Masskara is coined from two words: mass, for crowd, and the Spanish word cara, for face –a double meaning for “mask” and “many faces”. The Masskara festival was first conceived in 1980 to add color and cheer to the Bacolod City’s celebration of its Charter Day anniversary on October 19.

 

The symbol of the festival is a smiling mask – adopted by the organizers to dramatize the Negrenses’ happy spirit despite periodic economic crises experienced in the sugar industry. MassKara then becomes a “mass of faces,” thereby giving Bacolod the nickname since the late 70’s as the City of Smiles.

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod City has repeatedly represented the country in major festivals in Asia– Singapore, China, and Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner-up in the local category, a first to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of the said Japanese festival.

Among the Philippine festivals, MassKara is one of the most colorful which earned a surge of tourism influx from all over.

Special thanks to Negros Occidental Provincial Tourism Officer Ms. Tin Mansinares, Bacolod City Chief Operations Officer Ms. Elma “Butchiek” Gerasmo for the invitation, and Metro Inn Bacolod for the wonderful stay.

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