MassKara 2026 Elementary Champion: Mandalagan Wins

MassKara 2026 Elementary Champion: Mandalagan Wins

Mandalagan Elementary School Is the MassKara 2026 Elementary Champion

There is something about MassKara that never gets old for a Bacolodnon. No matter how many times we see the colorful masks, elaborate costumes, and energetic street performances, the excitement feels just as special. Perhaps it is because MassKara is not simply an annual festival for us. It is part of how we tell the story of Bacolod and the people who make this city what it is.

This year’s elementary competition gave us another reason to celebrate. Mandalagan Elementary School emerged as the Grand Champion of the MassKara Festival 2026 Elementary Street Dance and Arena Competition, taking home the top prize of ₱750,000 and several special awards.

As I followed the festival celebrations, what stood out to me was the sight of young students stepping into the spotlight with the confidence and enthusiasm that MassKara brings out in people. Behind every smile is preparation, and behind every performance is a community working together.

For me, that is one of the most beautiful things about MassKara: it gives even our youngest Bacolodnons a chance to become part of something bigger than themselves.

Mandalagan Elementary School Takes the Spotlight at MassKara 2026

Mandalagan Elementary School claimed the Grand Championship in the Elementary Category of the MassKara Festival 2026 Street Dance and Arena Competition. The awarding ceremony took place at the Bacolod City Public Plaza on October 17, 2026, following the arena competition at SM City Bacolod.

The school received ₱750,000 for its championship victory and earned four major special awards:

• Best in Mask and Costume — ₱30,000
• Best in Theme and Concept — ₱30,000
• Best in Introduction — ₱30,000
• Best in Music — ₱30,000

Winning the championship is already an achievement worth celebrating, but receiving recognition across several categories makes Mandalagan’s victory even more impressive.

Anyone who appreciates the artistry of MassKara knows that a memorable performance involves much more than synchronized dance steps. The masks must capture attention, the music must set the mood, and the concept must come together in a way that connects with the audience.

I always find it rewarding to see these creative elements come together, especially when the performers are elementary pupils. Their participation reminds us that the artistic spirit of Bacolod is not confined to galleries, professional stages, or established artists. It is also alive in our schools, where young talents are beginning to discover what they can do.

Other Elementary Schools Make Their Mark

While Mandalagan Elementary School took the championship, the competition also showcased the dedication and creativity of six other participating schools.

Sum-ag Elementary School finished as First Runner-Up, receiving ₱300,000, while Montevista Elementary School placed Second Runner-Up and earned ₱200,000.

Handumanan Elementary School I received ₱30,000 after winning the Most Disciplined Contingent award.

The other participating schools were Education and Training Center School II, Vista Alegre Elementary School, and Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School.

As a Bacolodnon, I appreciate seeing different schools bring their own character to the festival. Every contingent represents more than a name on the program. It represents students, teachers, families, and supporters who have invested time and effort into making the performance possible.

Not every school can take home the grand prize, but every school that steps forward and participates helps keep the festival vibrant. And when children learn to work together, follow a common goal, and proudly represent their school, those lessons are victories in their own right.

Special Awards Add to Mandalagan’s Winning Moment

Mandalagan Elementary School’s success did not end with the championship and its four major special awards. The contingent also received several sponsor and audience-choice recognitions:

• Kapuso Choice Award: ₱15,000
• Pocari Sweat Choice Award: ₱20,000 worth of products
• Mang Inasal Unli Husay Award: ₱20,000
• SM Choice Award: ₱20,000

These additional awards further highlighted the school’s strong showing throughout the competition.

What I particularly like about these recognitions is that they add another dimension to the celebration. Beyond the official rankings, they reflect the different aspects of a performance that can capture attention, whether through its presentation, creativity, or appeal to audiences and supporters.

For the students, these moments of recognition can be powerful. Imagine the pride of knowing that the countless hours spent rehearsing have led to an achievement that their classmates, teachers, families, and fellow Bacolodnons can celebrate together.

Those are the kinds of memories that make school experiences meaningful long after the festival decorations have been taken down.

