Masskara Festival Recoletos student wins Mardi Gras fantasy costume tilt

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — A student of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) won the grand prize in the MassKara Festival’s Nights of Mardi Gras fantasy costume competition held last Thursday at the city public plaza.

Ismael Jallorina, 23, sophomore Civil Engineering student of UNO-R, wins P15,000 cash prize with his octopus-inspired fantasy costume, which was modeled by his cousin Nochie Jallorina.

The 1st runner-up (P10,000 cash prize) was Ed-je Simbajon with his costume theme “Aqua Man,” while the 2nd runner-up (P5,000 cash) was Owin Presenete with his peacock-inspired metallic costume. The rest of the Top 10 finalists received P1,000 cash each.

Jallorina, who hails from the city’s Brgy. Vilamonte, told The Freeman it took him a week to create the costume made of indigenous materials like rubber slice, fruit seeds, plastic spoons, coffee beans, and corn stalks. 

Judging the contest for three nights were streetdance committee chairman Rudy Reveche, Harold Limbo and Marigold Tupaz of ABS-CBN, and Dr. Adrian Torres. (FREEMAN)