By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The country’s top dancesport athletes converged in the City of Smiles for the 1st Mayor Greg Gasataya National Dancesport Competition 2025, held at the SM City Bacolod Skyhall, as one of the highlights of this year’s MassKara Festival.
A total of 228 competitors from various parts of the Philippines showcased their skill, rhythm and artistry across several divisions, including amateur, 3rd kind, juvenile, junior, youth, and amateur rising stars.
The event transformed the dance floor into a vibrant stage of grace, athleticism and Filipino excellence as participants performed in front of a lively MassKara crowd.
Among the winners were:
* Juvenile A: King Mckenzie Pelimiano and Zoie Antonnette Llanes (Negros Occidental’s Talisay City)
* Junior A: Art Josh Ramos and Maxene Dawn Ortega (Iloilo City)
* Youth A: Rimon Ashley Marquez and Sakura Pauline Marie Bernarte (Taguig City)
* Amateur Rising Star: Dandreb James Cangayda and Dana Angelica Galfo (Iloilo City)
* Amateur Open: Anselmo Estillore, Jr. and Mary Joy Dumosmog (Talisay City, Cebu)
* 3rd Kind: Shardie Abellana and Anselmo Estillore, Jr. (Cebu City)
The competition was organized by Philip Deocadiz under the MassKaralympics program led by David Diaz, and formed part of the official MassKara Festival 2025 lineup presented by the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc.
City officials hailed the successful staging of the event, saying it underscored Bacolod’s commitment to promoting sportsmanship, inclusivity and artistic excellence through the celebration of dance and culture./ASC, WDJ