Where to stay in Bacolod during Masskara Festival

I know a lot of people at this time are looking for the 2009 Masskara Festival Schedule. A lot of people are scrambling to book for a room at any Bacolod Hotel or Bacolod Resort this early to avoid the rush. Please check on our Bacolod Hotels and Resorts Directory and visit the respective websites of the different hotels and resorts. The directory will hopefully give you an idea of the different options you have for accommodations during MassKara Festival.

For MassKara Festival first timers, please read our feature on the history of MassKara Festival and here are photos from last year’s MassKara Festial.

2009 Masskara Festival Schedule

Those who are aware of the history of Masskara Festival can say that it is as colorful as the masks and costume of the dancers. With the support of everybody, the festival has come a long way and this year will be the 30th Masskara Festival.

Every Masskara Festival is better than the last and this year, people are expecting no less. Bacolod City has more reasons to celebrate this year since the city has been blessed with various awards and investments especially in the BPO sector. The people of Bacolod are cordially inviting everyone to celebrate with us in this year’s Masskara Festival.

Below is the 2009 Masskara Festival Schedule of Activities. I have also attached here a downloadable copy of the MassKara 2009 Schedule.

DATE	EVENT	VENUE
September 12	MassKara sa Makati	Makati, Metro Manila
October 1	· Opening Program · Senior Citizen Day · Dep. Ed Opening Day · Festival Sites Opening (Open until October 19)	· Bacolod Public Plaza · BAYS Center · Bacolod Public Plaza · Bacolod Public Plaza
October 3	Dept. of Education Cultural Presentation	BAYS Center
October 4	Senior Citizen Cultural Presentation	BAYS Center
October 5	Parade and Coronation Night of the Elderly	BAYS Center
October 7	Just Dance… G Force Live in Concert	West Negros University
October 9	MassKara 2009 Arnis Open Competition	BAYS Center
October 10	· Night of the Press Club Stars · Ms. Gay MassKara Talent Night · Karera sa MassKara ’09 – Motorcycle Drag Race (on going until October 11)	· BAYS Center · Old Bacolod Airport
October 11	Ms. Gay MassKara Pageant Night	BAYS Center
October 15	· Search for MassKara Queen ‘09 · IPAO Mid Year Convention sa MassKara (Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrist) -on going until October 18	- USLS Coliseum · L’Fisher Hotel
October 16	· MassKara Drag Race Competition (on going until October 17) · Street Dancing School Category · Opening Electric MassKara (on going until October 18)	· Old Bacolod Airport · Araneta St. – Plaza · Tourism Strip, Lacson Streets
October 17	Barangay Category Street Dance Competition	Araneta St. to Plaza
October 18	· Street Dancing Open Category · Countdown to Charter Day with Satellite Stages in Lacson St. and Araneta St.	· Araneta St. to Plaza · New Government Center (main stage)
October 19	Bacolod City 71st Charter Day

MassKara Festival: From a First-Timer’s Point of View

Been living here in Bacolod City for almost five years now but I haven’t watched MassKara Streetdance live on the streets, not even once. I can be a killjoy sometimes, preferring the peace and quiet of Mambukal over the revelry of MassKara Festival. This year was different, I decided to be where the action was, right there on the streets of Bacolod. A decision that made me look at MassKara from a different perspective.

It was supposed to be just a meet-up with fellow forumers of Skyscrapercity Bacolod thread. Eventually, I ended up joining our small “coverage team” of the streetdance competition. I, with my little point and shoot camera, was there on the streets, brushing elbows with professional photographers. We have IDs mind you, and even more powerful than those of the media.

The wide expanse of Araneta Street was already crowded with spectators. I was expecting a mob but it was very orderly. When told to move back to give dancers enough space, the crowd obliged.

I forgot to bring sunblock but I didn’t mind getting sunburned, it was the least of my worries. Taking pictures and enjoying the event was more important. The costumes were very colorful and although it looked as though dancing with a mask and headdress was a breeze, I’m sure it’s not. I heard that some costumes weigh as much as 4 kg.

This year’s MassKara Festival music was all instruments, which is a welcome relief. Although it was a rehash of the previous year’s music, without the vocals especially the rap, it sounded better. I agree with what most people say, a live music would bring MassKara to a higher level. This will also give MassKara a chance to participate in the Aliwan Festival.

