sounds of festive beats already surround the town plaza of Bacolod city, Philippine's city of smile. this weekend this city will be celebrating its charter day and one of the country's most colorful festival.
when i was there weeks back, streets were already filled with colorful masks. booths and big sound speakers on every corner of the plaza playing different upbeat songs simultaneously.
food shops surrounding the city plaza and the nearby business establishments are decorated with masks. it also represents prosperity to the booming business in the city of smile.
even malls were already filled with colorful masks showing the smiles that represents Bacolod's hospitality to its visitors.
the festival started during the early 1980s when a series of tragedy happened to the city. it was then that the city government initiated to start a festival which will boost the mood of the town being the city of smiles.
the festival includes street dancing competition plus all the other activities that comes with it. this is celebrated every third weekend of the month of October. the celebration started during the start of October when we were there.
60 comments:
Ang gaganda ng masks. How much ang isa nyan?
ngayon ba ang maskara festival? pangarap ko makanuod ng mga malalaking festivals sa Visayas kasi pag nakikita ko tv dati alala ko buhay na buhay dugo ko.....
By looking at the photos, I start to like this festival of smiles.
Those look real colourful and festive looking :) Will be nice to have a couple hanging on the wall!
what a blast of colors! sarap pictyuran no? this is one festival i really have to attend one day.
ang ganda ng mga mask dom, very colorful. sana makapunta rin ako to observe the festivities soon. galing.
>kegler, the price usually ranges from P60 - smallest ones, while the medium ones are around P90-P120. the bigger ones are about P450. the ones sold in SM has better qualities it usually cost P699.
>salingpusa, ayos yan. ang irerecommend ko sa yo ay ang sinulog at dinagyang. maganda rin ang ati atihan. ok din ang masskara dahil colorful.
>borneo falcon, i think you need to visit the philippines.
>napaboaniya, yes. you'll enjoy if youll be there yourself because the beats are really festive.
>r-yo, sarap nga picturan. makulay kasi tapos ang dami. punta ka doon next year.
>oman, ganda talaga. pero mas maganda pa ang mga masks na susuotin nila sa festival mismo. ito medyo simple na dahil mnakita ko yung mga susuotin sa festival mismo. punta ka next year.
>
Beautiful portraits, very colorful. You have documented a great many beautiful masks. I wish I could attend next year's masskara. You travel a lot and it's good that you share with us your adventures. Thanks bro!
ang kulay naman ng mga maskarang ito..
huh? simple pa ba ang mga yan?? nakuhanan mo ba dong yung mga maskara na isusuot nila para sa festival??
how colorful,
ang gndang pagmasdan,
at parang ang saya saya pumunta jan,hehe!
wish ko lng maka-attend ako ng mga gnyang festivals.. ^__*
2 pa lang na-aatendan ko, PAHIYAS d2 samin sa Quezon at Panagbenga sa Baguio.
Amazing photos. I love the colorful masks, very festive and cheerful.
By the way, you might want to check out my humble travel articles. If you like it, do buzz me if you’re interested in exchanging links. :)
Sayang naman, I will be there this 25th, wala na akong maabutang drumbeats, only the masks I guess...wrong timing kasi trip namin eh. Nice pics btw.
Beautiful masks, remind me of Venetian masks that I saw in Venice. The Philippines is indeed a land of smiles!
one would certainly forget life's problems when you're in the masskara festival. unfortunately for me, the last time i joined the masskara was when i was in college...almost a lifetime ago! i miss the energy of the festival. sayang, you didn't stay long enough for the masskara.
This is my favourite entry. It certainly will boost my morale if we have it here. A day of pure joy and celebration without the slightest hint of worry.
Very beautiful and colourful masks. Yes, I would too love to bring back home some of the masks, the prices are very reasonable.
jeez! feels like being in venice during a festival! really beautiful. have never been to much of the maskara fest. great set of photos.
These masks are wonderful. You have outdone yourself with this post, friend. Each image is sumptuous and evocative. What joy!
masaya 'to. yung mga mask displays pa lang, nakakatuwa na. heard from the locals that the wide streets are filled with people lagi
if the masks are these colorful, i bet the festivities would be a blast.
now that i think of it, i haven't witnessed a real street parade for years. hmmm, time for change. hahaha.
kung andyan siguro ako ngayon sa pinas,papa-iskor ako sayo ng mask collection..magandang display yan sa mga events!
yohooooo!!! feeling the heat here in bacolod. i wish everyone gets to experience this festivity too!!
