My parents' friends would say Bacolod was more flamboyant than conservative Iloilo, and rich women had gems by the garapon.
Alas, the sugar crisis struck. But trust Bacolodnons to bounce back - with a smile!
True to its moniker the "City of Smiles," Bacolod has a festival of masks aptly named "MassKara," but the masks have smiles. No sad faces, no Money Heist type of masks. Just masks that lift the corners of one's lips and one's heart.
Historical sources say the festival was born in 1980, a time of extreme want and heartbreaking suffering for the majority of its people who relied on sugarcane for sustenance and survival.
Nowadays, when people talk about the "MassKara" Festival after a well-timed trip to Bacolod in Negros Occidental, hardly anyone starts their stories with the sugar crisis that caused famine in the province.
Instead, they come home with stories of colorful masks, electrifying street dances, all-night drinking and dancing - armed with bags of piayas, toasted polvoron and a host of other delicacies that turn story time into snack time. And if only for that, the MassKara Festival, which recently marked its 45th run in the "City of Smiles," has truly carried on its legacy.
As PeopleAsia managing editor Jose Paolo dela Cruz reminded me after his recent trip to Bacolod as a judge at the MassKara 2024 Arena Dance Competition finale, MassKara festival was born out of tragedy.
Denne historien er fra November 05, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
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Denne historien er fra November 05, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
JAMES AND OLIVER PHELPS: IN MAX CULINARY SHOW
JAMES AND OLIVER PHELPS, fondly remembered as the \"Harry Potter\" twins Fred and George Weasley, recently brought a wave of magic and nostalgia to Manila.
White Christmas goes K-pop
White Christmas has made it to the era of K-Pop. The big music news this week is that V, one of those cute guys of BTS, is releasing a new version of White Christmas.
WHY 'SAVING GRACE' IS A SPECIAL PROJECT FOR JULIA MONTES
The latest ABS-CBN drama series \"Saving Grace\" is not only special for Julia Montes because it is her teleserye comeback, but also because of the late Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal.
HOLIDAY OFFERINGS BEYOND STEAKS
Carmelo's Steakhouse introduces options that are great to share among friends and families.
A COLLAB HAPAG DINNER: WHEN FILIPINO AND INDONESIAN FLAVORS COME TOGETHER
Last Nov. 6, Manila's dining scene was on steroids. Three major collaborations lit up the city in a single evening: Gallery by Chele worked with Ando in Hong Kong, Toyo Eatery & Inato joined forces with Born & Bred from Seoul, and tucked away in Balmori Suites, Hapag's first international collaboration with Jakarta's acclaimed restaurant August.
BEAUTIFUL BRISBANE
One cannot visit Australia without seeing a koala or a kangaroo! Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the first and largest koala sanctuary in Australia, founded in 1927.
36TH ANNIVERSARY OF ICCP GROUP AT SHANG BGC
CCP Group chairman Guillermo Luchangco, a seasoned investment banker, shared his thoughts on the success of the ICCP Group with all his guests and senior management team at the 36th anniversary celebration of one of the country's leading investment houses at Shangri-La, Bonifacio Global City.
M BAKERY BEYOND CARRIE BRADSHAW
A bakery going by the moniker M is now open at the upscale Opus Mall in Bridgetowne. This is a mixed township and real estate park tucked away on a side street from E. Rodriguez Sr., near Ortigas Avenue Extension.
A MAGIC PAN, PAELLA FOR THE SOUL
My soulmate Margie knows that when I am in a funk, three things spark joy (sorry, Marie Kondo), relieving a grumpiness unseen by many over the last few years. First, give me a hotdog, yes, the red tender juicy, a culinary enigma of mystery meat—this isn't just any dog, it must be Jolly Hotdog.
CHP unloads shares in another foreign unit
Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. (CHP) has disposed its shares in another foreign subsidiary.
