MassKara is good
business, too

Is it hangover time now? It does not seem so, with so many visitors and balikbayans still in town, extending their stay in order to hold reunions with their kin here. In fact, many foreigners, first-timers in the MassKara affair, are still extending their stay. Some, I heard even placed reservations for next year’s festival already!

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Well, let us count our blessings, because we not only got a chance to meet many of our relatives and friends again, but also because we had a very, very successful celebration, one that has surpassed all the rest that went before. Come to think of it, this year, the MassKara Festival was noted by the prestigious CNN (Cable News Network) as “one of the 12 best things in the Philippines,” and it was ranked number eight in its website list. Will it take notice of the latest showing, especially of the talents of our local artists?

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One of the things visitors also noted, which, probably even natives did not, was how quickly our streets and festival sites got cleaned up. The morning after the dance competitions and parades, they said wonderingly, the main streets seemed to have miraculously cleaned themselves up! I guess we have to give credit for that to our Department of Public Services who have dealt with so many such festivals, and would probably tell those wonderers that they have, so many times, “been there and done that”. Anyway, we congratulate them for their efficiency and concern.

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As for the winners in the dance parade and competitions, I think they should gear themselves up after this because, who knows? They might invited to perform in other places, not only within the country, but even abroad, as some former winners had been. So they must be ready anytime, and preserve their precious costumes and masks. They must remember that early this year, our MassKara had won the top prize in the “It’s Showtime” contest sponsored by ABS-CBN that was shown not only in the Philippines, but even abroad. The cash prize was nothing to sneeze at, but the honor brought to our city was the even bigger prize. In fact, Bacoleños abroad called up immediately after the judging and some were crying, tears of joy and homesickness, they said.

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Also counting, I am sure, are local businessmen and service providers who undoubtedly made great killings in the entire duration of this festival. Hotels, restaurants, delicacy producers, pasalubong manufacturers, even sari-sari stores and sidewalk vendors all made great profits during the grand fiesta. Beer and soft drinks producers undoubtedly made hefty profits, so it’s no wonder that they are all willing and eager to support the MassKara. I heard that some of them cannot wait until the next one comes along. Of course the city has gained too, because naturally, sales went up, and so will the taxes due.

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Meanwhile, it’s time to come down to earth and look around at what is happening, with the elections drawing nearer and nearer. It will be time to look out for such dirty tricks as somebody almost succeeded in playing on mayoralty bet Thaddy Sayson. Fortunately, the scheme of whoever thought up the idea of having someone with the same family name run against Thaddy, backfired, because it didn’t take much for the people of Bacolod to guess who was the master schemer. Thaddy should therefore thank that person, for earning him thousands of sympathy votes. See? As I always like to quote. It’s an ill wind that blows no good.

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Cheers to Comelec chairman Sixto Brilliantes for his relentless pruning of the oxymoron also known as partylist. Indeed, some of the groups, as exposed by Brilliantes, have no reason at all for existing, based on what the Constitution says in introducing the concept. As it is turning out, most of those already represented are headed by millionaires, candidates frustrated in regular elections, children and relatives of politicians, of military officials, or retired officials themselves. I am glad that Brilliantes just tells those protesting to complain to the Supreme Court.

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As for the United States, the moment of truth is nearing and the main protagonists are expected to go into their last debate today (tomorrow here). I’m glad we have not adopted that practice of having debates because, surely the better talker, and not always the better leader, gets more points. I do not have the stomach to listen to their harangues and only see how they score later. Anyway, the world will find out in November.*

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