ocal History

COLOD CIT
BA Y
MASSKARA FESTIVAL
GROUP MEMBERS: C80
GINETE (l)
FLORENCIO
SOLITAS
BILLONES
DELA CRUZ
LAMATON
RAMIREZ
PEÑONAL
MASCUÑANA
ESPERA
ESPANO
 Masskara Festival
Every year, on the fourth Sunday in October, Bacolod, Philippines, hosts the MassKara
Festival. This year's event occurs on October 22. It's been recognized for more than 40
years as a time for locals and visitors to haveFESTIVAL
MASSKARA fun, drink, and party on the city streets as
one of the major festivals in the country. The MassKara Festival was established in 1980
as a result of a crisis and tragedy when sugar prices, the main source of income, were at
an all-time low. In addition to all of this, this year saw a devastating boat accident, and
the MassKara Festival was staged to uplift the spirits of the inhabitants.

Source: Kiani, T. (2022, June 23). Masskara Festival. National Today. Retrieved March 7,
2023, from https://nationaltoday.com/masskara-festival/
HISTORICAL SIGNIFANCE OF MASSKARA
When President Ferdinand Marcos was in power,
the MassKara Festival was first held in 1980. With
the launch of sugar substitutes into the market,
sugar prices, the province's primary agricultural
product and source of income, reached a record
low. Because to this, two artists decided to
advocate for mask manufacturing as a potential
other source of income for the community. The
same year, a catastrophic ferry accident took place
when the MV Don Juan sunk, killing several
residents of the area. The MassKara Festival was
subsequently developed to restore smiles and
improve the spirits of the inhabitants during those
trying times.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFANCE OF MASSKARA
The MassKara Festival is a celebration of Bacolod's
resilience in the face of challenges and tragedy, with a
dance competition, street party, beauty pageant, food
festivals, and float parade.

Source: Kiani, T. (2022, June 23). Masskara Festival.

National Today. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from
https://nationaltoday.com/masskara-festival/
WHY DID WE CHOOSE MASSKARA AS SUBJECT OF THE PRESENTATION?

GINETE
I choose the Masskara festival of Bacolod because I grew up while integrating my culture and the local history of my people. I love talking about the
Masskara festival because of the beautiful and deep meaning and history of the fesitval. I love that it was created out of love to let Bacolodnons experience
joy and forget the frustrations and sadness of recent events at that time.

MASCUÑANA
I chose Masskara Festival as the subject since I've been born and raised in this city. Its origin and history is important since with these events from the
history can I understand, the background, the origin, and the culture of my birthplace. With these in mind, can I ascertain that I can learn from the
struggles of the past events from also diving deep into what really is Masskara.

RAMIREZ
I choose masskara festival as a subject to lift the spirits of the locals and bring back the smiles on their faces. The smiling masks were a declaration of the
people of Bacolod City that they will pull through and survive the challenges and tragedies that they are facing

BILLONES
We have our meeting, and we decides that we will choose this as our topic for our presentation. We have our different opinions and reasons why we choose this subject. My
reason is that this is our culture and I always like when it comes to celebrate our festival here in bacolod. This history of our festival has a deep meaning on it. We put a mask
with a smile on our face. Since Starting in 1980, the MassKara Festival was born out of a crisis and tragedy when the prices of sugar, the primary livelihood source, were at
an all-time low. Besides this, a tragic ferry incident happened this year, and the MassKara Festival was held to lift the spirit of the locals. To show that although in times of
low, we can still shine and manage to get up to keep on going.
WHY DID WE CHOOSE MASSKARA AS SUBJECT OF THE PRESENTATION?

LAMATON
We chose this topic because the Masskara festival is an important cultural celebration held in Bacolod City, Philippines. It highlights the city's
rich cultural past and represents the resilience and joy of the Filipino people. The festival can be discussed to encourage local tourism, build
community, enjoy the beauty and creativity of the performers, and get insights into the event's fascinating history and cultural relevance.

ESPERA
I chose the Masskara festival as it is the festival of my hometown and I am proud of it. I also feel great happiness whenever other people are
talking about it, and I just feel so much joy to know that I am part of this joyous occasion!

DE LA CRUZ
Why did we choose masskara as subject of the presentation? I chose masskara as a subject of the presentation because it is one of the famous
festivals in the Philippines. It is a particularly important event for Bacolodnons where they can showcase their creativity. I would like to know
why and when it started, and I would also like to hear the ideas of different people on the subject.

