First AS1 Concert a Success!

Gary V, a.k.a. Mr. Pure Energy and Martin Nievera charmed Bacolod with their latest concert – the AS1 concert.

As1 brought together two different artists, both loved by millions of fans, and with very different styles. The highly energetic style of Gary V is complemented by the witty, relaxed style of Martin. AS1 was a great show – definitely worth the amount people paid for their tickets.

The AS1 Concert of Martin Nievera and Gary V had its first stop in Bacolod, and the crowd did not disappoint the artists – and vice versa. It was a good start for AS1, and was definitely a great kick off to start the ball rolling. Both artists created great rapport with the fans as they danced and grooved with the audience. AS1 concert showcased both artists' talents highly complementing each other.

Songs sang by Martin Nievera and Gary V included 80's hits like Tears for Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Filipino teleserye theme songs like those from Lobo, Kahit Isang Saglit, and Tayong Dalawa; and of course, their hit songs through the years that have made them both household names.

So what's the verdict? If you haven't seen the AS1 concert in Bacolod and you still have a chance to see it somewhere else, BUY A TICKET AND WATCH! They'll be in Davao on October 28 and Cebu on the 29^th. It's definitely worth it.

2010 Masskara Festival Schedule

Oct. 1, Friday
7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	* Thanksgiving Mass &Opening Program Federation of Senior Citizens Assn.-Bacolod (FSCAB)	* BAYS Center
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	* Opening: DepEd Division Athletic and Cultural Meet	* Public Plaza
	* Opening: Boys and Girls Scouts Month	* Public Plaza
3 p.m.	* State of the City Address of Mayor Evelio Leonardia	* New Government Center
	* Opening of the 31st MassKara Festival	* New Government Center
5 p.m.	* Start of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Novena	* San Sebastian Cathedral
5:25 p.m.	* ABS – CBN Live Remote Newscast	* Public Plaza
6 p.m.	* Opening of Festival Sites(with fireworks)	* Public PlazaSM MassKara Village
6 p.m.	* Pray the Rosary	* Skycable Channels 2, 4, 17
6:30 p.m.	* Unveiling of our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bacolod(with fireworks)	* San Sebastian Cathedral
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Talent Pre-Pageant	* Providence Negros (Fireworks)
9 p.m.	* Live Rosary	* DYWB Bombo Radyo
Oct. 2, Saturday
	* 1st Kartzone Autocross Championships (On-going until Oct. 3, 2010)	* Old Airport, Singcang, Bacolod City
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Ramp Modeling Night Pre-Pageant	* 888 China Town Square Mall
Oct. 3, Sunday
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.	* Cultural Contest – DepEd	* BAYS Center
10 a.m.	* Volkswagen Club of the Philippines Motorcade	* BAYS Center NGC to SM Mall
4 p.m.	* 'The Interview' Pre-pageant presentation for the Q & A portion of MassKara Queen	* SM Bacolod Events Center
5:25 p.m.	ABS – CBN Live Remote News Cast	* Luzuriaga St.
Oct. 5, Tuesday
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	* Elderly Queen '10 – FSCAB	* BAYS Center
Oct. 6, Wed
	* ABS – CBN Live Remote News Cast	* Araneta – Gonzaga Street (Welcome Marker)
Oct. 9, Saturday
5:30 a.m.	* MassKara Fun Run	* East Block, Villamonte
10 a.m.	* 4th Volkswagen Car Exhibit(On-going until Oct 10, 2010)	* SM Northwing
	* Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club Mayor's Cup	* NOGCC Bata, Bacolod City
Oct. 10, Sunday
5:30 a.m.	* Occidental Negros (Host) Lions Club 10.10.10-Run, Walk, BIke Event	* Capitol Lagoon
6 p.m.	* Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bacolod Feast day procession(with fireworks)	* San Sebastian Cathedral
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Pageant andCoronation Night	*  LaSalle Coliseum
Oct. 14, Thurs
	Volkswagen Club of the Philippines Car Show(On-going until Oct. 16, 2010)	* PAGCOR Hotel Lobby
Oct. 15, Friday
(Whole day)	* Market-Market Pana-ad October Bonanza	* Pana-ad Park
6 p.m.	Lights On: Electric MassKara 2010	* Lacson St., Tourism Strip
7 p.m.	* Electric MassKara (Electric Float Competition)
10 p.m.	* Live Bands 4 concert stages	* Lacson St., Tourism Strip
Oct. 16, Saturday
7 a.m – 6 p.m.	* MassKara 1st Starting Line Sprint Series(On-going until Oct. 19, 2010)	* Old Airport, Singcang
1 p.m. – 8 p.m.	* Bacolod Negros Arnis Federation International	* BAYS Center
4 p.m.	* MassKara Street Dance Competition (School Category)	* Araneta St. to Public Plaza
4 p.m.	* Negros Dragon 2nd MassKara Motorshow	* SM North Terminal
7 p.m.	*Electric MassKara (Electric Float Parade)	* Tourism Strip, Lacson Street
10 p.m.	Live Bands: 4 concert stages	* Tourism Strip
	2nd MassKara Motorshow Open Competition	* SM City North Terminal
Oct. 17, Sunday
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.	* MassKara 1st Starting Line Sprint Series	* Old Airport, Singcang
4 p.m.	* MassKara Street Dance Competition (Barangay Category)	* Araneta St. to Public Plaza
Oct. 18, Monday
	Countdown to the Charter Day Giant Street Party Celebration	* New Government Center
Oct. 19, Tuesday
	72nd Charter Day Anniversary
		* More Activities to be announced
		* Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

