Behind the Smiles, Behind The Masks of Bacolod’s MassKara Festival
How fiberglass dust, barangay budgets, and tourism pesos converge to create the Philippines’ “City of Smiles.”
Why the Masks Matter
Every October, the MassKara Festival in Bacolod transforms the city into a vibrant display of color. The smiling masks—now a 45-year-old tradition—do more than decorate dancers; they sustain a cottage industry of artisans, subsidize entire barangays, and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors who pumped ₱2.84 billion into the local economy after pandemic reopening in 2023.
In summary, this ambitious yearly campaign is supported by the collaboration of many groups, which will make the effort less daunting and the weight of the tasks more evenly distributed.
From January to March, barangay councils, choreographers, and costume designers sketch concepts that align with the festival theme and contest rules.
Then, from April to May, the budget for the festival will have already begun, with branches of the local government pitching in to collate the budget meant for the festival through subsidy from the city. Last year, each competing barangay received ₱ 700,000 for street-dance costumes and ₱ 300,000 for Electric MassKara floats.
Barangay and SK funds were also helpful, as top contenders like Barangay Granada added more than P1 million from their coffers for the annual event. And just last year, Barangay Granada was again the recipient of the prize, two succeeding years in a row, back-to-back.
Of course, the event wouldn’t be complete without the support of its corporate sponsors, mostly local malls like SM, Ayala, Megaworld’s The Upper East, and the sugar-industry firms that underwrote materials or talent fees.
May–July:
The design teams are tasked with commissioning a short list of mask-making houses, which remain largely the same every year, to provide molds, fiberglass shells, paintwork, and beaded embellishment.
July–September:
During the fabrication sprint, workshops produce 40–60 masks for each barangay in as little as two weeks.
Early October:
Masks move from the workshop to the rehearsal floor for rigging onto gigantic headdresses and props. Final polish and fitting.
Prize Money & Oversight—Who Cuts the Check?
- Lead Organizer: Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF)—designated by a 2024 MOA with the city to mount the festival, raise sponsorships, and process payouts.
- Funding Flow: City Treasurer → BYF Trust Account → Winners. BYF disbursed all 2024 cash prizes—₱1 M for champions, down to ₱20 k for minor awards—within two weeks of the closing parade.
- Goodwill Bonuses: When delays happen, Mayor Albee Benitez personally tops up consolation prizes (₱100k each in 2023) outside the official budget.
Oversight rests with the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Tourism, which can summon BYF for audited reports.
Note:
Bacolod City’s current mayor is the Honorable Greg Gasataya. Former mayor Albee Benitez is now a congressman for the lone district of Bacolod.