My MassKara Festival Story

Each and every tourist and local who has experienced this year’s masskara Festival has his/her own story to tell. Mine started as early as March…

While we are very busy preparing for the Kadalag-an Festival in Victorias City, the first draft of our Masskara Festival Costume was drawn. But it has undergone several changes before it became a reality.

Then around May, I went back to Bacolod for an overnight meeting/planning. We changed our costume design, drafted budget plans and all. I started to feel the excitement. But of course, I know stress is also coming up.

From there I started to look for sponsors who could help us lessen our expenses. Looking for sponsors is not an easy task. It’s not easy to convince companies to support us in our dream of grabbing the Championship Crown of the Masskara Festival.

First week of July I went back to Bacolod again for another meeting. Thsi time our costume design got another revision. I was supposed to stay in Bacolod for a week, but I have to cut it short because of my swelling thumb. It was infected with a flesh-eating bacteria and I had to rush back to Manila to undergo minor surgery.

The operation has slowed me down. I cancelled several trips to take a rest and recover from the illness.

Last week of August our Costume Design Team flew from Bacolod to Manila, courtesy of AirPhil Express

For several days, we scoured every nook and cranny of Manila’s shopping districts. We looked for fabrics that were never been used in Masskara Festivalbefore, we looked for beads, laces, threads, buttons and other accessories that will be used for the groups costume and mask.

It was very tiring but fun. During the team’s last day in Manila, we had a free time so we got to stroll in Megamall, Shangri-la, more ukay-ukay in Baclaran before finally going to the Mall of Asia. After making rounds in several stores, I finally got to buy my shoes which I will be using during the streetdance competition!

Our 100-kilo Cargo

A day later, our design team went back to Bacolod and started working on the headress and costumes. A week later, September 7 to be specific, I also flew to Bacolod to prepare for the Masskara Festival 2011.

Upon arrival in Bacolod, preparations are already in full swing. Rehearsals are already held nightly. Wala nang atrasan ito.

Last week of September I had to leave Bacolod for Cebu to attend a media event. Since I am already at the Queen City of the South, might as well grab the opportunity to buy extra materials for our dancers’ costumes and masks. So off I went to the secret beadshop to buy more beads and the bracelets which I will be using during the contest.

I only stayed in Cebu for a night, but it was a very fruitful stay. I got to buy the stuff that I need and I was also able to hear mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino. I also offered Sinulog prayer dance for our group.

October 8 is the Masskara Festival 2011 mask and costume judging. Everyone is excited. This is also the first time that the masks and costumes will be out in the public. Since its inception, planning and design work has always been closed doors.

I am so proud of our costume and mask! di papatalo! one of the finest in this year’s competition. Although we did not win the Best in Costume and Mask award, I am still happy with what we had. People appreciate how bwautiful and intricate our costume and mask designs are. and the girls wearing the bikini? It’s the bomb! No other group has done that this year.

The banig is a stunner in the girls mask. Who would’ve thought that a banig with its intricate design can be made into a mask/headress? Did I say we also made noise, literally? our costumes are full of brass bells I had to order from South Cotabato.

October 10 was the first Nights of Mardi Gras. It was a 3-night revelry/sound test for the bands. The Nights of Mardi Gras is sponsored by ABS CBN. Our group won the Dancers of the night award as well as the most creative ABS CBN Logo special prize. hindi kami umuwing luhaan

me, doing some finishing touches on my pants

October 11 Dancers had their mask/headress fitting. They had put lots of foam inside the fiberglass skull for a snug fit. they also had to attach cords to their mask. It was also the first rehearsal where they got to wear their headresses. Magulo pa,syempre first time.

October 12-13 Blocking rehearsals at the Bacolod Public Plaza.Our blocking is scheduled 12midnight to 2AM. We had to schedule it at the unholiest hour so that less people can see our rehearsals. Bonbon and I normally go home at 3 in the morning and sleep at around 4AM.

details of our pants

October 14. MasKara Festival highlights na! My blogger friends are arriving one by one. I went to the Public Plaza to judge the Giant Puppets competition of the LCC ARFIEN Department. Got to meet Donna and Eman. blogger friends from GenSan and both first timers in MassKara Festival

After the competition electric Masskara Competition followed, but I did not wat for it. Balik rehearsals ako.

October 15, I had lunch with Karla, Sha, Donna, Eman, Sinjin, X, Marky, and Aleah at Bob’s. Afterwhich, Marky Aleah, Donna and Eman went to Robinson’s Place Bacolod, while Sinjin, X, Karla Sha and I went to Calea Balay Quince. Diosko parang palengke! It’s soooooooooooo noisy and full of people. Oh well, you can’t blame them. Everyone’s eager to sample their great tasting cakes.

After having desserts and coffee, we then took a cab going to Lupit Church where the Masskara Festival 2011 Streetdance competition School Category will start.

This year, I decided not to get Media ID so I just shoot from the street. Thank God the weather is very sunny. A lot of people trooped to the Araneta Street to witness the streetdance parade. This is also the very last time that MassKara is using soundboxes for the dancers’ music.

After the streetdance parade I went back to the gym where our nightly rehearsals are held for our dress rehearsal. A lot of people were already inside the gym waiting to see our routine for the very first time. Since our rehearsals started late in August, the gym is always off limits to the public.

So the dress rehearsals was finally held. Sinjin of Libotero.com as well as X was there. The bosses from the Cebu Office of AirPhil Express were also present to witness the performance. Imagine, they cancelled their flight just to see the dress rehearsals! Kaloka lang!

October 16 – It’s D-Day! This is it! the plans that we have been doing since March all leads to this day. This is the day where we will be going out in the street in full costume. Its The Masskara Festival Streetdance Competition – Barangay Category, and it IS the highlight of the festival.

Thousads of tourists and photographers are expected to be in the streets to take photographs, this time, kami naman ang bida!

Dancers’ call time is 9AM. So off I went to the gym with Bonbon. He stayed there the whole morning fixing his costume. While I went back to Brgy 17 to fix my costume. Hindi pa tapos costume ko! Kaloka di ba! Good thing we were able to pull it off before lunch time.

We all left the gym at around 2:30PM the Streetdance started 3PM and we are the last performance so no need to rush.

Upon arrival a lot of photographers were taking pictures of our dancers here and there.

And then our turn to go out in the streets came. It was exciting. A lot of people were actually cheering for us. You’d never feel the heat or tiredness when you can hear the crowd cheering for you. Nakakawalang pagod.

And later that evening, winners were announced. Brgy. Banago emerged as this year’s Overall Champion, while our group from Brgy 17 won the First Runner up. We also bagged the Best in Choreography Award and the Photographers’ Choice Award.

Our Dancers with John Maratas, one of our costume designers

Last year, our group also won the first Runner up Trophy and the Best in Choreography award.

This year’s Masskara Festival is over.  This year is very memorable to me as I also decided to join the streetdancing competition. It’s been more than a decade ago since I joined the streetdancing in Masskara. It’s fun! I am looking forward to the celebration of the MassKara festival 2012. I dunno what crazy ideas we will be implementing for our props costume and headress.

abangan ang susunod na kabanata…See you in 2012!

Photo by sinjin Pineda

Many thanks to AirPhil Express for supporting us during the MassKara Festival 2011! Experience the sweet life in Bacolod! Fly with AirPhil Express! The Philippines Fastest Growing Airlines flies 3x daily to the City of Smiles from Manila and twice daily from Cebu.

Heres a video of the streetdance routine of our dancers

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