I've been told that this festival started in 1980 when Bacolod experienced an economic crisis. The price of sugar, which at that time was Negros' primary source of income, was at an all-time low. On top of that, an estimated 700 people lost their lives when an inter-island vessel collided with a tanker. Our Couchsurfing host, Em Em, told us that the Masskara Festival was the Negrenses' coping mechanism against these tragic events. To keep from frowing, the Negrenses donned smiling masks and created a festival to ward of the gloomy atmostphere.
Thus, the annual Masskara Festival was born.
You would be doing a great disservice to those brave Negrenses if you didn't enjoy the Masskara festival to the fullest. It would be a shame if you went home from the Masskara Festival without that warm, fuzzy feeling you get from having too good a time.
So how do you get that warm, fuzzy feeling? (And I don't mean just from the numerous San Miguel beers you consumed.) How do you enjoy Masskara to the fullest? How do you make sure that you have the best festival experience?
How to ROCK the Masskara Festival
NOTE: Please follow all instructions carefully.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Actual Festival Time: 4 hours
Other Activites: 5 hours
Total Time: 10 hours
Ingredients:
1 A Superbad Mask - Our couchsurfing host, J, took us to the Central Market to buy masks at a cheap price. Just take the jeepney marked...you guessed it, Central Market. Easy eh?
2 Cool, Comfy Street Clothes - Bacolod is hot hott hottt at this time of the year so pack clothes that will fight against all that sweating.
3 Sunscreen - Follow Baz Lhurman's tip for the future and wear sunscreen!
4 An Indonesian who Loves the Philippines - Optional. But if you want to have a great time then this is essential.
5 An Awesome Local - I was lucky to find all the coolest people in Bacolod because they can all be found in one spot - on the Couchsurfing site.
6 Art Supplies - Colored paper, marker, paint, scissors, boards, crayons.
Procedure:
1. Put on ingredients 1, 2 and 3.
2. Set off for Araneta Street, where the parade will happen, around 1:00-2:00 pm.
3. Follow your host (#5) to the find the best spot to watch the parade (in front of Negros Occidental High School). Or you can walk from one end of Araneta to the other.
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| Photo Credit: Aime Andrada |
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| Photo Credit: Theycallmeluckydog |
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| Photo Credit: Gringo Benedicto |
6. Repeat procedure#5 if necessary.
7. Create own Masskara dance routine which will last approximately 1 minute. See instructional video for additional information.
8. Dance said routine in the middle of the street, right in front of the drum band.
9. Do not attempt the next steps on an empty stomach. Stock up on Calea's White Chocolate Cheesecake. Or eat at Manukan Country for the famous Bacolod Chicken Inasal.
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| Look who I ran into? Journeying James! |
Here are some suggested slogans:
12. Start from one end of Lacson Street and work your way to the other end.
14. Hug as many persons as you can.
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| Group HUG! |
NOTE: The Couchsurfing community has been sanctioned by the Philippine government (or whatever governing body that decides on these things) to conduct Free Hugs. Check your the legalities before starting your own Free Hugs campaign.
16. Dance the Americano for the finale.
17. Clean up all that sweat from all that hugging and put on your dancing shoes. (We have scientific evidence that hugging burns more calories than kissing.)
18. Time for after-dark dancing. Party the night away!
19. Head home. Time might vary depending on person's alcohol content/energy/leg muscles.
20. Repeat steps#1 to 19 for more Masskara fun on Saturday and Sunday.
If the instructions above are still unclear, please refer to the instructional video on How to Rock the Masskara Festival below:.
Still feeling the Masskara High,
Sole Sister Chichi
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30 sole trails:
i keep on missing masskara every year! argh!
i'd love to do the 7th. papa americano. hahahaha
aww it's the 16th. hmmm.
i think i'd stop at 18. hahaha
This entry is so cute. It will surely make anyone who didn't make it to the Masskara this year jealous! I know I am! Haha.
Keep up the fun girls! :)
love it! more masskara and negros entries to come chichi!
I thought I would run into you there! I think I almost stopped at #18 too ;p
Wait until you see the video Kristel! Even more fun and will make everyone want to be at Masskara next year...
Another entry coming up James! Lacawon island including our adventure back to Cebu
The CS community there are really cool. Panalo yung Free Hugs, sad we missed it.
Your articles are always fun to read! Keep up the good work.
Sayang Marky, the free hugs campaign was awesome!
We're glad you're having fun reading our stories as much as we have fun writing them Ruby!
I love it! The weekend was such a blur with all the people I was with - a contrast to my last backpacking trip where I took a solo trip - i love the mess of people so much more! :D
It was great running into you Eileen...and don't forget the dancing! Let's deff make sure we do more of that!
lavet!!! Lalo na yung dance the americano.=)
Will be uploading the video in a few mins Chinchan! You'll be there dancing ;)
winner yung Dance the Americano!!! at yung #7 Create own Masskara dance routine!! winner ang choreography!!!
sana next year maka-experience din ako ng Masskara Festival!!
Did you notice that we just copied some of the steps from the performers. Walang originality, hahaha! Deff one festival that anyone should miss out.
And i am still here in Bacolod! ahahaha ill be stayinghere until december. dami bookings ng dancers namin + one more festival competition.
Wow, jealous that you're still enjoying all the yummy food in Bacolod! Have fun ;)
saya nga sa masskara lalo na kung masaya ang mga kasama. kakatuwa at di matapos yung gabi ng walang sayaw ng americano.
Korek, hindi kompleto pag hindi sasayaw. Nakisama pa ang DJ near where we stopped bec he started playing Americano. Impromptu teaching of the steps to all the Couchsurfers. Fun!
We are missing home badly already!!!!! *Calea rules ! :)
Calea is yummy but we've heard rumours that Felicia's is even better daw? How true is that?
Another fun, crazy, and amazing post, Chichi! Super nag-enjoy ako basahin to. :)
Had fun writing this post, too. Buti that you enjoyed it din Angge!
Felicia? Haven't heard of that because we haven't been home for almost a year! Will be back this January and check that out :)
i love it! one badass event!!! :)) How i wish i can join the masskara event next time!
Badass is right! See you at next year's Masskara then :p
I can't wait to take Nico to the Masskara festival. I have so many memories of it from my own childhood. It'd be impossible not to include it in his, too!
See you there next year ^.^
That's awesome to include it on your son's travel list! I hope to see you there for next year's festivities ;)
We'll definitely be there next year! That is, if we're not too far away LOL
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