Beautiful masks and you they are photographed nicely...
hindi pa ako nakawitness ng masskara. sana makapunta ako ng bcd next sunday. hindi pala pwede, may appointment. tsk tsk. bagay sa akin magsuot ng maskara na yan para palaging naka-smile. it's really colorful!
I love the burst of colors of this festival. The masks are beautiful! Did you buy one as a keepsake?
ang gaganda, colorful at napakaartistic. Ang gagaling naman ang mga gumawa nyan.
karaniwan lang sa inyo ang magagaling na artist ano?
What a wonderful festival. I smiled looking at the colorful, festive photographs.
the masks are outstanding. much work had gone into creating each of them. this is one big festival isn't it?
>dennis, it's my pleasure to share the photos and the experience. thank you for joining me on this journey. the masks are indeed colorful. what more when you see the whole costume on the festival day itself. i hope that you'll be able to attend this next year.
>hi doc rio, hindi ko nakuhanan yung mga gagamitin sa street dance. pero makikita mo naman sa flickr dahil may mga pictures doon nung last year. simple pa talaga ito pag nakita mo yung iba.
>hi teresa, i really recommend that you attend the festivals in the visayas. mas festive doon at mas upbeat ang mga sounds. pero colorful na rin naman ang panagbenga at pahiyas. pero iba talaga ang dating ng sinulog, dinagyang at ati-atihan.
>hi asian traveler, i'll add you up on my blogroll. it's good to visit blogs of people who've almost roamed asia.
>hi sheng, sayang nga. kami din naman. schedule mo na lang next year.
>hi eunice, wow! it's good to know that you like these masks which are indeed similar to the ones in venice. the smiles here also represents the filipino hospitality.
>hi luna, oo nga. ok lang at least may naabutan na rin naman kaming mga activities. next time malamang. buti at nakpag attend ka na pala nito. matutuwa nga talaga ang mga makakakita nitong masks habang sinusuot ng mga sumasayaw.
>hi share, thanks a lot! you are always welcome to visit the philippines if you really want to experience the festivities.
>hi alicesg, very reasonable indeed. you'll really buy it as a memorabilia.
>eye, i recommend that you attend it at least once. the costumes and the masks are very colorful.
>hi sandy, thanks a lot.
>oggie, ganun na nga. kasi nung nandun kami punong puno na ng tao ang daan pag gabi. daming sounds na nangagaling sa magkabilang kanto.
>barry, i was actually checking some videos of last year's masskara and looking at the costumes made me think that this festival is one of the most colorful in the country today.
>ever, dami nga naming nabili pang pasalubong. ganda nga ito pang sabit sa bahay.
>hi ifoundme, we actually felt the excitement when we were there. im excited for those who will be going there.
>rintjez, thanks a lot.
>redlan, sayang sana hindi mo yan ma miss kasi once a year lang yan. hahaha... sabayan mo na rin ng sayaw para mas masaya.
>hi rachel, we actually bought 7masks. we gave 5 to some family friends and we kept 2 as a memorabilia.
>hi nanay belen, karaniwan nga lang ito doon sa bacolod. magaling talaga ang mga negrense.
>hi carver, the smiles in the masks are indeed contagious. what more when you see them dance with the whole costume.
>hi photo cache, yes it is one of the biggest festival here. hope you'll get to see it someday. the masks were intricately made.
ang gaganada!! alam mo ba gusto ko bumili ng ganyan ang ganda idisplay sa room. magkanuuu wahh..!!
pengeee!! :P
This is the most colorful shots! This celebration is sooo cool. So lucky of you to capture them all in pictures ... and most of all so nice of you to share them.
Indeed...the masks made everyone gazing at them smile.
Hi Dong Ho!
What a fabulous city you live in! I love the pictorial tour you give in this blog. Every one I have seen! And these masks are just wonderful!
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog the other day. Will definitely check yours out every now and then.
hayyy.... and i am here. panonorin ko na lang to sa TFC
wow! they must be a rich city:) those are expensive costumes, I guess:) that's really good for them, fiestas are really a great thing, a culture I'm so proud of!
Colorful masks!
oh wow! Those are very colorful shots! I wish I could watch that festival. Looks amazing!
ang galing naman nito. so colorful, so vibrant. i like masks. not only for their vibrance but mostly because they are the best metaphor of life. lovely set, Dom. Keep them coming.
>hi tentay, naku sayang hindi mo sinabi sa akin. dami rin kaming nabili pero nabigay na namin sa mga friends. ipadala mo na lang kay ifoundme. taga doon sya at anytime baka pumunta sya sa manila.
