PI00007889

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007891

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007893

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007895

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007890

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007892

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.

PI00007894

MassKara is a relatively modern festival, created to revitalize the local communities of Bacolod City that had been experiencing economic recession affected by the sugar crisis in 1970s. In the city of Bacolod, artist Ely Santiago introduced the "MassKara Festival," a captivating event where the entire community dons "smiling masks" and partakes in a joyous march. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of the depressed community and bring back smiles to people's faces. The festival’s name, 'MassKara', derives its meaning from the combination of 'Mass', representing the public, and 'Kara', a Spanish word for 'face' that also translates to 'mask' in Tagalog. The highlight of the festival is a parade in which people take to the streets of Bacolod, festively dancing in groups wearing a smiling mask. The parade sees the voluntary participation of citizens, and as such active participation fuels the festival’s growth, it has come to occupy a position as a major festival in Asia. Masks worn during the festival are not light. Including the headdress, each mask weighs from one to five kilograms, depending on the size and embellishments of the mask, which has to be attractive from any angle.