Masskara Festival of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental is one of the most colorful and extravagant festivals in the Philippines. It has raked various citations and awards in the local and international arena. I able to witness it for the first time with this year’s 30th celebration. The celebration usually falls on the 3rd week of October to culminate on the 19th, which is the Charter Day Celebration of Bacolod.

I went to Bacolod together with my photographer friend on Sunday, October 18th in which that day was the highlights of the Streetdance competitions both in the open and barangay category. We left Iloilo at around 6:15 AM taking the first trip of Ocean Jet to Bacolod. Good thing they had an on-going promo at that time which is the “libre pabalik promo” so to save us on so much travel expenses. After almost an hour of voyage we arrived in Bacolod. We headed to the Cathedral just near BREDCO port to take some photos but unfortunately there were herds of people there and the jeepneys bottlenecked our efforts to shoot the façade of the church in a wider angle. After visiting the Cathedral of ST. Sebastian we decided to go directly to The Ruins in Talisay City, but we need to feed our hungry tummies first before going somewhere else, so we settled at the nearby tapsilogan. After that we headed to Talisay for a whole morning of photo opps. The Ruins was just so amazing that we cuddled in taking as much photos as we can. We were about to leave when I received a text message from Enrico of Byahilo.com that they were also coming to The Ruins, so we waited to meet them. Then we headed to Robinsons Place Bacolod to have our lunch and to meet Junelle and a friend there. We had hard-time looking for a restaurant to lunch with because every foodshop in the area were full. After eating we decided to have a dessert at the chic Calea also in Robinsons. Then we immediately headed to where the action was, in downtown area where the street dance competitions were held. There and then we parted ways when the parade started as we were all looking for the perfect smile to shot. The parade auxiliaries were so strict that if you don’t have an official ID to shoot there they will dump you off the sidewalk not to mention the ruck was so dense. Nevertheless I took some shots while on the sidewalk just to avoid any embarrassment that I might get while taking pictures with those who have IDs. My friends have to leave by the last trip to Iloilo, so after the parade I contacted my other friend Prince Golez who was there also to cover the event. We spent the rest of the time partying along Lacson Street and stayed at the King’s Hotel courtesy of Panay News Bacolod. We left for Iloilo early morning catching up with the first trip of Ocean Jet.

Overall I enjoyed so much my first time Masskara Festival experience. You really have all the reason to smile in Bacolod during this Celebration. The street parties were in every corner of the stretch of Lacson Street and in the downtown area. It was much seems like the Dinagyang Festival celebration in Iloilo. The colorful street dance was really stunning comparable to the Mardi Gras of Brazil.

Photos:

Float of Brgy. Taculing – the Overall champion in the street dance competitions (Click here for the list of Winners)

Photographers in Action

More Photos at www.gigsilonggo.com