BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Hotels here are now almost fully booked ahead of the return of MassKara Festival beginning Oct. 1.
Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said the city government is looking for additional “Air Bed and Breakfast” (AirBnB) facilities as well as groups and individuals willing to rent out their rooms or houses to visiting tourists.
Benitez said they have also extended their search for additional accommodations in neighboring Talisay City and Bago City.
“Officially we have 3,500 rooms diri sa city of Bacolod,” Benitez said.
MassKara Festival is the street festival dance competition where dancers don colorful costumes and masks.
For this year, festivities are divided into three parts. The first week would be for sporting events, followed by trade fairs and conventions on the second week, and the third and final week of the festivities would be the cultural and entertainment events.
“Nag-theme kami kada semana para ang mga bisita nga gusto magkadto makapili sila,” said Benitez.
The word “MassKara” is a portmanteau, coined by the late artist Ely Santiago from mass (a multitude of people), and the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces).
The word is also a pun on maskara, Filipino for “mask” (itself from Spanish máscara), since it is a prominent feature of the festival and are always adorned with smiling faces, giving rise to Bacolod being called the “City of Smiles”.
According to Benitez, because the city is expecting a huge influx of tourists from across the country he would be inquiring from Weesam Express operator Frank Carbon if they could have additional trips.
“Istoryahon ko so that ang aton ferry service between Iloilo and Bacolod madugangan,” he said./PN
