Lifestyle

The Barangay Tangub champions* Ronnie Baldonado photo Barangay Tangub dancers, paying tribute to “The Evolving Spirit of MassKara,” won the Grand Championship title and four minor awards at the MassKara Festival 2025 Arena and Streetdance Competition – Barangay Category on Sunday, October 19.Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who spoke at the start of arena competition at the Paglaum Stadium in Bacolod City, said the MassKara Festival is not only a celebration of beauty but is also a testament to the city and its people’s capacity to rise above uncertainties.“The story of MassKara reminds the world that amidst hardship, there is hope. Here in Bacolod, you have turned challenges into celebration, and despair into determination”, Frasco said.“That is wh...

The Barangay Estefania Elementary School grand champions.*Ronnie Baldonado photoRain soaked learners from seven elementary schools in Bacolod City wearing smiling masks and costumes in vibrant colors danced to the lively beat of the MassKara Festival music on Saturday, Oct, 18Estefania Elementary School with a performance apply dubbed “Dancing in the Rain, Through a Child’s Eye” bagged the Grand Champion title in the MassKara Festival 2025 Arena and Steetdance Competition Schools Category.This year’s competition began with the arena performances at the Paglaum Sports Complex before the contingents brought their performances to the streets.Festival Director Rodney Ascalon said the format was changed to create a more engaging showcase of both arena and street performances....

Barangay Mansilingan’s float titled “Cakes of Bacolod”.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBarangay Mansilingan was declared the Electric MassKara and Float Parade competition grand champion Friday night, Oct. 17, for its float titled “Cakes of Bacolod.”The design highlighted Bacolod’s love for cakes and sweets, capturing the hearts of both judges and spectators.Mansilingan brought home ₱350,000 and a trophy, along with several special awards including Best Float, Best Mask and Costume, and Best Music, each with a ₱10,000 cash prize.Taking First Place was Barangay 12 with its float showcasing the "Bacolod Public Plaza", a tribute to one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The Mansilingan team earned ₱200,000 and a trophy for their creative effort.Barangay Granada claimed second pl...

Organic farmers and fisherfolk from Negros Occidental will be the main stars in the five-day Terra Madre Asia and Pacific.*Bacolod City's upcoming Terra Madre Asia and Pacific (TMAP) 2025 has been selected by luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller as one of the world's top food festivals.The magazine recently announced the inclusion of TMAP 2025, slated for November 19 to 23, in its “11 food festivals across the world to plan your travels around” article, which featured food festivals from various countries that are happening from September 2025 to April 2026.“If you want to understand a place, it’s often best to start with what’s on its table. Food festivals around the world condense a region's identity into a few days of concentrated flavor: dishes cooked b...

The We Care United Zumba Group of Barangay Pahanocoy danced its way to the top, securing the championship title and a ₱50,000 prize in the highly anticipated MassKara 2025 ZumDigras Inter-Barangay Dance Fitness Showdown on Sunday, Oct 5.  Meanwhile, Yan-Yan Edang of Barangay Tangub was crowned ZumDigras Queen 2025. Thousands gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds for what was billed as the biggest Zumba event to date, featuring vibrant costumes, synchronized routines, and non-stop movement that reinforced Bacolod’s emerging identity as one of the biggest Zumba Capitals of the Philippines. The event was composed of two main competitions: the Inter-Barangay Dance Fitness Showdown and the ZumDigras Queen Pageant. The winners in the  Dance Fi...

The talent Competition winners Ashley Bernadeth de Asis, Mary Angelique Faye Caballero and Jeremae Pacino (l-r).* Ronnie Baldonado photoThe three Ms. Bacolod MassKara talent competition winners were named Friday, Oct. 3.The winners are Ashley Bernadeth de Asis, Mary Angelique Faye Caballero and Jeremae Pacino.The 15 Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants presented their talents at the event center of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.The 12 other contestants are Kaye Luzuriaga, Jestine Nacionales, Faith Marie Doronila, Janabea Gepana, Eynna Mei Lu, Daniella Cheska Giltendez, Sophia Kaye Zaragoza, Roshyn Kate Jamantoc, Ysabella Wuthrich, Aleyssa Dionio, Chezzy Laguna and Ednalyn Garcia.The pageant continues with the Festival Costume Competition on Saturday, Oct. 4, Corporate Da...

Fredu Bayon-on, Alaine Borja, Joy Pigar and Albert Paypon (l-r) at a MassKara press conference on Friday, Oct. 3.*The MassKara Festival 2025 is rolling out a fresh lineup of events that include a K-Pop showdown, battle of bands, pet party and a convergence of digital culture at the Bacolod City Government Center Grounds this October, organizers announced on Friday, Oct. 3.The MassK Fest 2025: Bacolod Pop Dance Cover Competition will highlight the passion of Bacolod’s youth who will showcase their energy and idol-inspired performances in a K-Pop and P-Pop showdown that connects global music trends to local culture, Alaine Borja, MassK Fest organizer, said.Eliminations are set on October 8, where groups will bring their best choreography and style to secure a spot in the finals, ...

The Negros Occidental tourism awardees*Negros Occidental and the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Silay and Sipalay were winners at the Pearl Awards rites of the 26th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention in Baguio City Thursday night, October 2.The province of Negros Occidental was the grand winner for Best Event Hosting – International Category for the Terra Madre 2024, themed "Restoring our Relationship with Nature in the Land of Sweet Surprises”, which was yet another back-to-back win, Provincial Tourism Officer Chery Decena said,It won the same award for its 2023 international hosting of Terra Madre "Food and Culture Biodiversity", she said.The Negros Occidental provincial government was 1st runner-up for Best Event Hosting - Local for ...