BACOLOD City – With just four months to go, preparations are underway for the 2025 MassKara Festival, and incoming city officials plan to bring the festival’s highlights back to the Bacolod Public Plaza to restore its traditional spirit.
Incoming Mayor Greg Gasataya, the city’s current lone district congressman, disclosed that he wants to return the arena and street dance competitions to the plaza, as was the custom in previous years.
In 2022, when Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the incoming congressman, assumed office, the MassKara street and arena dance competitions were relocated to the Paglaum Sports Complex — an area owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government.
Gasataya emphasized his intention to bring back the celebration to its roots.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of people, especially those in business and those with expertise in organizing the festival,” he said, adding that more details will be announced after he officially assumes office on June 30.
The MassKara Festival is held annually through City Ordinance No. 09-17-820, dated May 24, 2017, which set the fourth Sunday of October as the permanent schedule for the festival highlights.
Gasataya also shared that he plans to retain the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation (BYF), the current organizer of the MassKara Festival, but may introduce new leadership composed of Bacolodnons with fresh ideas. He hinted that only one person from the existing team might be retained.
“Ang mapalakat and everything amo na subong ang naistoryahan namon. Damo nga taga-Bacolod ang nag-signify sang ila interest to help [run the festival],” Gasataya said, referring to discussions on potential changes in the festival’s management.
He added that the foundation’s structure and personnel are currently under evaluation based on their efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation.
The term MassKara is derived from two words: “mass,” meaning “many,” and the Spanish word “kara,” meaning “face” — thus, a “festival of many faces,” symbolizing the resilience and optimism of Bacolodnons./PN