>hi em, it is indeed a celebration of colors. magaling nga talaga ang mga taga bacolod. na master na yata nila ang paggawa ng mga masks after years of celebrating this festival.
it's my pleasure to share the beautiful masks of masskara.
>eki, thanks a lot! im glad that you find the place interesting. im not from that city but i also call it my satellite home because i have a lot of relatives there. keep in touch.
>jasper, hehehe... pwede na rin. ang importante mapapanood mo pa rin.
>hi shawie, i believe bacolod is a rich city but i also believe that they are really resourceful because the materials used on many of the masks naturally came from bacolod. negrenses are indeed artistic.
>hi aisha, there are some videos uploaded in youtube. just key in masskara.
>hi rayts, nice insight. i agree with that. thanks a lot!
Probably my favorite festival... it is just amazing... and everybody is smiling!
Great festival you should witness once (or more) in your life.
Gorgeous mask you captured here!
huwaw! the masks are so vibrant. they just show how warm people in bacolod are.
Parang Venice meets fiesta ang atmosphere. The masks looks so good. Heard of this festival in Joji A blog a few years back. It seems the maskara gets better everytime. Nice post, excellent pictures.
Oh i love those maskara. very funky and i think I would love to have one of those... Did you get any?
Na tikman mo ba ang kanilang piyaya?
cge dom. just tell me the date kung kelan and i will clear my schedule.
by the way, di pa rin naayos blog mo ah. walang sidelinks, di kita malink as follower mo.
it's really a shame! i lived only a ferry ride away from bacolod, but i never had the chance to witness this spectacle. Thanks for posting this though. Now that i live much further, your photos are the closest thing i can have!
lWhat amazing photos. Bravo!
sana mapanood ko rin ang masskara festival next year. grabe super colorful ang mga pics mo nung masks, pano pa kaya dun sa parade, diba? =)
been there last year... we were suppose to go to bacolod for that this year but our acads didn't permit us to do so... heheh
Wow.. They're beautiful pictures.. If only I had your eye for capturing those photos..
I tried my hand in photography but suck.. Or maybe because my camera suck.. Either way, just couldn't get them right..
You've really made it look interesting through the photos that some might want to know more of the festival as well...
ahaha san ba next destination? nakakaingit ka talaga. ako puro rants buhay lol. nakakapagod. hahaah
wow! ganda! hayz.. lalo lang ako naiinngit sa pamamasyal mo... sama mo naman kami ni rio... basta all expense paid mo... hahaha... demanding ko noh?
pero ganda talaga ng mga kuha mo... dslr ba gamit mo? nu brand kung okay lang malaman. =)
wowowow!
ito ang isa sa mga festivals na gusto kong makita...
very nice photos
What a fantastic set of masks photos! Some of them remind me of the carnival in Venice. Great work!
>sidney, the smiles coming from both the masks and the person using it are contagious.
>beero, tama ka dyan. kaya marami na rin ang bumibisita sa bacolod.
>jayashkal, sayang nga at hindi ko na naabutan ang mismong streetdance. pero ok na rin dahil nakita ko ang mga preparation.
>hi equi, yes we did. we bought 7 masks memorabilias.
>blogusvox, yes natikman ko. pero hindi ako masyadong mahilig sa piyaya.
>oman, sige. text na lang kita. naayos ko na rin. salamat sa reminder.
>spool, malamang next year pwede ka ng pumunta. salamat din sa pagbisita dito sa blog.
>philip, thanks!
>carlota, tama ka dyan. kasi nakita ko sa youtube ang mga masks na ginagamit sa streetdance, mas magaganda pa kaysa sa mga binebentang masks.
>dave, galing! buti ka pa at kahit papaano naka punta na kayo.
>hi lizzie, im glad that you like the photos but i believe that these masks are nothing to what they'll be using during the streetdance. regarding taking of photos, it's just practice practice and a lot of love in doing it.
>hi tentay, next destination is iloilo. just keep in touch. be happy.
>hi lalaine, salamat. yung dala ko nung nagkita tayo yon ang gamit kong camera. hopefully makabili na rin ng dslr.
oo nga. kung marami lang talaga akong pera sinama ko na kayo ni doc. hehehe...
>hi joshmarie, siguradong enjoy na enjoy ka.
>hi donata, thanks a lot! thanks for dropping by.
>jm, yes. very similar to the ones in venice.
what i like about the masskara is that its so colorful. however, the festival song just goes on and on that it gets to be overbearing.
Beautiful idea the "festival of smiles". I think the hospitality in these places is really excellent.
This masks reminds me of Venice...So colorful and rich in culture!
this is really impressive...what an explosion of colour and art...
awesome costumes!!
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