mattgination
Masskara Festival
In the heart of Negros Occidental, there was a city known for its sweet smiles and gentle people
of Bacolod City And this is the story of Masskara Festival.
History
It was 1980, and the city was weighed down by sorrow.
Sugar, the lifeblood of the island’s economy, had lost its value. The world market had shifted, and what once made the people of Bacolod thrive was no longer enough. Jobs were lost. Families struggled. But just when it seemed the city could take no more...
A tragedy struck.
On April 22, a passenger ship called M/V Don Juan sank off the coast of Mindoro. It was carrying hundreds of Negrenses on their way home. Many never made it back. The sea took lives… and with it, took the joy from countless families in Bacolod.
The city was in mourning.
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When Bacolod went through a very difficult time, a group of artists and cultural workers created a festival to bring hope. One of them was Ely Santiago—a painter, caricaturist, and satirist—who came up with the name “MassKara” and designed its first logo, giving the city a symbol of strength and resilience.
Today, his legacy lives on not only in history and celebrations, but also through his family and City of Bacolod.
MassKara — from the word “mass” (meaning many people), and “kara”, the Spanish word for face. It would be a celebration not of their pain, but of their resilience. A way to tell the world: We are down, but not defeated.
Colorful masks with wide, joyful grins were crafted. Dancers filled the streets in vibrant costumes. Music echoed through the city, not to forget the sadness — but to transform it into strength.
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Today, the MassKara Festival is a vibrant cultural celebration in Bacolod that showcases colorful masks, street dancing, music, and community spirit. It has evolved from its origins as a response to hardship into a lively annual event that highlights joy, resilience, and local identity, while also attracting tourists from around the world.
