Masks

Our city, Bacolod City, is known as the City of Smiles. But behind these smiles are a couple of tragedies. To hide the pain brought by the tragic events, the city decided to change the dark atmosphere into a cheerful one, thus the birth of MassKara Festival. 

The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high fructose corn syrup in the United States . It was also a time of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City , collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank. An estimated 700 lives were lost in the tragedy. more here

The festival is held every October and it is one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The smiling masks the participants wear are enough to brighten your day. It is such a crazy spectacle, the music, the choreography, the crowd. Even the spectators can’t help but to move their hips.

I went home last October to renew my passport as per my company’s instruction. What a perfect timing. While waiting for my passport to be processed, I got the chance to go back to my hometown. It was all fun until my toe was swollen. It was painful to walk but I still manage to go to the city and join the celebration. I just stayed in one corner though to protect my toe from the crowd. That would also mean less photos.

 

Colorful Smile 

I bought a colorful smile 

 for a peso or two 

when the mermaids invited 

 the mortals to be part of their choir 

 I bought a colorful smile 

for a peso or two 

when the sugarcane juiced out 

salt crystals

I bought a colorful smile 

for a peso or two 

when the sky flooded

 the town black 

 I bought a colorful smile 

for a peso or two 

to hide 

 a colorless soul

/totomai

The highlight of the festival is the Street Dance Competition. There were three categories before – school, barangay and open. But for the past few years, only the school and barangay categories remain. Still, the participants continue to give an amazing show.

I hope all of you will have the chance to witness this extravaganza. You will definitely enjoy our city, from the people to the food to the festivities.

Fingers-crossed that I can go back next year. Here's a video from the festival.

MassKara from jacklord in japan on Vimeo.

/totomai 

2015/11/12 

 Photos taken with Nikon D7000, 

      lenses used : Nikkor 18-300mm 3.5f