2010 Masskara Festival Officially Starts

The 2010 Masskara Festival officially opened yesterday, October 1, 2010.

Starting October 1, certain streets will be closed during the afternoons up to the evenings in the downtown areas; and this is the day when you start seeing those colorful banderitas hanging over the streets. Officially, the Masskara Festival has begun.

Marking the opening of the Masskara Festival is the pre-pageant Masskara Queen Talent Night held in Providence Negros Subdivision (Brgy Granada).

photo courtesy of http://www.themasskarafestival.com

The 10 finalists for the Masskara Queen Pageant showcased their talents which ranged from unique role playing talents to highly energetic fire dances to captivating gyspy dances, as well as Filipino folk dances.

Before the Masskara Queen Talent Night began, umbrellas started sprouting as rain fell on the open grounds of the venue. But still, awaiting to see the 10 Masskara Queen finalists, nobody thought about leaving. 

The Masskara festivities was in the air as drum beaters greeted the crowd at the entrance.  A number of kiosks were lined at the sides adding to the festive atmosphere. To add to the spirit of the Masskara Festival, prices were given away to 40 lucky winners during the Masskara Queen Talent Night too – prices ranged from umbrellas to t-shirts to cellphones. To top off the excitement, the Masskara Queen Talent Night was graced by the presence of artist Richard Poon as one of the show's guests. 

The Masskara Queen Talent Night, although entertaining, was quite a fast-paced show; which means that the excitement continues on to the Masskara Queen Pageant & Coronation Night on October 10.

Aside from the pageant and crowning of the 2010 Masskara Queen, the winners of the several pre-pageant contests will be announced at the Masskara Queen Pageant and Coronation Night – a ticketed event at the La Salle Coliseum. See you there!

Sugar and Style

Bacolod City is where sugar and style can mix irresistibly.

photo courtesy of Clay Tan

Sugar & Style Fashion Show held in L'Fisher Hotel's new La Proa Ballroom last September 9, 2010 was the great culmination to the two-day Ultimate Wedding and Events Fair Exhibit.

photo courtesy of Gerard Dacles

photo courtesy of Gerard Dacles

Sugar &Style featured Bacolod's own BAM models, as well as DJ Leandro and the Patiqueros and GMT (Gerry Grey). 

Designers featured in Sugar & Style were John-John Ditching 

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

and Kelly Cuachon.

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

 Guest models included 8 of Philippines' top models too, including Bacolod's own Grendel Alvarado (Philippine's Next Top Model Winner) who is now based in Manila.

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

Sugar & Style -- sweet fashion and style altogether.   How was it?  Sweeeet!

Celebrating 112 Years of Independence

After being under the rule of Spain for 333 years, and then America for another 48 years, and then Japan for about 3 years; it would be understandable how the people thirsted for independence. 

Thus, the Independence Day.

Today, June 12, 2010, the Philippines is celebrating their Independence Day, freedom for 112 years, and just as any other country, it is still learning and growing as a nation.

The country celebrated having its 15^th President proclaimed just 3 days before its Independence Day, along with the newly-elected Vice President. :)

Meanwhile, the 112^th Independence Day celebration of Bacolod included a parade around 1:00 in the afternoon, on which the highlight was the human flag – formed by government employees of the city.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, together with the other newly-elected officials graced the event with their presence, celebrating Independence Day in Bacolod -- 112 years of Philippine Independence.  

Korean nationals getting a glimpse of Filipino customs
photos courtesy of: Owen S. Bayog

Afterwards, it was back to business as usual...

photo courtesy of: http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x260/byron1789/PFwave.jpg

God Bless the Philippines! :)