Grand, dazzling and kaleidoscopic, the Masskara Festival in Bacolod is an electric and extraordinary annual celebration that should be on your bucket list. Celebrated every 4th Sunday of October, this fascinating feast is one of the biggest and can’t-miss festivals in the Philippines, drawing thousands of visitors per year. Famous for its elaborate and bright masks and costumes, Masskara Festival wows its beholders with its heart-pounding music, blissful people, spectacular street parade and mind-blowing parties. Of course, the festival has a host of other fun-filled diversions in store, from beauty pageants and sports competitions to cultural programs.
Still not convinced? Not quite eager to experience the mostawaited festival on Negros Island? Need a little push to jump-start yourMasskara Festival adventure? Guess what? We’ve listed down a few reasons whyshould experience this vibrant, colorful and unique festival in thePhilippines!
1. It’s one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines
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They don’t call Masskara Festival as one of the biggest and most exciting festivals in the Philippines for nothing. For years, the festival has been luring visitors with its colorful and extravagant celebrations. The undisputed star and highlight of the festival is the Masskara Street Dance Competition. With their splashy costumes and multicolored masks, groups from different categories compete, dancing in perfectly in sync with drumbeats and upbeat tunes. You can watch in amazement at the street dancers, or you can dance along to the hypnotic beats of the Masskara festival street parade.
2. The festive mood
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From malls to markets, you’ll feel and hear of the rhythmic Masskaramusic wherever you go in Bacolod during October. The moment you step out of theBacolod-Silay Airport, you’ll be greeted by a group of performers dancing tothe lively festival tunes and beats, setting the tone for your MasskaraFestival experience.
3. Masskara Festival is a festival of unity amid adversity
Although the festival is incredibly colorful and vibrant, the origin of the event is actually a little tragic. In 1980, the city of Bacolod experienced a major economic crisis, with sugar cane prices plummeting dramatically. And, in April 1980, MV Don Juan – a passenger vessel en route to Bacolod from Manila – sank in Tablas Strait, after a collision with a tanker. The passenger vessel carried a lot of people from the city, including those who belong to prominent families. More than 700 lives were lost in that tragic event.
These tragedies brought a gloomy atmosphere throughout thecity. So, the local government eventually decided to lift up the city’s spiritby organizing this non-religious festival. With the help of business and civic groupsand artistic communities, the city started the festival of smiles. Ever sincethen, the city has been celebrating this beautiful and fun-filled event. Inother words, the festival is a wonderful symbolic gesture of the resiliency ofthe people in Bacolod.
4. It’s a festival for a cause
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Not only does the festival lift up the city’s mood, but italso has good cause. Throughout the festival, there are plenty of groups thatorganize programs designed to help the environment, out-of-school youth andsick people. Not bad right?
5. Masskara Festival is constantly evolving
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Even though it’s well-known nationwide, the festival still continuesto grow and progress. Believe us, it will surprise you in so many ways. You canexpect a new wave of features to the Masskara Festival every year, withenthusiastic organizers brainstorming perpetually on how to make it grander andbigger. In recent editions, visitors have seen a plethora of activities addedto the mix, like the Masskara Fashion Week, Giant Puppet Parade and Masskara bythe Sea. And, who knows? You might be witnessing another new feature andactivity in this year’s edition of the Masskara Festival.
6. Plenty of great bargains during the Masskara Festival
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With every Juan in a pretty festive and jovial mood, expectto see shops, malls and even street vendors slashing their rates with sales goingon everywhere in the city. If you love to shop, you should take advantage ofthe bargained rates for souvenirs, delicacies and other cool items. And, don’tforget to shop some sweet Bacolod treats for paslubongs to your friends backhome, before leaving the “City of Smiles”.
7. Bacolod is a foodie’s paradise
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Bacolod will have a non-stop flow of food during theMasskara festival. And, since the city’s primary crop is sugarcane, you’ll surelyappease your sweet tooth during this remarkable gala. Here, you’ll get toindulge on a wide array of sweet treats, like the luscious Piyaya, Napoleonesand Pinasugbo.
And, though there are dozens of places for treats and sweetsin Bacolod, make sure to check out the renowned authentic cuisine in Bacolod.
As you may know, the city of Bacolod is also famous for its juicyand mouthwatering chicken inasal. As a matter of fact, the people of Bacolodseemed to master the art of grilling chicken, including each part of it, likeits feet, gizzard, intestines and liver. Other must-try dishes in this cityinclude Lumpiang Bacolod, Batchoy, and Chicken Inasal Sisig.
8. Bacolod is a base for a great adventure
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The island of Negros has no shortage of man-made marvels andnatural wonders begging to be discovered. And, there’s no better place tokick-start your adventure than the capital of Negros Occidental – Bacolod. Asyou visit Bacolod, you’ll have a shot to explore a bunch of nearby attractions,such as The Ruins, and Mambukal Mountain Resort. And, if you dig deeper, you’llfind a whole lot more enticing sights, attractions and activities on NegrosIsland.
Ready to join the biggest party in Bacolod in October? The thing is, you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience this enthralling and beguiling festival. Sure, accommodations and flights to Bacolod tend to skyrocket at this time of the year. But, guess what? There are plenty of bargained deals for hotels and flights to Bacolod in October by using Skyscanner’s search tools.
Alternatively, you can use Skyscanner’s “Price Alerts”, so you can find out when the price of your preferred flight to Bacolod drops.
