MassKara Festival 2025: Honoring the Spirit, Passion, and Diversity of the Bacolodnon

“Unity through love”. It’s that one core theme from where everything started and revolved around. From the logo, to the song, and the execution of all the events in the last three weeks for the MassKara Festival 2025 in Bacolod City—everything speaks of inclusivity and unity in diversity—all bound in love.

MassKara Festival 2025: One Smile. One City. One Heart. in Action

The MassKara Festival 2025 is the first one to be held under the leadership of Mayor Greg Gasataya. This is in close coordination with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., led by veteran events and pageant director Rodney Mitz Ascalon, who sits as President and Festival Director at the same time. Both of them wanted to bring back the festival to the people; hence, they poured out so much soul, passion, and heart into the different aspects that made up the entire festival. And this is where the slogan, One Smile. One City. One Heart. comes in – a city’s heart that beats with a single rhythm.

Mayor Greg and Mr. Ascalon were both given Plaques of Appreciation for their tremendous effort to pull off this very successful celebration.

Based on this slogan, the MassKara Festival is meant to be more inclusive and more meaningful for Bacolodnons.

• One Smile — Bacolod City is known as the City of Smiles, and the idea of one smile suggests unity in joy, that no matter our differences.

• One City — This emphasizes that Bacolod is a shared space, that all the barangays and all the citizens, are part of a greater collective. Hence, the festival is not just for a few or the elite. It is for the entire city, regardless of status or abilities.

• One Heart — Having one heart points to a common purpose. It echoes “unity through love,” and implies that we are all connected because of compassion and empathy.

To be able to achieve this, Mr. Ascalon formed a team that was made up of sectoral heads, each handling specific events for different sectors. They were chosen because of their expertise and knowledge in that field, and they were all introduced and presented to the public during the launch.

Plagued With Challenges

The MassKara Festival 2025 was not without challenges. It went through trial by fire, flood waters, an earthquake, and the threats of Mt. Kanlaon.

On the eve of the grand launch last September 13, a fire broke out in Brgy. 27, which left hundreds of families homeless. While the organizers were busy setting the mood for the annual fete, the city government had to scramble to provide temporary shelter and relief to the residents who were displaced by the fire.

Nevertheless, resilient as we Bacolodnons are, the launch pushed through to set the timeline for the preparations.

WATCH

A reel about the launch. It was a party!

As if that weren’t enough, an earthquake struck Cebu province on September 30, also shaking Bacolod City. It was a hard call, but one that had to be made by the Mayor. Everything has been set, and many would be more affected in the locality if the preparations were to be canceled (i.e., the cancellation of suppliers would result in non-refundable payments, and people involved would lose their livelihoods). So, as scheduled, the MassKara Festival 2025 was launched on October 1, and the subsequent events on the calendar took place one by one.

But there was also the issue of the heavy rains that caused flooding in Bacolod. The hardest-hit days included October 18, which was during the Elementary School Arena and Street Dancing Competition. Organizers expressed concern and called for a dialogue with school principals. Despite the rains that began the night before, the participants chose to continue. Not a single school withdrew from the competition. Some may see it as carelessness or a lack of empathy, but for the participants, it was a show of resilience. Check out the photos posted on this page…

Blame it on climate change, there is now a call to move the festival to a “less rainy” or “drier” month, so businesses can recoup investments and people can actually enjoy the festivities without being hindered by the rain. Better weather, more investors, and visitors will come in.

What do you think would be the best month to hold the MassKara Festival henceforth?

Media Support

In their jobs, members of the media are expected to cover the MassKara-related events and report on them.

But it hits different when the press is not only recognized but also provided for with apparel as well as all-access IDs, meals, and dedicated seats in major events. It was so easy to navigate through the different venues with our MassKara Press IDs that let us gain access even to closed roads. Even our private vehicle that did not have a MEDIA sticker was “offered”, not just allowed, access to exclusive parking spots. It surely made the job so much easier.

