Taculing grand slam
winner at MassKara
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & ADRIAN NEMES III

After three years of keeping away from the MassKara Festival arena and street dance competition in Bacolod City, Brgy. Taculing came back with a vengeance and emerged as the grand slam champion of the open and barangay categories during the weekend.

Choreographed by Segundo Jesus Cabalcar Jr., Brgy. Taculing bested 22 other contenders, including last year's champion, Brgy. Mandalagan, and took home a trophy and P100,000 in cash prize in the barangay category Saturday.

It also won a trophy and P100,000 in cash for dominating the open category arena and street dance competition yesterday.

Philip Loyola photo

Fireworks over the Bacolod City Government Center at midnight ushered in Charter Day*

A spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky over the Bacolod Government Center at midnight to usher in the city's 71st Charter Day anniversary today.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, city officials and guests, signaled the start of the Charter Day celebration via a simultaneous countdown held at the fountain area of Bacolod Government Center, Lacson and Araneta streets, and the Fountain of Justice at the old Bacolod City Hall, where top billed Sugarfree, Bugoy Drilon and Laarni Lozada of the Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 held concerts.

Leonardia said this is now the 6 th year of the countdown to usher the city's charter day anniversary and this year marks another first in the history of Bacolod as it will be held at the Bacolod Government Center .

Dangerous drugs board chairman Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said there are 14 mayors in the country under their close watch because of their alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

Sotto, who was in Bacolod with his family for the MassKara Festival during the weekend, said two of these mayors are from the Visayas, two from Manila , five from Mindanao and the rest are from Luzon .

He, however, assured that there is no cause for alarm, as this number comprises less than one percent of the total number of municipal and city mayors in the Philippines .