara Strip.

The rites held 7 p.m. last night at the flagpole area of the Philippine National Bank at Lacson Street was followed by a fireworks display. Festival director Eli Francis Tajanlangit yesterday said the Electric MassKara, which was visualized by the Mayor, will showcase the best of the arts in Bacolod City.

The MassKara Strip covers Lacson Street from 5th Street to North Drive, where many food establishments are located.

Lacson Street, where many establishments are sprouting, has the potential of becoming another tourist attraction for the city, Leonardia said. "I feel that this may be a humble start but surely this is going to metamorphose into something big," he said.

Leonardia recalled that when he came back as City Mayor in 2004 he also started something new which was the Countdown to the Charter Day that has become successful. Whoever is mayor should continue it because it has already become a tradition, he added.

"The holding of the Electric MassKara will not be successful if it will not be supported by our commercial establishments," Leonardia said. When we met with the representatives of the different establishments along Lacson Street we got a very encouraging response, he said. Leonardia said the challenge to make Lacson Street a tourist attraction is now in our hands.

Although they had a simple opening last night, Leonardia said he is looking forward to a complete transformation of Lacson Street in the evening of Charter Day on Friday. Tajanlangit said with the Countdown street party along Araneta Street, this will be the very first time in Bacolod when the Charter Day celebration will begin and end with giant street parties and fireworks.

The Electric MassKara dance parade which begins at 8 p.m., on Oct. 19 will feature an electric float designed by artist Bamboo Tonogbanua, the "blinkers" dancers of Rene Hinojales, the dance group of Georgette Sanchez and the Brgy. 23 MassKara dance group, which was last year's streetdance barangay category champion, he said. They have also invited La Castellana's Bayles de Luces dancers, Tajanlangit said.

Tattoo tents and face-painting stations will be set up along the MassKara strip Friday and Saturday evening to add to the MassKara revelry, he said. We encourage face-painting for those who find wearing masks an inconvenience, he said.

He said the Electric Masskara will be directed by Manny Montelibano and his production support group. Tajanlangit said there will be two sets of fireworks, at 9 p.m. to be sponsored by Chowking and at midnight, sponsored by Pepsi Cola.

On Saturday, the 4th MassKara Fantasy Costume competition will be held at the strip and will be followed by fireworks display, he said. "We hope that with all these, the vision of a tourist strip in Lacson Street will get going although we can expect an exciting and electrifying MassKara," he added.

Traffic will be closed starting 2 p.m. on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 and establishments are encouraged to set up umbrella tables outside their areas where people can dine.

Also present at the launching rites last night were Board Member Patrick Lacson, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Greg Gasataya, Homer Bais, Dindo Ramos and Celia Flor.*CGS

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