The Bacolod City government, in partnership with La Consolacion College Bacolod (LCCB), formally launched the Bacolod AR Mural at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Monday, Sept. 14, providing residents and tourists with a new, interactive way to experience the city’s art, culture, and heritage.
Mayor Greg Gasataya, together with the project’s proponents and partners, Councilors Em Ang and Israel Salanga, and other city officials, led the unveiling of the QR signage that activates the augmented reality (AR) experience, a press release from the Bacolod City Government Center said.
The Bacolod AR Mural features hand-painted artwork depicting iconic city landmarks, enhanced by an augmented reality layer accessible through a QR code. Visitors can scan the code, position the mural within their phone’s screen, and watch MassKara dancers come to life through the AR experience.
The installation also provides historical information about the MassKara Festival, allowing viewers to learn more about the city’s cultural heritage.
For LCCB student Epifany Faith Ababao, one of the first to experience the installation, the AR mural left a lasting impression.
“I felt goosebumps while navigating the AR reality. If you are a tourist, even if it’s not MassKara time, it feels like anytime is MassKara because of this project,” she said.
The project was led by LCCB through Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs Baniline Jone Abantao-Portal. The School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Interior Design handled the mural painting; the School of Business and Information Technology developed the AR visuals and video production; and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management shaped the tourism concept.
The initiative was supported by the City Tourism Office under Chief Tourism Operations Officer Ma. Teresa Manalili, with technical assistance from the Management Information Technology and Computer Services (MITCS) and internet connectivity support from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
Manalili said the project demonstrates how technology can add a new dimension to the way people experience the city.
“The unveiling of the QR code of our mural and augmented reality experience, made by LCC-Bacolod in partnership with the City Government, shows us how technology can add another dimension to how we experience Bacolod,” she said.
Abantao-Portal described the project as a milestone in collaboration between the academe and local government.
“Today marks a milestone of collaboration, uniting the academic excellence of LCC-Bacolod with the visionary leadership of the Bacolod City Government and the City Tourism Office. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering community growth, cultural preservation, and innovative development right here in the City of Smiles,” she said.
Gasataya thanked LCC-Bacolod on behalf of the people of Bacolod, emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing the city.
“Bacolod cannot stand alone, but with your support and the institutions, the business private sector, and this project, we know that a lot of visitors will enjoy and make mention of this innovation that you initiated. Thank you very much for your help and assistance for the City of Bacolod,” he said.
The Bacolod AR Mural forms part of the City Government’s continuing efforts to harness digital innovation in promoting local arts, culture, and heritage, while further positioning the City of Smiles as a vibrant, progressive, and tourism-friendly destination, the press release said.*
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