Preparations
It is always wise to book your flight early if you intend to attend the MassKara Festival. Although it is a month-long celebration, the highlights of the event are usually on the third weekend of October. Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, and Air Phil always have promo fares. As I write this, If I book a flight to Bacolod (coming from Manila) for next year's MassKara, my air fare is only around 1,300 pesos, round-trip.
If you are coming from Iloilo, you should buy your 2Go (formerly SuperCat Ferry) tickets early as well. Better if you buy yours a week early because basing from what my friends told me, walk-in buyers (especially on the Saturday and Sunday highlights of MassKara) usually become chance passengers. And I was told, chances are very slim.
With regards to accommodation in Bacolod, hotels and pension houses become fully-booked as October starts. It is advisable to reserve a room two months before, and advance payment is expected for the confirmation of your reservation. To be honest, I had a lousy accommodation in one of the pension houses in Bacolod. And to my surprise, a single mini-room costs 1,200 pesos per night. I am not quite sure if it is legal, or at the very least normal, but the prices of accommodation are higher during the MassKara Festival week compared to ordinary days. Mine doubled in terms of price.
Highlights
If you have only three days and two nights to stay in Bacolod, I suggest that you book your flight early Saturday, (first flight, if necessary), and have your return trip on Monday. Take this year's schedule as reference for next year's celebration:
Saturday:
MassKara Village
Street dance competition (school category)
Mall shows of celebrities
Electric MassKara
Food festival and street party
Sunday:
Street dance competition (barangay category)
Electric MassKara
Food festival and street party
Other places of interest:
The Ruins in Talisay City
Ancestral Houses in Silay City
Mambukal Mountain Resort
Summary
October 20 (Saturday)
On Saturday morning, I went to Robinson's Place-Bacolod to check the MassKara Village, a mask-making exhibit (58 entries this year) hosted by ABS-CBN. Colorful and very creative masks were displayed at the second floor of the mall. After taking lots of pictures of the masks, I then transferred to Gaisano City.
I had lunch at Ted's Lapaz Batchoy, and since it was drizzling, I stayed a bit inside Bob's Restaurant and ordered a slice of blueberry cheesecake and a cup of hot cappuccino. There was a Kapamilya caravan at the parking area but because of the really thick crowd waiting for the stars of the top-rating drama series, Walang Hanggan, I know I wouldn't be able to take decent pictures of the celebrities anyway. And so, I took a jeepney to SM City.
The government blocked some of the major streets because of the MassKara celebration. As I walked towards the Bacolod Public Plaza, it was just the perfect timing as the street dance competition for schools just started. It drizzled towards the end of the parade.
SM City is walking distance away from the public plaza. When I went there for dinner, the Kapuso mall show was about to conclude. I was able to take pictures of some celebrities up close. I saw JC Tiuseco, Lovi Poe, Glaiza de Castro, and Luis Alandy. I bought some really nice souvenir shirts before I proceeded to the Tourism Strip for the street party and to see the Electric MassKara.
The venue of the street party is from the 5th St. towards 22nd St. along Lacson Street. I love the energy of the street party. Throngs of people went to witness Electric MassKara. The whole strip is jam packed. A lot of food kiosks were also set up in both sides of the street.
October 21 (Sunday)
On Sunday, after eating in a nearby restaurant, I hailed a cab that was supposed to take me to the public plaza. But after several turns, we noticed that some roads have been blocked. As I saw several dancers making their way towards Araneta Street, I got out of the taxi and just followed where the crowd was heading.
I was lucky to have taken photos of the dancers up close. I am not quite sure if I have covered all the competing groups, but I was happy with the experience of being in Bacolod, celebrating MassKara Festival. The costumes were very colorful, the masks were very creative and meticulously done, and the dancers were very energetic.
Here is the list of entries of MassKara Festival 2012:
I. Street Dance: Barangay Category
II. MassKara Festival 2012 in Pictures
III. MassKara Village at Robinson's Place-Bacolod
IV. Electric MassKara, Street Dance: School Category
V. MassKara Festival: Preparations, Highlights, Summary
