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!

Viva La Masskara!!!

Welcome to the City of Smiles!
Bacolod City, home of the Masskara Festival, Philippines, has always opened its doors to the world, and each year plays a generous host to visiting tourists from all over the globe. A week-long celebration and partying is witnessed and enjoyed by everyone who loves fun and culture.

Click to see more pictures of the Masskara Festival by George Pontino Jr.

The annual Masskara festival events include the traditional street dancing by the different *"barangays" of the city. It is a contest whose criteria include costume, dance, and ingenuity. The dancers dance to Latin beats in colorful attires and energy-filled dance moves. Local artists also flaunt their artworks as they display it along Lacson street. Something that sets the Masskara Festival different from the usual festivals.

Local artist Charlie Co's (moving) papier-mache float, Majica.

For this special event, the main road, Lacson street, is closed for a week as it houses the many kiosks, platforms, bands, artworks, and ornaments-vendors. Although during daytime and rush hour the traffic seems spiteful, the festive spirit is everywhere that nobody really complains for longer than 10 minutes. Everyone is just all worked up for the fun parties & get-togethers!

The Bacolod Government Center, October 19, 2009, 00:00

The Masskara Festival is usually during the 3rd week of October, near the 19th of the month which is the charter day of Bacolod. This year is the 30th Masskara Festival, and the inauguration of the new Government Center (a.k.a. City Hall). On the last day of the festival, October 18, a countdown 'til midnight at the new Government center was joined by hundreds of *Bacoleños awaiting the fireworks display to celebrate the charter day. Fireworks have always had that magical feel to it -- and this moment was indeed an enchanting sight.

In the midst of the Masskara Festival, being drowned in the crowd is like being Alice, in Wonderland -- in a good way (nothing scary or confusing). While walking along (Lacson) street you will hear a band playing, and then just about 20 steps away, another one is playing, and it goes on like that for the entire street. Along the sidewalks kiosks are lined with the sizzling sound of meat being grilled and the faint smoke from the grillers seems to make things more alive -- plus the smell of the food being grilled is just irresistible! Another trademark of the Masskara Festival.

In between kiosks you may see stands selling lighted toys, headbands, and necklaces. You may also come across a vendor or two roaming around selling glowing lollipops! Imagine walking in a street and seeing people with glowing sticks in their mouths.

It might be a bit too early for Halloween, but some people go around wearing costumes. Some go as ninjas, geishas, some with those big feathery head dresses. You may stumble on a sight or two or three, okay or more than that, of people with face paints and glittery tattoos. It's simply getting lost in Wonderland!

(Top-Bottom) Youngsters in their costumes; and an artist doing some body painting

That's not all! For party animals, there are also parties going on at clubs -- they too have gimmicks on this special event, and many have gone home smiling with the stuff they've won. There are also events like the Masskara Queen beauty pageant, where you can witness the beauty of the *Bacoleños.



(Left-Right) Party at Club North ; Tourists enjoying their view of the busy and fun Lacson street ; the Masskara Queen 2009: Aika Uy

So whether you want to party, savor the food, or simply have a taste of culture, drop by Bacolod City next October and witness the Masskara festival, and bask in the excitement -- you might just wanna stay! :)