MassKara Festival
masskara festival hiligaynon pista sang masskara filipino pista ng masskara annual festival highlight held every th sunday october bacolod philippine festival site include bacolod public plaza lacson tourism strip bacolod city government center word masskara portmanteau coined late artist ely santiago mass multitude people spanish word cara face thus forming masskara multitude face word also pun maskara filipino mask spanish máscara since prominent feature festival always adorned smiling face giving rise bacolod called city smile festival first began province relied sugar cane primary agricultural crop price sugar alltime low due introduction sugar substitute like high fructose corn syrup united state first masskara festival time tragedy april year interisland vessel mv juan carrying many negrenses including belonging prominent family bacolod city collided tanker tacloban city sank tablas strait mindoro en route manila bacolod resulted life lost missing midst event local government headed late mayor jose digoy montalvo appropriated seed fund enjoined city artistic community civic business group hold festival smile live city moniker city smile reasoned festival also good opportunity pull resident pervasive gloomy atmosphere brought juan tragedy initial festival held city charter day celebration october steered organizing committee created city hall headed late councilor romeo geocadin city tourism officer evelio leonardia declaration people city matter tough bad time bacolod city going pull survive end triumph festival evolved one major annual tourism attraction philippine next four decade masskara festival served catalyst farreaching growth development city tourism hospitality culinary craft souvenir service sector later year electric masskara added another attraction festival several night leading highlight weekend tribe masskara dancer garbed colorful neon led light illuminated float make way lacson strip one kilometer stretch merrymaking dotted band stage souvenir stand exotic car display roadside bar food setup put restaurant hotel along strip said beer consumption festival high one time first staging festival bled dry mandaue brewery san miguel corporation nearby cebu island company eventually built bacolod brewery serve city negro island mark th celebration festival aptly called ruby masskara festival feature street dance competition people walk life troop street see masked dancer gyrating rhythm latin musical beat display mastery gaiety coordination stamen major activity include masskara queen beauty pageant carnival drum bugle corp competition food festival sport event musical concert agriculturetrade fair garden show special event organized every year electric masskara parade music light float street dance competition divided two category school division barangay division latter considered highlight street dancing competition grand champion list barangay category grand champion bacolod negro occidental list philippinerelated topic masskara festival queen panaad sa negro festival mardi gras