Bacolod: Mayor Greg Gasataya has chosen the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc. to organize the esteemed MassKara Festival, a hallmark event of the city celebrated annually in October.

According to Philippines News Agency, the MassKara Festival, now reaching its 46th year, is set to begin on October 1, with its main events scheduled for October 19, the third Sunday of the month. Rodney Mitz Ascalon, the foundation president and festival director, extended an invitation to the Bacolodnons to participate actively in the festival, urging them to join as co-creators rather than mere spectators. The aim is to craft a festival that truly embodies the spirit of the "City of Smiles."

Ascalon emphasized that the festival's vision, centered on "love in action" through service, unity, and cultural pride, aligns with Mayor Gasataya's dedication to returning the festival to its roots, focusing on community involvement. The theme for MassKara 2025, "unity through love," is expected to foster a grassroots-driven celebration.

The core team assisting Ascalon includes lawyer Hannah Lea Ta±oso De la Torre as corporate secretary and legal affairs head, Joanna Angelica Ortillo as foundation treasurer, Edsel Prado overseeing accounting and finance, and Christine Panes-Ceraspe managing administration and secretariat operations.

Mayor Gasataya mentioned that the final venue for major events is still under discussion, and the festival's schedule will be streamlined to prevent an excessively long celebration. The objective is to craft a meaningful and joyous experience from the outset, with a focus on encouraging participation from Bacolodnons, including those returning home for the festivities.

After a pause caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the MassKara Festival made a comeback in 2022, organized by the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation, Inc., which will continue its role until 2024. Known as one of the country's most vibrant festivals, MassKara features dancers in carnival-style costumes and masks, performing on the streets and in arenas during the event's finale. The festival originated in the early 1980s, following a series of adversities, including a crisis in the sugar industry and the tragic sinking of the Negros Navigation's MV Don Juan.