Mandalagan Also Wins the Merry Making Elementary Category

The school’s successful MassKara campaign continued in the Merry Making Elementary School Category, presented by DITO Telecommunity.

Mandalagan Elementary School won the category, receiving ₱15,000 from DITO Telecommunity and four brand-new cellphones courtesy of Globe.

Sum-ag Elementary School placed second, receiving ₱10,000 from DITO Telecommunity, while Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School finished third and received ₱5,000.

Winning both the main elementary competition and the Merry Making category made Mandalagan’s participation particularly memorable.

The Merry Making category also brings out a side of MassKara that I have always appreciated: the simple joy of joining in. Not every festival moment needs to be grand or elaborate. Sometimes, the most memorable experiences come from seeing people enjoy themselves, cheer for their communities, and share a smile with complete strangers.

That feeling is part of what makes MassKara so distinctly Bacolodnon. It invites people to participate, not merely watch from the sidelines.

The People Behind the Judging

The Street Dance competition was judged by Dr. Carlou Gana-an Bernaldez, Elric Matillano Batilaran, MPA, Joseph Alexis A. Cadeliña, MPA, Victor Hao Cuenco, and Dr. March C. Mandal.

The Arena competition was evaluated by Francisco M. Cerbo, Jr., MPA, Mhike Jelord J. Rollo, Dr. Angel V. Bisaga, Jr., Catherine F. Vestil, Steven Jacosalem, and Jeremy Teo Rondovio, with Homer S. Bacalso serving as chairman of the Board of Judges.

Judging a festival competition involving multiple schools is no small responsibility. Each contingent brings its own interpretation of MassKara, combining choreography, music, costumes, and storytelling into a single presentation.

As an audience member, we often experience the performance as one exciting moment. Behind the scenes, however, every element must come together, and each entry must be evaluated carefully. Recognizing the judges is therefore part of acknowledging the work and organization that make a competition of this scale possible.

MassKara 2026: Sharing Smiles and Celebrating Gugma

This year’s MassKara Festival carries the theme “Share The Smile. Celebrate Gugma” and promotes the campaign “MassKara For All.”

These words feel especially fitting when we see schools participating in the celebration. Children from different communities come together, each carrying their own stories, talents, and aspirations, yet sharing the same festival stage.

For me, the meaning of MassKara has always gone beyond the smiling masks. It is reflected in the people who welcome visitors, the performers who give their best, the families who cheer from the sidelines, and the communities that make room for everyone to celebrate.

The participation of elementary schools makes this spirit even more meaningful. These students are learning about their culture not just from books or classroom discussions, but by experiencing it firsthand.

When they dance, create masks, rehearse with classmates, and represent their schools, they become part of the living tradition of MassKara. They are helping shape how the festival will be remembered and celebrated in the years ahead.

A Bacolodnon’s Take: Why This Victory Matters

What I find most heartwarming about Mandalagan Elementary School’s victory is the reminder that our festival belongs to the next generation, too.

Of course, a championship deserves applause, and the prizes are wonderful rewards for all the hard work involved. But I also think about the children who discovered a new talent, the classmates who learned to depend on one another, and the teachers who saw their students perform with confidence before a large audience.

These are achievements that may not always appear on a scoreboard, but they matter just as much.

Mandalagan Elementary School deserves congratulations for its remarkable performance. Sum-ag Elementary School, Montevista Elementary School, Handumanan Elementary School I, and all the other participating contingents also deserve appreciation for contributing to the excitement of this year’s competition.

As a Bacolodnon, I hope we continue to give our young performers opportunities like these. Our festivals become richer when children are encouraged to participate, our traditions become stronger when they are passed on, and our communities become closer when we celebrate one another’s achievements.

Congratulations to Mandalagan Elementary School, the MassKara 2026 elementary champion, and to every school that helped make this year’s competition memorable.

You have given Bacolod another reason to smile.

And for me, that is what makes this festival worth celebrating—not just the winning performances, but the people, the stories, and the shared happiness behind them.

The Happy Trip Blog celebrates the places, people, festivals, and experiences that make every journey meaningful. And sometimes, the most memorable trips begin right here at home, discovering once again what makes Bacolod special.