Don your most comfortable dancing shoes and vibrant clothing as you prepare to immerse yourself in the torrent of colourful and pulsating energy that is the Masskara Festival.
With origins tracing back to the 1980s, the Masskara Festival in the city of Bacolod is one of the Philippines’ largest annual festivals, boasting thousands of local and international visitors every year with an array of high-energy events, mouthwatering food, flamboyant parades, and sequin-adorned costumes.
Initially born out of crisis when the province’s main livelihood, sugar, was priced at an all-time low, resulting in one of the worst famines of the country’s history, the festival was created as a way to lift the spirits of the people and bring smiles back to their faces.
Hence, everywhere you look, you’ll see ornately decorated masks with smiling faces worn by performers and guests alike and even used as towering décor.
The smiling masks are a declaration of the city’s resilience and jubilant spirit, with the festival a testament to the local people’s ability to turn adversity into a source of pride and joy. The masks are more than just accessories; they are an art form that tells a story with each handcrafted detail.
With an invigoratingly electric atmosphere, the streets of the city are converted into a canvas for dance competitions, street parties, tables for local craftsmen to display their artistry in mask-making, and countless exhibitions that encapsulate Bacolod’s rich heritage and traditions.
A captivating and vibrant celebration, the festival features a harmonious blend of different styles of live music, from folk songs to Latin beat mixes and Philippine jazz, all accompanying the endless joyous dancing in the streets and creating a rhythmic pulse that draws people in from across the globe to participate in the revelry.
The festival culminates in a grand finale of spectacular fireworks and lights called the Electric Masskara – a night parade that features choreographed dancers wearing costumes and masks illuminated with neon and LED lights.
This final surge of energy is the collective embodiment of the hope, enthusiasm, perseverance, and vivacity of the Filipino people, ensuring the vibrancy of the festival resonates for years to come.
