BACOLOD City — The city government here is all set for the grand opening of the world-renowned MassKara Festival 2025 at 4 p.m. today, October 1, to be held simultaneously at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds and the Bacolod Public Plaza.
The festival, which runs until October 19, will feature a series of highlights, including the highly anticipated Electric MassKara on October 17 at the Lacson Tourism Strip.
The much-awaited school and barangay categories’ MassKara arena and street dance competitions are set for October 18 and 19, respectively. This year, a new twist awaits festival-goers: participating groups will first perform their arena dance at the Paglaum Sports Complex before proceeding with the street dance toward the Bacolod Public Plaza.
Mayor Greg Gasataya assured the public that the city’s preparations and assistance are in full swing, in close coordination with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI), the festival’s main organizer.
“If there are matters that need fine-tuning, the city government is facilitating them,” he said, adding that the attendance of national officials has yet to be confirmed.
Gasataya invited Bacolodnons and visitors alike to join the historic launch of the festival in two separate venues under a single program. He also emphasized the essence of the MassKara Festival: “We should bring back the true meaning of MassKara — to honor the culture and resiliency of the Bacolodnon in times of tragedy and crisis.”
From October 1 to 5, the festival will feature programs designed to thrill audiences at the BCGC, enliven the historic plaza, and bring festive cheer to partner malls, setting the tone for the rest of the celebration.
Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon said this year’s festivities embody the spirit of gugma — love for the city, the people, and its culture. “
MassKara 2025 is not just a festival, it is a celebration for the people — from the grassroots to every sector of society. This is our way of ensuring that everyone sees themselves in the festival and feels part of the legacy we are building,” he said.
Ascalon also noted that this year’s programming reflects Mayor Gasataya’s Gugma Agenda, putting inclusivity and grassroots participation at the heart of the celebration.
The annual MassKara Festival is institutionalized under City Ordinance (CO) No. 09-17-820, passed on May 24, 2017, which sets the fourth Sunday of October as the permanent date for the festival’s highlights. However, in April this year, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on third and final reading an amendment to CO 09-17-820 which now sets the third Sunday of October as the permanent date for the MassKara highlights./PN
