THIS year, Bacolod City celebrates the return of MassKara Festival with the theme, “Balik Yuhum”.
The long awaited festival, shelved for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to bring the smiles back not just to the Bacolodnons but to all Negrenses.
MassKara was born out of the darkest days of the city and the province.
Prior to the 1980s, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City had a booming economy, thanks to the sugar industry. However, it would not last. The world market prices for sugar came crashing down; the city and the province’s livelihood were also affected.
Then-Bacolod City Mayor Jose “Digoy” Montalvo suggested having a “mask” festival during his term in office. He pointed out that it would be an alternative source of income for the city.
However, many people expressed doubts over Montalvo’s proposal.
The ultimate blow to the sad state of the city came on April 22, 1980 when the vessel M/S Don Juan of the defunct Negros Navigation was rammed by M/T Tacloban City of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) between Tablas and Maestre de Campo Island, causing the Bacolod-bound passenger vessel to sink.
Eighteen people lost their lives in the tragedy, while 115 were reported missing.
Most of the victims were well-known in Negros such as the owners of vast sugarcane farms in the province and families of politicians.
Montalvo’s wife, daughters and mother-in-law were among the casualties.
A memorial to the tragedy can be seen today on the right side wall near the altar steps of the San Sebastian Cathedral.
Despite this darkest day for the city, Montalvo showed resilience and still pushed his idea of holding the MassKara Festival, pointing out the importance of bringing back the smiles of the locals.
Thus, the very first MassKara Festival was held on October 19, 1980, the day that also marked the city’s Charter Day anniversary.
However, the charter anniversary was later moved to June 18 after it was discovered that Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon signed the city’s charter on the said date.
Still, October 19 became the commemoration of the inauguration date of the city.
Since then, the MassKara Festival has been held annually, and among the events being held are the MassKara Queen pageant, float parade and street dance competition.
Other events such as Electric MassKara would later be added and later became the city’s biggest street party, usually held along Lacson Street from B.S. Aquino Drive to the front of the Provincial Capitol Lagoon.
The annual event also attracts thousands of both domestic, local and international tourists.
In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte also admired the city’s festival, stating, “[the] MassKara Festival is an inspiring story of Filipino resilience.”
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic temporarily put the festivities to a halt.
But this 2022, MassKara Festival is envisioned to become grander. Both the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the City Government of Bacolod are joining forces to stage a joint celebration.
MassKara Festival this year is a triumph not just for the city but the entire province, as the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close, and a new era for all Negrenses begins./PN
