BACOLOD CITY – The 46th MassKara Festival 2025, which concluded recently, brought in more than P17 million in food park sales across two major festival sites, highlighting its continued role as a key driver of local economic activity.
According to the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI), the combined sales from the Bacolod City Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) Grounds totaled P17.06 million, based on final declarations from participating concessionaires. The foundation served as an official organizer of this year’s festival in partnership with the city government.
At the public plaza, sales reached P11.87 million, with grilling stalls generating the highest revenue at P8.82 million, reflecting strong preference for grilled street food among Bacolodnons and tourists alike. The final week of the festival alone (October 11–19) accounted for over P5.8 million in grilling sales. Food carts earned P2 million, while dry goods vendors earned P1.03 million. A total of 79 vendors operated at the plaza, including 29 grilling kiosks, 20 food carts, and 30 dry goods sellers.
At the BCGC Grounds, declared sales reached P5.19 million, with grilling again leading at P4.79 million. The peak period was also during the festival’s final week (October 15–19), when grilling sales alone exceeded P2 million. Food carts contributed P396,415, while 26 dry goods vendors also participated, bringing the total to 58 entrepreneurs at the site.
While the public plaza outperformed BCGC in all sales categories due to its central location, longer operating hours, and heavier foot traffic, BCGC provided a more spacious, family-oriented experience, particularly during the final stretch of the festivities.
Festival Director and BGFI President Rodney Mitz Ascalon emphasized that the sales figures represent more than just revenue.
“Each peso earned tells a story of community resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural pride. This year, MassKara lived up to its promise of inclusivity. We didn’t just fill the streets with smiles — we filled homes with income and hope,” he said.
In total, more than 130 small and medium-sized vendors benefited directly from the festival food parks. The P17 million in recorded sales does not yet include income from other festival sites such as The Upper East – Megaworld and Lacson Tourism Strip, nor from roaming or unofficial vendors, indicating that the broader economic impact may be even higher./PN
