Inmates join MassKara

About 40 inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Male Dormitory in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, donned colorful costumes and headdresses, and danced to the rhythm of the 33rd MassKara Festival Saturday afternoon, a press release from the BJMP said.

The activity was conceptualized by Chief Insp. Gilbert Peremne, jail warden, and the dance choreographed by jail employee Jasmin Binza and inmate Chino Yunkee.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson led city officials, guests and families of the inmates in witnessing the performance of the dancing detainees. BJMP officials from Western Visayas and nearby areas of Negros Occidental in attendance were Chief Insp. Vicente Papellera, Senior Insp. Pricel Arevalo and Insp. Andrew Larupay, wardens of Bago and Himamaylan city jails, respectively, and Insp. Jimmy Britanico, BJMP 6 chief administrative officer, the press release also said.

Peremne said he is grateful to Leonardia and Sayson for their support to the MassKara presentation of the inmates as their way of integrating themselves into the citywide celebration even if they are behind bars.

Leonardia told the inmates that “history is being written here today in this unique dance presentation that truly adds more color and another dimension into the spirit of the MassKara Festival of our beloved Bacolod City.”

“You have shown the world the indomitable spirit of man and man’s capacity to be creative even in difficult circumstances. Since you can’t go to the MassKara, you brought MassKara here. You brought to life the saying that if “Mohammed can’t go to the mountain, let the mountain will go to Mohammed,” he added.

Leonardia also said that if Bacoleños join their hearts and minds together as one people, they can accomplish much, and cited the MassKara that has become world class.

He said that 2012 is really a very good year for the festival as the MassKara team won the grand prize of the Inter-town Edition of the “It’s Showtime” variety program of ABS-CBN. Another contingent organized by Bacoleños living in the U.S. East Coast also bagged the first prize during the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City, the press release added.*

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IN SILAY
Two school buildings,
lot donated

Two school buildings and a lot were donated by the Hawaiian Philippine Co. to Silay City in Negros Occidental recently to improve education, a press release from the city said.

The deed of donation for the Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School extension building and the HPCo Elementary School building was signed by Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano and HPCo president Timothy Bennett, the press release also said.

The company administrative manager, Ernesto Toledo, added that the Roxas Foundation Inc. also donated its 6,511 square meters lot in Hawaiian to the city government, with the deed signed by Santiago Elizalde and Montelibano.

Witnessing the signing rites were Toledo and executive assistant IV Roy Golez, with HPCo officials Lucas Nedamo, John Etabag and Leonardo Garrido Jr., HPCo ES principal Brenda Aseral, Florinda Artajo and Maria Amparo Gamboa of DMLMHS, City Engineer’s Office OIC Sonia Cordero, and Joanzen Dedoroy, Kier Patrick Salmingo and Aldwin Dalpatan of the city government in attendance, the press release said.

Bennett said the company will continue helping the students through feeding and outreach programs, and providing electricity and safe water, and Montelibano thanked the donors for their help in improving education in Silay, the press release added.*

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Columbus Day slated
Oct. 27-28 in Bacolod

The Knights of Columbus will hold the annual celebration of Columbus Day on October 27 to 28 at the Tops Millennium Plaza bowling lanes and the Villamonte Parish grounds in Bacolod City, a press release from the group said.

Sports activities will kick-off the celebration at the Tops Millennium Plaza, and on October 28, a fun run, thanksgiving mass and more sportsfest will be held at the Villamonte gym and covered court, followed by bingo socials and a fellowship among Council members and their families, the press release also said.

The Bishop Manuel Yap Council 5665 – Villamonte will host the celebration and is urging Councils in Negros Occidental to participate. The K of C is the largest Catholic family fraternal service organization, with over 1.6 million members worldwide. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Church and the community.

For more details, those interested may contact Grand Knight Joemil Villarosa of Council 5665 at 0932-8763898, the press release added.*

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