The Ms. Bacolod Masskara Queen contestants at the grand launching of the MassKara Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13.*Ronnie Baldonado photo
The MassKara Festival 2025 was officially launched with a burst of colors and energy, capped by lively dancing amid a shower of confetti at Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center in Bacolod City on Saturday, Sept. 13.
The 19-day festival, with the theme “One Smile, One City, One Heart”, will run from October 1 to 19 .
It will showcase the talent and creativity of Bacolodnons, as well as their spirit of resilience and unity, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said.
He recalled how the festival was created in 1980 to lift the people’s spirits as Bacolod was reeling from a sugar crisis and the sinking of the MV Don Juan after it collided with a fuel tanker in the waters off Romblon, where many Negrenses died.
The mayor noted that Bacolod is once again faced with another tragedy —the fire that left close to 1,000 residents homeless in Barangay 27 on Friday, Sept. 12.
As in the past, he is confident the people will rise again because of the support of everyone, not just from the government, but also from the private sector, Gasataya said.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Among the highlights of the festival will be the Electric MassKara on October 17, the school category arena and street dance competition on October 18, and the barangay arena and street dance competition on October 19.
The arena competition will be held at the Paglaum Stadium, followed by street dancing that will culminate at the Bacolod Public Plaza.
There will also be a big MassKara after party concert on October 26, he said.
MORE INCLUSIVE
Rodney Mitz Ascalon, president of the Bacolod Gugma Foundation and this year’s festival director, said they are giving the festival back to the people whose talents will be showcased during the festivities.
It will be a more inclusive festival with more color, a louder beat, and bigger smiles, he said.
Numerous activities are lined up at the Bacolod Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center grounds, he said.
They are also bringing the Latin beat back to the festival music.
This year’s MassKara song was composed by Maih Gasataya and performed by Zel Band, while the logo is by Romaine Salmingo.
“The MassKara is more than a celebration, it is the soul of Bacolod City,” Ascalon said.
The Bacolod City officials at the grand launching*Ronnie Baldonado photo
NO SIGNAL JAMMING
There will be no cellular phone signal jamming during the festival, while the imposition of a gun ban is still under study, the mayor said .
During the street party at Lacson Street from October 17 to 19, the road will only be closed from 7 p.m. until about 5 a.m., Ascalon said. It will be open to vehicles during the daytime, he said.
Ascalon said there will also be a MassKara shopping holiday as all the malls in Bacolod City have agreed to hold sales and offer discounts from October 1 to 19.
There will also be a best MassKara destination competition where hotels, cafes, and restaurants will be judged based on the decorations in their establishments.
Ascalon said the festival will end on October 19 because it usually rains in the last week of October.
There are also three big conventions scheduled in Bacolod for the fourth week of October that will require hotel accommodations.*
The MassKara 2025 organizers led by Rodney Mitz Ascalon (8th from left, back row).*Ronnie Baldonado photo