Text and photos by Jojie Alcantara

Masskara is coined from two words: mass, for crowd, and the Spanish word cara, for face –hence, 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-- the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1998, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, 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.

In support of the Philippines' popular and most colorful festivals, Smart Communications, Inc. SMART) has partnered with the local government of Bacolod City by sponsoring the 28th MassKara Festival. Among the Philippine festivals, MassKara is one of the most colorful which earned a surge of tourism influx from all over. This year, its 28th celebration brought a new highlight: the Electric Masskara, which is a night version of the traditional dance parade, and costumed MassKara dancers are adorned with lights all over their bodies.

As visiting first timers, Rhon and I took to the streets excitedly with fellow Dabawenyos who hail from Bacolod, buddies Paul Borromeo and Spam Jalandoni (and later, Lone Ong flew in from Iloilo). We got to meet new photographer friends from Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Manila, whom we befriended online in the Digital Photographer Philippines forum, and have now bonded with in the streets.

The 21-day MassKara Festival in Bacolod City ended Sunday night with a flourish, fireworks in the sky (oh splendid for a Dabawenya like me who has forgotten the experience already!), with the main roads clogged with people enjoying the festivities, band concerts, bars open till the morning, and busy thoroughfares filled with activities and loud, loud music (I still can remember the Masskara theme playing over and over in my head).

Special thanks to Cebu Pacific Air, GM Hembler Mendoza and PR Penny of Waterfront Mactan Hotel, Paul Borromeo and cousin Patrick Valderrama of Villa Valderrama, and Spam Jalandoni.