BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod MassKara dancers continue to make waves, this time in New York City where they won first place during the 114th Philippine Independence Day Parade on June 3.

The contingent organized by Imelda Gargarita performed during the parade staged along Madison Avenue in Manhattan that featured more than a hundred Filipino-American organizations from all over the East Coast and witnessed by almost 100,000 people.

The event, considered the largest Philippine Independence Day Parade outside the country, is organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. headed this year by its president Fe Martinez.

"The New York accolade comes as a blessing for the City of Smiles' internationally-known festival," said Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is in the United States to promote the 2012 MassKara Festival.

"I am energized the more in pushing the 'Balik Bacolod' program in the US," he added.

In a gathering at Lakewood, California, Leonardia said that MassKara is a time when Bacolodnons gather in a reunion and celebrate as a people.

"It will not be complete if our fellow Bacolodnons living in other countries cannot come and join us," the mayor said at the joint assembly of the Negrenses of America Inc. and the Bacolod Society in America.

He said a good number of those who attended the gathering expressed their excitement for the MassKara Festival.

Cres Tumulak, immediate past president of the Negrenses of America, said they have started campaigning for more Bacolodnons and their friends to come home for the MassKara Festival.

Last April, the Bacolod MassKara dancers were named the grand champion of the Inter-Town Edition of ABS-CBN's noontime program "It's Showtime." The Bacoleño performers received P2 million while the city government was awarded P1 million.*