LAST year, the debate over the official title of Bacolod City’s annual beauty pageant resurfaced, and with it, the name Rodney Mitz Ascalon came up. From the traditional “MassKara Queen,” the title had changed several times under former Bacolod mayor Albee Benitez — first to “Miss Bacolod,” then “Miss Bacolod MassKara,” and briefly, an attempt was made to rename it “Miss Super City Bacolod,” dropping the word MassKara entirely.
These constant changes irked the media sector, prompting a short but heated debate between journalists and organizers from Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, Inc. at a press conference at Ciano’s Restaurant. In that discussion, Ascalon of Acids Production was tagged as the “culprit” behind the repeated name changes of Bacolod’s celebrated beauty search. That question — “Who is Rodney Ascalon?” — pushed the Yuhum Foundation to reconsider the pageant’s title, ultimately reaffirming Miss Bacolod MassKara.
From pageants to festival leadership
Fast forward to the present: Ascalon is now president of Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc., the organization tasked with handling the MassKara Festival. Personally, I didn’t know him before, but I have seen his work in numerous pageants across Negros — Dinagsa Queen in Cadiz, Miss Talisay in Talisay, Kadalag-an Queen in Victorias, and Diwata sang Kali in Don Salvador Benedicto, among others.
Widely recognized as a director and producer through his Team Acids Production, Ascalon has spent more than a decade mastering beauty pageants, choreography, and stage production. His experiences, including challenges like the 2023 Lin-ay sang Negros controversy, have honed his resilience and credibility. Over time, many local mayors have come to trust Ascalon and his team to deliver successful events.
A leader shaped by experience
Ascalon’s journey began as a cheerleader for the Artians Cheering Squad of the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, which gave him the foundation in dance, choreography, and handling pressure. Successes were numerous, failures inevitable, but these experiences shaped him into a resilient and resourceful production director.
Taking on MassKara Festival, a 19-day world-renowned event, was no small task. When Mayor Greg Gasataya invited him to lead the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Ascalon accepted with an open heart, committed to revitalizing the festival after years of financial and organizational challenges.
Discipline, excellence, and care
Known for being strict on and off stage, Ascalon emphasizes discipline and excellence for the benefit of his team, which he affectionately calls his “baby” — Team Acids. He believes that a well-managed production not only delivers outstanding shows but also provides livelihoods for the people behind the scenes. His philosophy is simple: trust, hard work, and care for people are key to both artistic and economic success.
MassKara Festival in capable hands
Ascalon’s “migration” to MassKara Festival director and head of Bacolod Gugma Foundation is more than a career advancement — it’s a testament to his dedication, leadership, and humility. Over a decade of experience in stage production has prepared him to manage one of the Philippines’ most beloved cultural festivals.
Under his directorship, Bacolod and the MassKara Festival are in capable hands. His mastery in coordination, negotiation, and stagecraft ensures the city’s cultural pride continues to shine.
So, again, the question remains: Who is Rodney Ascalon?
He is a leader, a production maestro, and a man committed to excellence — the driving force behind Bacolod’s brightest smiles./PN