PEÑANOL
I chose Masskara Festival for it is important for the Bacolodnon it's like a trademark for us that we have overcome all the hindrances that we
encountered from the past.
WHY DID WE CHOOSE MASSKARA AS SUBJECT OF THE PRESENTATION?

SOLITAS
We chose the masskara festival as our presentation topic because masskara is an annual festival in Bacolod city. Since we grew up and witnessed the
masskara festival, we can easily know the history of this festival.

FLORENCIO
I choose the Masskara Festival of Bacolod because I grew up in this place since birth until now. We celebrated Masskara Festival every month of October. It
gives us joy and happines all through out. And also forget those problems and challenges that we are carrying everyday.

ESPAÑO
I choose MassKara Festival because it is alternately known as the ‘festival of smiles’ due to the tradition of the masks that the people wear donning smiles to
represent the message of happiness. Because of the festival, Bacolod is also designated as the ‘City of Smiles’.
TRANSCIPT OF THE INTERVIEW:

Mardinove A. Ginete ( Professor at USLS from 1977-2000; 89 years old)

Sang una-una gd na Masskara festival, hindi pareho ang subong kag sang una, ang costume sang una revealing and subong very colorful kag covered.
Ang first masskara queen na nag daog deaf na student halin sa BCNHS.

Christine Joy Mascuñana (Bacolodnon, 43 years old)

Actually sng una, daw nadumduman ko nga daw isa lg gd na ka adlaw ang masskara mu. Kg sbng daw may nag addition pgd na bla ang daw
highlight na nga electric masskara ky sng una daw ka simple mlg na nga asta sbng nag bongga na.

Jb briane PLagata (Bacolodnon, 30yrs old)

Based on my own observation regarding with the difference of the current Masskara festival vs. the Masskara celebration before are the following: Our current city Honorable Mayor spend a lot of
government funds to conduct the Masskara Festival, in which there where a lot of amusements on every corner of Bacolod City. There were a lot of activities and famous personalities visited here in
Bacolod to bring off their talents and to entertain Bacolodnons and vistors from different cities and sectors but then it ended leaving a smile and admiration to the current City administration. The old
Masskara Festival was simple and plain but it brings out the best Masskara Festival of all times. The songs were originally created by pure blooded Bacoleños and the genre and set-up was inspired from
the real-life and experiences of the people of Bacolod. The old Masskara Festival was simple but it gave Bacoleños memories that won't last forever. The current administration could have used huge
amount of funds to help Bacoleños who are in need and also, there are a lot of Barangays or small communities that was been affected by the demolition. The administration can use those funds to help
those affected communities and in the result, they could give the biggest smiles to Bacoleños in which that is the main goal of the Masskara Festival which is to bring smiles to the people.

Marvi S. Lamaton (Bacolodnon, 43 years old)

As someone who's lived in Bacolod for a long time, I'd say the biggest difference between the Masskara festival in the past and now is how much it's grown in popularity. It's
evolved over time, incorporating modern themes while still maintaining traditional elements. There are now more events and activities, making it a major cultural event that's an
important part of the Bacolodnon identity.
TRANSCIPT OF THE INTERVIEW:

Arlene N. Nillos (Bacolod native, 55 years old)

Sang una bala, ang Masskara festival daw indi amo na kasadya, pero subong nag-bongga na. May Electric Masskara, competitions between barangays,
and damo na foreigners na naga-kadto di para ma-experience ang festival.

Merly Hubahib, (53 years old)

As far as i know ang Masskara Festival is ginhimo na siya because that time ang presyo sang kalamay diri sa aton syudad nagnubo gid ya
naapektuhan gid ang negosyo sang mga tawo and we all know that Bacolod is the primary source sang kalamay sa bilog na Pilipinas and as you can
see ang aton festival is super sadya kay its goal is to lift the heavy heart of the Bacolodnon who suffers from that difficulty.

May T. Dela Cruz ( Teacher at DMLMHS, 50 years old )

Base sa nabasahan ko nga article sang una, ang rason nga gin ubra kuno ang masskara festival kay para matabunan sang mga tawo ang ila kasubo
nga dulot sang kapigaduhon. Para mabuhinan ini, nagplano ang siyudad sang isa ka festival.

