MassKara Bacolod.

The revenues on sugar dropped to an all time low because of the introduction of substitutes such as high fructose corn syrup in the states. The first Masskara Event marked a period of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel MV Don Juan, with plenty of residents of Negros on board, including family members of  prominent households at Bacolod , collided with a tanker and sank. Around 700 lives people perished in that tragedy.

Amid these tragic events, the city’s artists, municipality and civic groups made a decision to hold a event of smiles, for the reason that the city in those days was often known as the town of Smiles, but was plagued with sorrow. They reasoned a festival was as good a remedy as any to pull the citizens from the pervasive gloomy ambiance. The original festival was subsequently, a declaration by the residents and civic elders,  that regardless of how tough and terrible the days were, Bacolod is going to make it through those dark days, survive it, and in the long run, triumph.

The Masks in the annals of the event are always continually changing from masks influenced by indigenous Filipinos to those then influenced by Carnival of Venice and Rio Carnival motifs. Previously Masks had been hand-painted and adorned with feathers, plants and indigenous beads, while contemporary masks feature plastic material beads and sequins.

The festival includes a street dance competition where persons from all walks of life troop to the streets to see colorfully masked dancers gyrating to the rhythm of Latin musical beats in a display of mastery, gaiety, coordination and stamina. Major events include the MassKara Queen pageant, carnivals, drum and bugle corps competitions, meals and food festivals, sporting occasions, musical concerts, agriculture-trade fairs, garden shows, and additional special occasions organized ad-hoc each year.

The road dancing is split into two groups; the colleges division and the barangays, the latter is recognized as the highlight of the road dancing competition.

The MassKara Festival is here now forever to remain, an icon for Bacolod as the town of Smiles. Today, with many, many thousands Bacoleños supplying their warmest smiles, MassKara turns into a festival of one thousand smiles each and every minute, projecting the Bacoleño’s capacity to smile, to get gregarious and charming and projecy his instinct to survive and overcome trials and issues. MassKara isn’t historical or anchored on any traditional, religious or cultural function. Instead it is a celebration of mankind’s ability to survive all hardships. Creative, yes. MassKara is merely his story, this is the Bacoleño as a individual whose innate goodness, happiness and charm is certainly expressed in the sights, looks, color and rhythm of all those celebrating the might and bounty of our exalted Creator.