Bacolod city: Preparations are underway for the 47th edition of this highly urbanized city's MassKara Festival, slated on Oct. 1 to 18, the city government announced on Wednesday. Mayor Greg Gasataya said he has initially met with organizers from the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc. (BGFI) to discuss plans and preparations, and will next meet with the City Council to tackle concerns that would ensure seamless coordination among the stakeholders. 'The impact of last year's activities was remarkable, including the school street dancing category. I would definitely recommend retaining this,' he said in a statement.

According to Philippines News Agency, helming the city's biggest cultural celebration for the second year, BGFI president Rodney Ascalon thanked Gasataya for the continued trust as they start preparations five months ahead of the festival. 'We are excited to further improve the festivities this year, based on the lessons and experiences gained from last year's celebration. We are preparing early because we want to ensure that this year's MassKara Festival will be bigger, more meaningful, and more inclusive for everyone,' Ascalon said.

Pre-MassKara activities are scheduled throughout the festival period, while the major events and highlights are set from Oct. 9 to 18. The closing and awarding ceremonies are slated for Oct. 25. From Oct. 1 to 8, mall events, art-centered programs, and other preliminary gatherings will lead up to the main festivities. Among these are the MassKaralympics, the festival's multi-sport showcase and various sectoral events. MassKara, which translates to the festival of many faces, was born after a series of tragedies faced by the Negrenses and Bacolodnons in the early 1980s, particularly the sugar industry crisis and the sinking of Negros Navigation's M/V Don Juan.