MassKara Festival in Bacolod Date in the current year: October 27, 2024

Despite being a joyous event, the MassKara Festival was born out of a crisis and tragedy. Historically, the economy of Bacolod has greatly relied on sugarcane production, which began to decline in the 1970s due to the introduction of sugar substitutes and a number of other factors. This economic downturn affected the livelihood of about a million people in the province Negros Occidental, including many Bacolod residents.

The already gloomy atmosphere in the city was exacerbated by a tragedy. On April 22, 1980, the Bacolod-bound ship M/V Don Juan collided with the oil tanker M/T Tacloban City and sank in Tablas Strait. 18 people died in the accident and 115 were reported missing; some of the victims were from prominent families of Bacolod. The city was deeply shaken by the tragedy, and Mayor Jose “Digoy” Montavo came up with the idea of a festival that would uplift the residents.

Montavo recruited the city’s government officials, civic and business groups, and artistic community to plan a “festival of smiles” (a reference to Bacolod’s nickname “The City of Smiles”. The name of the festival, MassKara, was coined by artist Ely Santiago. It is a portmanteau of the words mass (a large group of people) and cara (Spanish word for “face”), meaning “a multitude of faces”.

It is also a pun on the Tagalog word for “mask”, since colorful smiling masks are a prominent feature of the festival. They symbolize the happy faces of Bacolod’s resilient residents who keep smiling despite any challenges they might face. The ornately designed masks are made by local artisans, who use coconut husks, papier-mâché, feathers, beads, sequins, and other materials to capture the vibrant spirit of their home city and its residents.

The inaugural MassKara Festival was held on October 19, 1980 to commemorate the anniversary of Bacolod’s inauguration as a chartered city. The event was meant to show that Bacolod City was going to pull through any tough times, survive, and thrive. Since its inception, the MassKara Festival has evolved into a major tourist attraction and boosted the development of Bacolod’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The MassKara Festival is renowned for its vibrant events and activities, capturing the essence of the Filipino spirit and Bacolod’s rich cultural heritage. Spanning various venues across the city, the festival offers a series of exciting attractions. The main events are the street dancing competition between various groups clad in elaborate costumes, masks and headdresses, the MassKara Queen beauty pageant, the Float Parade, and the Electric Mascara (a nighttime light show).

Other exciting events and activities that make up the program of the MassKara festival include numerous street parties, musical concerts, sports events, drum and bugle corps competitions, food festivals showcasing local cuisine, agricultural and trade fairs, garden shows, and more.