Perhaps because the mayor was a former broadcaster, he knew what the media needed to amplify the news to the world. Mrs. Lian Bobe, PR Head and media liaison, did a wonderful job, especially in networking with the press.

With that, we are very thankful and honored to have been part of the MassKara Press Corps for the MassKara Festival 2025!

Bacolod bloggers with Mayor Greg Gasataya and Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon at the Paglaum Sports Complex after the Arena Competition, Barangay Category.

Despite attending public events, having our own exclusive area made us feel quite secure, especially for our gadgets.

What made this year’s coverage special for me was that I was able to do it with my husband. Rain or shine, we were together.

Touching Hearts and Changing Lives

As someone who has witnessed many editions of the MassKara Festival through the decades and who has even danced the streets in my high school years, this year’s celebration felt refreshingly different but nostalgic at the same time. MassKara Festival 2025 truly brought back the soul of Bacolod — a celebration that belonged not just to a few or the elite, but to everyone—from vendors, PWDs, grandparents, to artists, musicians, and pets. Even rescuers, the Red Cross, and the street cleaners were celebrated and given some spotlight throughout the celebrations. There were not a lot of big-name celebrities and socialites. What took the stage and were celebrated were the sectors often ignored in the past.

“This year’s celebration felt refreshingly different but nostalgic at the same time.”

From the opening day until the highlights weekend, every event seemed to carry one clear message: that Bacolod is one community, one family, moving with one heartbeat. The new organizers, Bacolod Gugma Foundation, embraced the essence of love and inclusivity, and it showed in the way the festival reached every corner of the city.

Negrense Volunteers for Change President and prolific writer Millie Kilayko said this, quote shared with permission

You could feel this unity in the barangay events, where residents proudly showcased their creativity and culture. It wasn’t just about competition anymore — it was about connection. The street dance parade reflected the city’s diversity, and it was so joyful and electrifying to see the dancers in their full costumes participate in the community dance at the Bacolod Public Plaza. The energy was contagious; you could see people of all ages dancing, smiling, and cheering together. I noticed that many of us in the media box would occasionally sing and dance, only to catch ourselves straightening up because we were holding cameras and phones.

What stood out most to me was how the theme “One Smile. One City. One Heart.” came alive not just through speeches and published words, but through genuine participation. That theme was translated into action.

Inclusivity was at the heart of the programs. There were events for seniors, market vendors, for people with disabilities and special abilities, for the LGBTQ+ community, kids, pets, and for the youth. Even the legendary MassKara dance choreographers, who are normally behind their troupes, were given the spotlight during the Choreographers’ Dance Off at the Plaza. Everyone had a space to express themselves and be recognized as part of Bacolod’s vibrant story this year. The organizers made sure that the festival’s joy reached beyond downtown — bringing MassKara to barangays, schools, and even local shelters.

This year, the MassKara Festival didn’t just entertain — it united the Bacolodnons. It reminded us that behind every smiling mask is a shared hope — that our city thrives when we celebrate together, as one Bacolod.

 “We have achieved our goals. I am happy but also feel ‘bitin’, “Ascalon laughed it out. He summed it up (paraphrased here), “We have made so many people happy. We held a pageant for grandmothers, held a free party for kids in the daycare, allowed market vendors to have an extension because of their increased sales, vendors nga ga bolante sa plaza, let the youth showcase their talents in dancing and singing…. PWDs also came together and cheered for their own sectors. Even pets had the platform to shine.”

Ascalon was overwhelmed with emotion at the turnout and support that the MassKara Festival 2025 received. Mayor Greg Gasataya could not stop thanking everyone, from the city council, the barangay captains, the media, and everyone involved, including his wife, Ma’am Maita, who was a sponsor and was also beside the Mayor in most events.

Truly, the 46^th Masskara Festival is one for the books! Congratulations everyone!