The Art Association of Bacolod-Negros (AAB-N) announced the holding of three major art events, and the Camera Club of Negros (CCN) launched a photo contest for the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City in October.
Tey Sevilleno – AAB-N president, Aeson Baldevia – CCN president and and Dr. Ronel Sario – CCN board member made the announcements at a Gugma Foundation Inc. press conference at Bar 21 Restaurant in Bacolod City on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Sevilleno said AAB-N, which is on its 50th year, is the Philippines’ longest-running provincial art group and a proud founder of the MassKara Festival.
She pointed out that it was the vision of Ely Santiago, one of AAB-N’s pioneering members, that transformed MassKara into the iconic festival of smiles it is today.
As part of AAB-N’s 50th year, Sevilleno said they are holding three major art events designed to honor the festival’s roots and inspire the next generation.
Among the three events is the On-the-Spot MassKara Painting Competition. Now on its 4th year, the competition is free and open to all Bacolodnon artists.
With support from the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, all materials will be provided, ensuring inclusivity and wider participation, Sevilleno said.
There will also be a MassKara Making Contest, a creative homage to the very first MassKara masks made of papier-mâché. Designers and artists will be challenged to create unique mask designs, with base masks and financial assistance provided to support their artistry, Sevilleno said.
The MassKara Mask-Higante Puppets Competition is the much-awaited return of giant puppets, she also said.
This year introduces the first-ever contest with the theme “Toto and Inday sa MassKara,” symbolizing children as the heart of our future, Sevilleno said.
AAB-N is also embarking on a historic project in partnership with the Camera Club of Negros to create a comprehensive digital archive of the MassKara Festival.
“This collaboration will preserve the festival’s rich visual history, ensuring that future generations can witness how Bacolod turned trials into triumphs, and how smiles became a symbol of strength,” Sevilleno said.
CAMERA CLUB
Baldevia and Sario announced that the CCN is holding a MassKara Photo Contest 2025 — a search for images that best capture the smiles, artistry, and stories of the festival.
They said this year’s contest is designed to showcase the many faces of MassKara through three categories:
*Highlights: Featuring the Electric MassKara, Street Dance, and Arena Dance competitions;
*Sectoral Events: Honoring the inclusivity of MassKara with activities for PWDs, senior citizens, and other groups; and
*Street Stories (Freestyle): Candid and creative captures of Bacolodnons and visitors as they live out the festival spirit.
Cash prizes for the categories will be:
*Highlights: P20,000 (1st), P15,000 (2nd), P10,000 (3rd);
*Sectoral Events: P15,000 (1st), P10,000 (2nd), P5,000 (3rd); and
*Street Stories: P15,000 (1st), P10,000 (2nd), P5,000 (3rd).
A registration fee of P1,500 entitles participants to an exclusive MassKara Photographer’s Kit and an official all-access pass to the festival grounds and events, offering photographers the perfect vantage points to document MassKara’s most iconic moments, Sario said.
The CCN officials said the invitation is not only for professional photographers but also for local hobbyists, students, and enthusiasts of all kinds of photography — whether they use a DSLR, mirrorless, film camera, or even mobile phones.
Winning entries will not only earn recognition and cash prizes but will also be exhibited to the public and have the chance to be immortalized in the upcoming Bacolod MassKara Museum, ensuring that the golden smiles of 2025 live on for generations, they said.
To kick off its MassKara activities, the CCN will also open “Hinumdum: MassKara Through the Years” at SM Bacolod on Sept. 15.
The special exhibition will feature archival and contemporary images of the festival’s journey, tracing how MassKara grew from its humble beginnings to its status today as one of the Philippines’ most celebrated festivals, Baldevia said.*