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MassKara Festival 2024: History, Significance and Celebrations

The MassKara Festival is a really distinguished carnival pageant which is yearly celebrated on each fourth Sunday of October within the metropolis of Bacolod in Philippines, this 12 months it falls on twenty third of October. 

This pageant is named a time for locals and foreigners to have enjoyable, drink, and occasion on the town streets for over 40 years. The pageant websites embrace the Bacolod Public Plaza, the Lacson Tourism Strip and the Bacolod Government Center. 

A distinguished characteristic of the pageant is that folks taking part in it are at all times adorned with smiling faces with their masks and since this pageant is a distinguished heritage for the town of Bacolod therefore additionally it is known as because the “City of Smiles”. 

Event MassKara Festival
Date October 23, 2024
Day Sunday
Significance Come and be a part of within the distinguished carnival pageant
Observed by Philippines

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MassKara Festival History: 

The MassKara Festival began in 1980 throughout the dictatorship years of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. During that point the province relied closely on sugar cane as its main agricultural crop and the worth of sugar was at an all-time low because of the introduction of sugar substitutes like excessive fructose corn syrup within the United States. This was a time of tragedy for the area as one other unlucky occasion had additionally taken place on the similar 12 months on April twenty second when inter-island vessel known as MV Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, together with these belonging to distinguished households in Bacolod City, collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank in Tablas Strait off Mindoro whereas en route from Manila to Bacolod, which resulted in 18 lives misplaced, and 115 lacking. 

So yeah it was a tragic time for the area and nation as a complete then as an answer two artists got here up with the thought of selling masks making as a substitute supply of earnings for the locals within the area. Later the MassKara Festival was then created to carry again smiles and uplift the locals spirits throughout these tough occasions. The smiling masks used within the pageant had been a declaration of Bacolod locals resilience within the face of challenges and tragedy, prompting the town to develop into often called the “City of Smiles.” 

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The pageant title is a portmanteau of the Spanish phrases ‘mass’ (many) and ‘kara’ (faces), thus forming ‘MassKara,’ or the Festival of Many Faces. Then the preliminary pageant was held throughout the City’s Charter Day celebration on October 19, 1980 and was steered by an organizing committee created by City Hall which was headed by the late councilor Romeo Geocadin and then metropolis tourism officer Evelio Leonardia. It was a declaration by the folks of the town that irrespective of how robust and unhealthy the occasions had been, Bacolod City was going to tug via, survive, and ultimately, triumph. 

Over the years the celebrations of the pageant has advanced into one of many main annual tourism points of interest of the Philippines. Held in typical Oktoberfest and Mardi Gras trend, the MassKara Festival served as a catalyst for far-reaching development and growth of the town’s tourism, hospitality, culinary, crafts and souvenirs and providers sectors. Along with that it additionally carries an important historic heritage behind its origins which at all times reminds the folks of Bacolod about their resilience. 

In later years, the Electric Masskara was added as one other attraction of the Festival. For a number of nights resulting in the spotlight weekend, tribes of MassKara dancers garbed in colourful neon and LED lights on illuminated floats make their manner up and down the Lacson Strip, a one kilometer stretch of merrymaking dotted with band phases, memento stands, unique automotive shows and roadside bars and meals set-ups put out by restaurant and resorts alongside the strip. 

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MassKara Festival Significance: 

Masks have a really distinguished function within the MassKara pageant and has develop into an integral a part of the celebrations since its introduction so we will not think about MassKara Festival at this time with out the involvement of colourful masks. However the masks motif of the pageant has modified from masks influenced by native Filipinos to these influenced by the Carnival of Venice and the Rio Carnival. Earlier masks had been hand-painted and adorned with feathers, flowers and native beads, whereas up to date masks characteristic plastic beads and sequins.

The MassKara Festival represents that we are able to select how we are able to react to the totally different challenges we face in our lives. Smiles can signify a optimistic perspective towards going through challenges. That’s the spirit of this pageant in addition to irrespective of how a lot troubles you’re going via in your life that is the time of the 12 months so that you can overlook the whole lot for a second and simply indulge yourselves within the spirit of celebrations as irrespective of how a lot large drawback of yours at this time its gonna finish someday so why to at all times get depressed for it as a substitute of having fun with your life at current. 

The heart of the MassKara pageant is the massive vibrant masks. Numerous barangays and teams are works very onerous to offer world-class performances on at the present time with crafted masks and eye-catching outfits. The City of Smiles, Bacolod count on locals to offer guests the warmest welcome. Festivals within the Philippines often carry out probably the most hospitable spirit in everybody in order a customer or vacationer it may be finest time to style some hospitality so this pageant is known as a very enjoyable place to be in. 

The music used for the celebration has loved a colourful evolution, identical to the pageant. From people songs, the pageant now makes use of a mixture of Latin beat remixes in addition to Philippine Jazz to grace the road dances. The most fun a part of the yearly MassKara Festival is the Dance Competition. This a part of the pageant is one thing that every and each customer needs to witness and it additionally provides a chance to giant variety of folks to showcase their expertise in entrance of the large crowds. 

Overall MassKara Festival offers guests and vacationers with many enjoyable actions to carry out and thus it is without doubt one of the largest and finest carnivals which occurs in our world. It provides you the most effective moments which you’ll be able to spend with your loved ones and pals. That’s why this pageant can be very a lot promoted by the Philippines tourism business because it brings a variety of income for the Philippines tourism and particularly for the town of Bacolod which is closely depending on this pageant for its income for the 12 months. 

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MassKara Festival Celebrations: 

This pageant encompasses a collection of occasions which everybody will certainly take pleasure in. There is a avenue dance competitors to be participated by folks from totally different barangays of Bacolod City. You can see colourful masks and inventive costumes worn by the dancers. Carnivals, drum and bungle corps competitors, sports activities, meals pageant, and musical reveals or live shows are additionally a part of the celebration. 

There are additionally backyard reveals for the plant and flower-lovers throughout this pageant. And after all, this pageant won’t be full with out the Masskara Queen Beauty Pageant the place totally different beauties from totally different cities will present what they acquired to win the crown so it serves as an good alternative for all the wonder lovers to assemble and recognize the wonder as properly. 

MassKara Festival is understood for its avenue events, with the most important occasion, often called Masskaraland. Masskaraland is open for everybody who needs to hitch the enjoyable. Partygoers can dance from dawn till sundown, as they flip the road of Lacson into a huge occasion venue. A countdown additionally begins within the afternoon, the place powders of various colours are thrown as much as douse all of the partygoers. 

The Electric MassKara is probably the most awaited occasion within the pageant. The evening parade options LED-lit dancers, bands, and floats which can be positively must-see. You can really feel all the nice power from the very best upbeat music, vibrant costumes, and locals and vacationers who’re going all out to occasion.

Along with all of the festivities and many enjoyable actions of this pageant, the town of Bacolod is definitely stuffed with many vacationer spots for guests as properly so many guests attempt to go to such spots throughout the celebrations of this pageant as properly which incorporates locations like Ruins of Mariono Lacson’s Mansion, Campuesthohan Highland Resort, Silay City’s Heritage Houses, Old Churches throughout the town, and many others. 

Most Searched FAQs on MassKara Festival: 

1. When is MassKara Festival celebrated? 

MassKara Festival is yearly celebrated on each fourth Sunday of October in Philippines. 

2. Is the MassKara Festival spiritual? 

The MassKara Festival is a non-religious pageant in Philippines. 

3. Why do they rejoice MassKara Festival? 

To raise the spirits of the locals and carry again the grins on their faces, the MassKara Festival was created. 

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