Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnie Teves graced the successful opening of the 1st Mayor Albie Benitez-Masskara Fight Festival Friday in Bacolod City.

The sporting competition started on Friday night with mixed martial arts fighters slugging it out in the ring and it also include boxing for local boxers and Muay Thai.

"Filipino athletes have a great potential in sports. It has already been proven in so many occasions. We only need to fully support them," said Teves, who is also a sports enthusiast.

The lawmaker personally attended the opening the month-long Masskara Festival being one of the sports event's sponsors and through the invitation of Bacolod City Mayor Albie Benitez.

"The government needs to strengthen its sports program in order to discover more athletes with international caliber, which could bring pride and honor to the country," Teves said.

Teves – who also supported the golf tournament held at the Marapara Golf and Country Club — said that like any other communities, the Bacolodnons have missed their very own Masskara Festival, which was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.