Inmates of the Bacolod Jail Management and Penology in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, made history Saturday afternoon when they held their own MassKara Dance presentation at the courtyard of their facility that drew visiting VIPs in Bacolod, a press release from the city said.

Their visitors included Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and the Balik-Bacolod group from Guam led by Roseni Bayona-David who were brought to the facility by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Leonardia introduced Hagedorn, who is recognized as one of the most successful and progressive local leaders of the Philippines known for his passion and dedication to the protection of the environment that had positioned the City of Puerto Princesa as a model for eco-tourism in the country.

Under his watch as mayor, the Puerto Princesa Underground River was proclaimed this year as one of the 7 New Wonders of Nature, Leonardia said.

In his speech, Hagedorn, who is running for Senator in the May 2013 elections, thanked Leonardia, the jail officials and the inmates for receiving him warmly.

During their recent meeting in Bacolod City, the National Executive Board – of the League of Cities of the Philippines had unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the candidacy of Hagedorn for senator.

Hagedorn donated P50,000 to the facility in Brgy. Taculing and the Guam visitors, US$200. The jail officials and inmates expressed their appreciation with a thunderous applause.

The inmates performed their MassKara number before Hagerdorn, Leonardia and the visitors from Guam and danced energetically to the official music of the 33rd MassKara in their attractive green costumes and colorful headdresses.

Their presentation was conceptualized by CInsp Gilbert Peremne, jail warden, with a female jail staff member Jasmin Binza and inmate Chino Yunkee. Binza and Yunkee choreographed and trained the dancers.*

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