Nenita A. Jumawan( Chairman at Brgy. Handumanan B.C. from 1999-2018; 76 years old)
Gabuligay kami organize sang mga costumes and choreography sang amon dancers. Kag lain gid sang una kag subung nga mga generation.
Especially ang pag improve sang mga costumes kag pagdevelop sang mga steps sang saot kag super colorful gid ang mga props and costumes sa
subung nga tiempo.
TRANSCIPT OF THE INTERVIEW:

Tita( Tessa Billones 32 years old)

Sang tyempo namon ya daw ka simple pa lang man ang amon, sa mga design ka costume, tas ang pag interpret sang saot. Subong ya damo na may
nag bag o, mas nag bakod nagid sa inyo nga henerasyon. Ang mga design ka mga masskara nag colorful na, mas napakita pagid sang mayo ang gina
pahiwatig ang tag sa ka masskara. Tapos ang mga dance steps pagid, mas nag nami pagid ang pag choreograph sang saot. Ga dugay nga naga dugay
mas naga nami ang mga idea kag mga style sang mga choreographers kag ang mga dancer mga abilidaran man.

Sally Monarca (51 years old)

Previously, they used big drums and bamboo instruments, more props. Not just like now, they mixed the music to make it better. They used to make
music with instruments (drums and bamboo) and wore happy masks and colorful costumes.
LEARNINGS:
GINETE: I learned that the purpose of the Masskara festival came from a tragic
history of my people. I learned its uplighting meaning and purpose. I learned
interesting facts that only locals knew about the Masskara festival.

MASCUÑANA: I've learned two things about the Masskara Festival. First is the
resilience of the city being able to turn the tragedy into a festival. And, that it
is known for its creativity especially when it comes to costumes. I learned
these values when we have dived down on what Masskara festival is all about.

RAMIREZ: What i’ve learned about masskara festival is despite of traumatic

tragedy that happened we able to recover and enjoy the festival without fear
and we’re always excited when the masskara festival event is fast
approaching.

BILLONES: I learn how we improve our festival, the joy's that masskara gives to
us when it comes to celebrate our festival. The deeper meaning of masskara,
its history and the differences in our time now and the past of masskara. It
keeps improving as the time goes by and it will more better in the future.
LEARNINGS:
LAMATON: I discovered that the Masskara event came into being in the 1980s
as a reaction to the political and economic difficulties Bacolod City was
experiencing. I also discovered that the celebration is culturally significant,
reflecting the city's rich tradition and symbolizing the resiliency and pleasure
of the Filipino people. Performers dress in extravagant costumes and masks
and execute challenging choreography to achieve this. I also discovered that
the festival has a significant economic impact, drawing visitors from all over
the world and boosting the local economy. Finally, I learned that the Masskara
celebration is crucial to creating a sense of community and developing pride
and harmony among Bacolod City residents.

ESPERA: I've learned a thing or two about the Masskara festival. It's about
preserving the smile of the people. The reason why the masks smile is because
the festival was meant to cheer up people because of the tragedies that
happened to negrenses back then when the festival didn't exist yet.

PEÑONAL: I learned that Filipino People are very resilient because despite of
the things the we encountered that have tested us, regardless of all the losses
and failures we are still able to bounce back and made those failures to as a
thing to to stand up again.
LEARNINGS:
DE LA CRUZ: I learned a lot of things about the Masskara festival. It was
established in response to a crisis in Bacolod City. Despite its dark and tragic
history, it still left us with a beautiful message which is to find ways to escape
the sad atmosphere for a moment and never lose hope.

SOLITAS: I understand that the masskara festival derives from a complicated

occurrence, but they still celebrate it to restore the smiles of the people who
were previously afflicted by the situation in Bacolod. The Masskara
celebration is a representation of how, despite the challenges in our lives, we
continue to believe in the possibility of success.

FLORENCIO: I learned that the purpose of Masskara Festival is to make us feel

the freedom and happiness while celebrating this Festival, eventhough many
problems and challenges came in our different lives, we are still celebrating it
genuinely and happy. We always wear the smile in our faces everyday.

ESPAÑO: The smiling masks used in the festival were a declaration of Bacolod
locals' resilience in the face of challenges and tragedy, prompting the city to
become known as the “City of Smiles.”
MASSKARA FESTIVAL
GROUP MEMBERS: C80
GINETE (l)
FLORENCIO
SOLITAS
BILLONES
DELA CRUZ
LAMATON
RAMIREZ
PEÑONAL
MASCUÑANA
ESPERA
ESPAÑO