#itsmorefuninthePhiippines : What MassKara Festival Can Learn From Dinagyang Festival

Yes, Bacolod City's famous Masskara Festival can definitely learn from Iloilo City's Dinagyang Festival, which, ironically, is just a short ferry ride away.

Last year, I attended both Dinagyang and Masskara Festivals. Dinagyang was held in January; Masskara in October.

Dinagyang Festival, which is one of the most popular festivals in the Philippines alongside Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan, Sinulog of Cebu City, Masskara of Bacolod City, and Kadayawan of Davao City, showcases the aeta, or ati, history of Panay Island.

Although the streets of Iloilo City were closed to vehicular traffic, the residents and local and international visitors to the city were able to watch the performances of the competing tribus, or tribes, because the organizers of the Dinagyang Festival assigned five (5) performance stages around the city center where the tribes performed.

The closest performance stage to our hotel in Iloilo City was just a hundred meters away, but since the tribes had to move from one performance stage to the next, all of them passed right in front of our hotel, where we just conveniently waited and took photos.

After a weekend enjoying the Dinagyang Festival, we left Iloilo City as very happy tourists.

Then came the Masskara. 

                   (Masskara souvenir masks)

Having lived in Bacolod City, the host of Masskara Festival, I thought it was just easy to watch and enjoy the performances of the participating tribes.

I was wrong.

Since the tribes competing at the Masskara Festival were performing only at one spot, the Bacolod public plaza, you have to squeeze through the tight crowd to get a seat around the performance spot. Those seats I think were reserved for local officials and local sponsors. So, if you're not a politician or a bigshot businessman, you can never get a seat in there; you'd never be able to watch the performances during the Masskara Festival highlights at the public plaza.

In short, if you're a nobody, you never get a seat at the grandstand.

(Bacoleños at the Araneta Street entrance could not get into the Bacolod public plaza grounds)

Last year, I attempted to watch at the public plaza but it was locked down by the police. They closed off the area mid-afternoon and only the people who were there early were inside. If you were trying to get inside the public plaza premises before the performances, you could never get in. Disappointing.

(I joined the disappointed people who 

were turned away by the police at the 

Bacolod public plaza entrance) 

(Kept out: The scene at the Araneta St. 

entrance to the public plaza)

I tried entering through the entrance in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral, they wouldn't let us in. I walked around the plaza and ended up at the Araneta Street entrance, still no luck. There, I joined the crowd of unhappy Bacoleños who couldn't even enjoy their own festival.😠

(A baby and her mom hoped to watch and enjoy the performances. Like me, they were disappointed.)


If only the organizers of the Masskara Festival assigned a few other performance stages around the city center, more Bacoleños, and local and international tourists would have been able to enjoy the dancers' elaborate costumes and their performance.😢

If the issue is the energy of the dancers or the heaviness of their masks and costumes, then they could probably just perform a snippet (maybe for a minute or two) of their full performance during these 'stopovers' en route to the Bacolod public plaza. 

Because the whole point of the Masskara Festival is to provide enjoyment to the public through street dancing wearing those colorful masks and elaborate costumes. This was the main reason why it was organized in 1980. 

And aren't there separate prizes for the street dancing and choreography? So that their dancing and performances could be appreciated by the public?

If ONLY the government officials and VIPs are allowed to watch the performances comfortable sitting at the public plaza stage, and NOT the Bacoleños and visitors, WHAT THEN IS THE POINT of all these? They could just have a fashion show of their costumes along Araneta Street instead, after which we could all go home without breaking a sweat.😩

This is the Dinagyang Festival's route for the competing tribes showing five (5) performance stages:

(Map courtesy of dinagyangsailoilo website)

Does the Masskara Festival also have a ROUTE MAP like Dinagyang's? Where can I find it?

So, my first question is: Will the Masskara Festival have several spots at the city center where the tribes will be performing snippets of their whole dance routine?

(Locals trying to have fun amidst the lock down)

I'm also asking: if the Ilonggos at Dinagyang Festival could perform at FIVE spots around the city center, carrying their costumes and props along with them, why couldn't Bacoleños at Masskara? (Watch them carry their costumes and props around the city in this video).

But my most important question is: Am I going to make the trip so I can watch, too?😱 

Hmm. Don't know. I may just be disappointed again.😛