The world-famous MassKara Festival dancers performed in San Francisco, California over the weekend [July 27], as part of the Bacolod City Trade and Tourism Mission to USA 2019.
This is the first time that the MassKara dancers are performing in the United States, and they were invited by the Rotary Club of Daly City Colma Evening, according to former councilor Em Ang.
Ang, head of delegation of the Bacolod City Trade and Tourism Mission to USA 2019, said the MassKara dance team is also the first group from outside the US to perform at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center (SFFCC) after its re-opening.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, assisted by City Administrator John Orola and Ang, initiated the Bacolod Trade and Tourism Mission to USA to promote Bacolod City as a tourism and investment destination, among the large Fil-Am communities in the Bay Area and Southern California.
Ang said the SFFCC show was attended by prominent and distinguished leaders of the local government, business community, civic and religious organizations and Fil-Am community in the Bay Area.
Guests at the Gala Night included San Mateo County District 5 supervisor David Canepa, Daly City Mayor Raymund Buenaventura, former mayor now Councilwoman Juslyn Manalo, Rotary Club of Daly City Colma Evening president Christina Laskowki, and president-nominee and project chair Leila Marin.
Emmy Award-winning Bacoleña broadcast journalist Hennie Espinosa was also in the audience.
ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel host and producer of ‘Adobo Nation’ Ginger Conejero hosted the Gala Night.
Ang added that the performance of MassKara dancers at the Red Carpet Gala Night was well-received and well-applauded by the San Francisco Bay Area delegation.
The MassKara dance group has 10 performers. They are accompanied by Ang, Councilor Lady Gles Pallen, Executive Assistant Teresa Manalili, Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer-designate Jonah Javier, and City Tourism Office staff Junel Yap.
The Gala Night was covered by FilAm Star News and The Filipino Channel.
WELCOME
Upon their arrival in San Francisco on July 25, the Trade and Tourism Mission delegation and the MassKara dancers were welcomed by the officers and members of the Rotary Club of Daly City Colma Evening, and FilAm Star News reporters and crew.
They also met with SMDC International, a major corporate sponsor of the Trade and Tourism Mission 2019, represented by international sales director Dennis Bernal, international executive property officers Ivy Lasanas and Shirley Chua, and Fil-1 Realty Ventures Global president Remedios Cueto, with former Sinulog festival director Ricky Ballesteros.
OTHER PERFORMANCES
After San Francisco, the MassKara dancers and the Trade and Tourism Mission delegation will move to Los Angeles for a four-day performance from August 1 to 4.
This is upon invitation by the Long Beach Bacolod Association, led by its president, Peter Ramirez.
They will perform in Disneyland on August 1, at the Asian Journal Trade, Travel and Consumer Expo in Carson City on August 3, and in Long Beach on August 2 and 4.
Ang emphasized that the Trade and Tourism Mission to USA was conducted at no expense from the city government.
The trade and tourism mission is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Daly City Colma Evening and the Long Beach Bacolod Association, she said.
Ang thanked the major sponsors of the Bacolod City Trade and Tourism Mission to USA 2019 – SMDC and Silver MassKara Festival Organization led by Eli Francis Tajanlangit.
She also acknowledged the assistance of Philippine Airlines, thru Bacolod branch manager Rene Aviles, for assisting in bringing the costumes and props from Bacolod City to California. (PIO)
