Masskara Festival in Bacolod City

It has been my second straight year visiting Bacolod for their annual Masskara Festival. It is one of the most popular festivals in the Philippines and also known in the world due to its rich history. The Masskara Festival was a product of the sugar industry downfall where the locals together with the government, artists and other organization planned to have a festival that would celebrate triumph of its people despite adversities. Masskara is derived from Mass, which means people and Kara, which means faces.

    One of the Masskara dancers posing before their performance in public plaza

Masskara dancers representing their barangay in the street dance competition (brgy. category)

According to Bacolod Tourim Office, the MassKara Festival of Bacolod City has repeatedly represented the country in some major festivals in Asia, notably in the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1998, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, in the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and in the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner-up in the local category - the first award to be given to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of that Japanese festival.

The masks that made Bacolod more famous

The masskara dancers performing for open category competition

A masskara dancer while waiting on queue

The Masskara Street Dance Competition is divided into several categories. It has school, barangay and open categories. The dancers will have to participate in a street parade while the culmination of their performance is done on the public plaza. During our first masskara visit, we were fortunate to have a seat in the plaza because there were so many people both local and foreign who wanted to see the competition. We weren't able to grab a seat in the plaza in our second masskara visit though. 

Lining up for their presentation

Dancers wrapping up their Masskara performance

For the second year, Electric Masskara was held along Lacson Street, which was also transformed into a party strip. 

Lacson street during night parties

People waiting for activities along Lacson Street

Along Lacson Street

Waiting for electric masskara performances

Dancers in their electric masskara performance

During the 2nd electric masskara

Festivities of lights and sounds during the electric masskara competition

From October 1st up to the weekend closest to Oct 19, the streets around the Public Plaza are transformed into a party strip. In its second year, Lacson Street is also closed where festivities happen as part of the festival’s highlights.

Street foods

Perfect beer match

served hot with iced cold drinks

October 18 also features charter day countdown where people party till midnight to celebrate the cityhood of Bacolod (October 19).

Charter Day Parade is being done on the 19th featuring all barangays in Bacolod, companies, schools, and nearby municipalities and cities celebrating with Bacolod.

School representatives performance with their school bands

Floats from other towns/cities celebrating with Bacolod

Masskara float during the Charter Day Parade

Sipong sa Bais: Bais City's own festival

I like the idea behind the Masskara because it strengthens resiliency of Filipinos and makes us more proud of our culture and heritage.

FOOT NOTEs: 

1. Book in a hotel near city proper during Masskara Festival because major roads are usually closed during parades and other activities. Suggested hotel is BACOLOD CHECK-INN for it's located right at the back of Bacolod City Hall. It's near Araneta Avenue. (where street dance competitions are being held), public plaza, SM Bacolod, downtown, and where else, Manokan Country. Do not go outside the City during major activities for you will miss half of your life. 

2. Have Photo Op with the Masskara Dancers. You may see them during the street dance competition along Araneta Avenue. For better photos, you may find them at the back of the public plaza where they rest while waiting for their turn to performance. They are so accomodating and willing to give a smile for your souvenir photo. 

3. Buy Masskara Souvenir. Souvenirs are literally located any where within the vicinity of the public plaza. There are also souvenir shops along the streets near the plaza. Masskara sovenir comes in different forms from necklace to the actual Masskara used during the performances. Yes, some of them sell their Masskara especially during the last night of the festival. Try to get the best price. I bought my Masskara (the one used in the competition) for only P 500 from it's orginal price of around P 1,500. 

4. Have dinner along Lacson during the Electric Masskara. The street was so crowded so make sure you go there right before the start of the activities. You may choose to it in any of the food stall or you may want to try fancy restarants offerings good and cozy ambiance. It's unfortunate that we chose the expensive resto because other resto's were packed with lots of people. 

5. Don't miss the charter countdown. Get enough sleep in the afternoon of October 18 so you will be alive by midnight. There are different concert stages setup near the City Proper to cater to different genres and accomodate a huge crowd.

6. Eat at Mama Maria's during Charter Day Parade. I think their bigger branch is located along Lacson and that is where the Charter Parade starts so dining in Mama Mari's during this time gives you the best seat in the City. This Italian Pizza Resto claims to have the largest Pizza in the Philippines. They also now offer pasta meals but we are not so sure about that because the noodle they used was not Italian so it didn't taste like one.