We spent hours of under the sun and running around with the dancers, still you won’t hear us complain. How can we? We’re covering one of Philippine’s most colorful festivals, up close and personal. I’m not even intimidated that others carry powerful and expensive cameras. My photos may not be as good as theirs but the memories they conjure are as beautiful.

Aside from the streetdance along Araneta Street, another attraction was the Electric MassKara parade along Lacson Street. Here, streetdancers wore colorful costumes and masks with lights. After the parade, it’s party time! Yes, it’s true. When Bacoleños party, they party hard. I’ve never seen as many bandstands in one street as I did during MassKara.

Lacson, Araneta and the Public Plaza were all crowded yet you’ll feel safe. Good thing there’s no more videoke in kiosks at the Public Plaza, only food and drinks were allowed. There’s also a lot of policemen roving the streets so the crowd were all there to enjoy without having to worry about their safety.

It was tiring, I admit but I had so much fun that I thought I wore my smile like a mask the whole time. Where I was a TV viewer before, this year I was taking part in the festivities. Like a small piece of the puzzle, somehow I felt without me, MassKara wouldn’t have been as fabulous. I hope everybody who took part in the festivities felt the same way. May you be part of the crowd or one of the organizers, the success of MassKara Festival was not only because of the local government and the organizers.

It was the success of everybody, especially the people of Bacolod who despite all the adversities in life still find the reasons to smile. That is how MassKara Festival started. Until hope remains in the hearts of the people, that is enough reason to smile and for MassKara to continue. Next year, the 30th MassKara Festival, you will still find me there on the streets of Bacolod. I hope to see you there too.

2008 Masskara Festival Winners

Thousands trooped to the streets of Bacolod, braving the heat and the crowd, to watch the Streetdancing Competition of the 2008 MassKara Festival. They were not disappointed as dancers in colorful costumes and smiling masks performed to well choreographed and synchronized moves.

It was my first time to watch MassKara Festival live in the streets and I had a great time. The color and festivity really gets to you that you would want to join the street dancers in their revelry. Indeed, Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival is one, if not the most colorful festival of the Philippines.

Bacoleños and tourists were treated to three days of street dancing and fabulous costumes from the contestants of the Schools, Barangay and Open Categories. The Electric Masskara Streetdancing along Lacson Street is also a crowd drawer. The street was so crowded that organizers had a hard time controlling the crowd thus the Electric Masskara was late to start.

Many observed that the 29th Masskara Festival is the best so far. Considering this is the eve of the 30th Masskara Festival, people will surely expect more in the 2009 Masskara Festival.

Here are the list of winners for 2008 Masskara Festival.

School Category

Elementary Level

Grand Prize: Rafael Alunan Elementary School
First Runner Up: Jose Gonzaga Elementary School
Second Runner Up: Rizal Elementary School

Special Awards:

Best in Costume: Rafael Alunan Elementary School
Best in Mask: Jose Gonzaga Elementary School
Best in Concept: Rizal Elementary School
Best in Choreography: Rizal Elementary School
Best in Call and Response: Mandalagan Elementary School

Secondary Level

Grand Prize: Domingo Lacson National High School
First Runner Up: Bacolod City National High School
Second Runner Up: Alangilan National High School

Special Awards:

Best in Costume: Handumanan National High School
Best in Mask: Handumanan National High School
Best in Concept: Domingo Lacson National High School
Best in Choreography: Alangilan National High School
Best in Call and Response: Handumanan National High School

Electric Masskara

Grand Prize: Barangay Villamonte
First Runner Up: Barangay 33
Second Runner Up: Barangay Singcang-Airport

Barangay Category

Grand Prize: Barangay Bata
First Runner Up: Barangay Mandalagan
Second Runner Up: Barangay 23

Special Awards:

Best in Costume: Barangay Mandalagan
Best in Mask: Barangay 30
Best in Concept: Barangay Bata
Best in Choreography: Barangay Bata
Best in Call and Response: Barangay Mandalagan

Open Category

Grand Prize: Barangay Mandalagan
First Runner Up: Barangay Villamonte
Second Runner Up: Barangay 23

Special Awards:

Best in Costume: Barangay Villamonte
Best in Mask: Barangay Mandalagan
Best in Concept: Barangay 23
Best in Choreography: Barangay Villamonte
Best in Call and Response: Barangay Villamonte

Vega Crowned MassKara Queen 2008

Jan Maricris Vega bested nine contestants when she was crowned MassKara Queen 2008 in the coronation night held at the PNB Compound, Lacson St., Bacolod City. Krystalle Warns was 1st runner-up while Kazumi Mami Sakuma was second runner-up.

