The “MassKara Queen”, a 16-foot bronze statue, will be installed on the top of The Kingsford at Megaworld’s The Upper East “to celebrate and honor the unique culture and identity of Bacolod City”.
The Kingsford, a 12-story 300-room hotel, is scheduled to open in 2028.
Megaworld officials unveiled the design of the “MassKara Queen” statue at a press conference dubbed the “King meets the Queen” at the Upper East House in Bacolod on Monday, October 14.
The “MassKara Queen” is the latest masterpiece from Spanish sculptor Ginés Serrán-Pagán, one of the world’s most acclaimed contemporary artists, Harold Geronimo, Megaworld Vice President for Public Relations and Media Affairs, said.
Serrán-Pagán has created more than 3,800 sculptures and other masterpieces for private collectors, institutions and museums, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York. He recently inaugurated the sculptures of Venus, Genesis, and Vulcan at the Port of Ashland at Kentucky, USA, the tallest group of sculptures in the United States.
The MassKara Queen will be made of bronze, a material that can withstand even the harshest of elements for at least 2,000 years. Geronimo said.
The queen, adorned in finery fit for royalty, is depicted wearing a smile mid-dance. She is shown with her right arm raised while holding a MassKara mask on her left hand as she twirls, showing the elaborate design of her skirt highlighted by colorful flowers, feathers, and other decorations.
“Historically, the MassKara Queen is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival. Her graceful movement, radiant smile, and colorful costume bring life to the festivity and resemble the joy and the spirit of the people of Bacolod,” Avinash Menon, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts cluster general manager for Visayas, said.
“The MassKara Queen at The Kingsford is a true masterpiece that honors the unique identity of Bacoleños in finding joy and spreading positive energy in every moment. We are delighted to share the royal beauty of this statue as we get ready to welcome tourists, travelers, and the rest of Bacolod City and the world at The Kingsford in The Upper East, where the king meets the queen,” Menon said.
The statue will be seen even from Upper East Avenue as it will face the sprawling plaza in front of The Kingsford, which will be sandwiched by the first two office towers in the township – No. 1 Upper East Avenue and No. 5 Upper East Avenue. It is envisioned to become a prominent attraction in the township, particularly since it will be framed against The Kingsford’s all-glass façade, he said.
The Kingsford will feature a variety of first in Bacolod facilities and amenities, including its own executive lounge, a high-ceiling, pillarless grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 700 persons, and four dining outlets, Menon said.*