Often compared to Mardi Gras, the MassKara Festival is known as the “Festival of Smiles.” With colors, music, dancing, spectacular costumes, and hundreds of smiling masks, the MassKara Festival is one of the most unique and engaging celebrations in the Philippines! The festival takes place annually in October (this year, from the 1st to the 18th). The program varies each year and includes numerous events held at various locations across the city of Bacolod, on Negros’ island. The city transforms into a massive open-air stage for the occasion, attracting visitors from all over the world!
The term “MassKara” is a play on words combining the English word “mass” (a multitude of people) and the Spanish word “cara” (face). It literally means “multitude of faces”. While walking through Bacolod during the festival, one encounters performers and dancers wearing masks that are completely different from one another, but united by the same smile!
The MassKara Festival’s history
The festival dates back to 1980, when the Negros Occidental region was facing a deep crisis caused by the collapse of sugar prices the area’s primary resource. Local authorities and artists devised an event to restore optimism among the population. Thus, Bacolod earned the nickname “City of Smiles.” Since then, MassKara has evolved into one of the Philippines’ most important cultural events, and the “smiling masks” have become the symbol of the city.
Among the most anticipated spectacles are the street dance performances. Groups of dancers parade through the streets wearing costumes and masks adorned with feathers and sequins. The choreographed routines are set to music, transforming the streets of Bacolod into an explosion of movement and color!
The smiling masks
As you might have guessed, the true stars of the event are the masks! Creating masks for the MassKara Festival is a collaborative art form that combines traditional craftsmanship with recycling, and it requires months of work. Each mask is unique and must meet one fundamental requirement: it must express happiness.
But how are these masks made? In the past, they were made of papier-mâché, whereas today they are lighter, typically made of fiberglass. The eyes must be large and the smiles huge, with accentuated lips painted in glittery colors to reflect the sunlight. The headdress often reaches a width of one meter! It features a lightweight frame covered in satin fabrics and adorned with feathers, floral elements, beads, and sequins.
Lately, sustainable and locally sourced materials such as sugar industry by-products and marine elements like capiz shells (flat, translucent shells native to the Philippines) have also been widely used. Each barangay keeps its mask design a secret until the day of the parade.
Enjoy street food like a local!
During the MassKara festival, it is a must to sample the local specialties offered at the open-air stalls. An example is the MassKaraNamit Food Fair. Bacolod is famous throughout the country for chicken inasal. It’s a local version of marinated, grilled chicken that is often served with garlic rice. You should also try Cansi, a beef shank broth flavored with the local batuan fruit.
Finally, the desserts: Negros Occidental has a long history of sugar production, a factor that has shaped the region’s cuisine and culture. The Napoleones is the city’s signature pastry: a sugar-glazed puff pastry filled with custard. Then there is Piaya, an unleavened flatbread filled with muscovado (local raw cane sugar) and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Bacolod Beyond the Festival
A trip to Bacolod is a great starting point for exploring Negros Occidental, a region defined by rural landscapes, sugarcane plantations, and glimpses into local history. Highlights include visits to the historic mansions of families linked to the sugar industry and excursions into nature.
Why attend the MassKara Festival?
The MassKara Festival is a celebration of happiness. The smiling masks remind us that smiling doesn’t mean ignoring hardships, but rather choosing to face them with hope and creativity.
Have you ever attended an event like this?