This year’s MassKara Queen was different from the previous years since the search was deconstructed into four segments which were held in different dates and venues. The contestants also wore their festival costumes during the parade for the streetdancing competition.

The MassKara Queen will receive a prize of P80,000 cash plus P10,000 bank account; First Runner up will receive P50,000 cash and the Second Runner Up P30,000 cash.

Special Awards

Jan Maricris Vega – Darling of the Press, Best in Interview, Miss SuperFerry and Girl of Ipanema
Krystalle Warns – Miss Congeniality
Kazumi Mami Sakuma – Best in Swimsuit, Miss Photogenic, Miss Ever Bilena, and Miss Natasha
Lalaine Lucasan – Best in Festival Costume and MassKara Queen Cover Girl

PALumba sa Masskara 2008: A Big Success

The old Bacolod Airport runway still has a good use after all. For three days, October 10-12, 2008, it was packed with a large crowd of drag racing enthusiasts for the PALumba sa MssKara 2008 which is the First National Drag Race.

Racers from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Bacolod City joined in the competition which is hoped to help eliminate illegal drag racing in the streets and give racers a chance to show their skills in the proper venue.

The large turnout of people is an indication that the event was a success and hopefully will be continued in the coming years.

Here are photos of the event courtesy of Annie May Valdez.

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Welcome to Bacolod, City of the World

Last October 1, no less than the Philippine President Gloria Arroyo officially opened the 29th MassKara Festival. It was a historic event since it was the first in the 29 years of MassKara Festival that a Philippine President graced the occasion.

This year’s theme is “Bacolod, City of the World” truly reflects the recent wave of developments in the city making it a major destination both for leisure and business. President Arroyo herself was very bullish for Bacolod citing it as a major tourism and call center destination inher speech during the MassKara Festival Opening.

To further boost economic growth and tourism in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, President Arroyo led the groundbreaking rites for the construction of a P1.5 billion, 10.12-kilometer access road from Bacolod City to the New Silay-Bacolod Airport in SIlay City. Motorists will be able to save 20 minutes of travel time using the access road compared when traveling via the coastal road. She has likewise directed DPWH  Undersecretary Rafael Yabut to release P200 million to start the construction of the access road.

The President likewise inaugurated the Convergys contact center. The 6,000-square meter facility is located at One SanParq Square and currently employees 700 and is expected to increase to a thousand by the end of 2008. Convergys is just one of several BPO locators in Bacolod, which include Teletech and Teleperformance to name two of the major players.

More investments are expected for Bacolod City with these recent developments. Indeed, Bacolod is a city that is ready for the world and welcome those who wish to visit. For business or leisure, Bacolod has it.

Watch the 29th Masskara Festival Opening Ceremony speech of President Arroyo.

Photos by Tony Manso

The Story Behind the Mask

The MassKara Festival has become an icon for Bacolod as the City of Smiles. It has become the symbol of how Negrenses triumphed over difficult times. The MassKara Festival was conceived in a time when the Province of Negros Occidental was reeling from the effects of the sugar crisis. Having depended largely on the sugar idustry for so long, the looming crisis had  devastating effects to thousands whose livelihood depended on it.

Then in 1980, a group of city officials, artists and civic leaders conceived MassKara Festival to liven up the Charter Day Celebration of Bacolod City. The term MassKara was coined by the Arts Association of Bacolod from the English word “Mass” meaning “many or multitude of people” and the Spanish word “Kara” meaning “face”. It was how MassKara came mean “face of the masses or a multitude of smiling faces”. From then on MassKara Festival is held every third week of October for the celebration of Bacolod City’s Charter Day.

MassKara Festival’s highlight is the Street Dance Competition where dancers perform to Latin-inspired music wearing colorful smiling masks and costumes which showcase the artistic talent of the Negrenses. Through the years MassKara has evolved and has adopted to the changing times. More activities are being introduced every year, which makes evey MassKara Festival more colorful and livelier than the previous ones.

Indeed, MassKara Festival has come a long way from it’s humble beginnings. Today, it is one of the most sought after festivals in the Philippines. The MassKara Dancers had already performed in different inernational locations, bringing with them the infectious smile and the distinct charm of the Negrenses.

Photo Credit: Bacolodcity.gov.ph