The recently-concluded MassKara Festival 2025 has once again proven to be a major driver of local economic activity, with the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) reporting a combined P17.06 million in total food park sales across two festival zones — the public plaza and the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds.
The figure is based on final declarations submitted by concessionaires, affirming the festival’s role as a significant source of livelihood for local small business owners and vendors.
The public plaza led in overall sales, generating P11.87 million from Oct. 1-19. Of the amount, grilling stalls brought in the highest revenue at P8.82 million, reflecting Bacolodnons’ and tourists’ strong preference for grilled street food, particularly during nighttime festivities.
The Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. said P17.06 million in total food park sales had been reported in two MassKara Festival zones — the public plaza and the Bacolod Government Center grounds – from Oct. 1-19. | BGFI photo
Notably, the final week of the festival — Oct. 11 to 19 — accounted for over P5.8 million in grilling sales alone, indicating a sharp increase in consumer activity leading into the highlight events.
Food carts earned P2 million, and dry goods vendors P1.03 million, showing that non-food offerings still attracted consistent interest across the three-week celebration.
The plaza accommodated 79 vendors, including 29 grilling kiosk operators, 20 food cart vendors, and 30 dry goods sellers.
These figures highlight how the plaza remains not only a cultural centerpiece but also a thriving marketplace, providing economic opportunities for micro-entrepreneurs, family-run businesses, and seasonal sellers, who often rely on MassKara for their biggest income period of the year.
Over at the BGC grounds, declared sales reached P5.19 million, with grilling again leading the charge at P4.79 million.
The most lucrative period at BGC was also during the final week of festivities (Oct. 15-19), when sales from grilling kiosks alone exceeded P2 million.
Food carts at the BGC contributed an additional P396,415, with steady increases as foot traffic intensified during nightly programs and family activities.
Although no specific sales data was submitted for dry goods at BGC, vendor presence was significant, with 26 dry goods concessionaires participating alongside 20 grilling kiosks and 12 food cart vendors, totaling 58 entrepreneurs at the site.
The plaza outperformed BGC in all three categories — grilling, food carts, and overall vendor earnings — largely due to its central location, longer operating hours, and heavier foot traffic during MassKara’s main events.
However, the BGC site proved valuable for offering a more spacious, family-oriented experience, with strong engagement particularly during the final stretch of the festival.
Festival director and BGFI president Rodney Mitz Ascalon emphasized that the sales figures represent more than just commercial success.
“Each peso earned tells a story of community resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural pride,” Ascalon said in a statement Oct. 22. “This year, MassKara lived up to its promise of inclusivity. We didn’t just fill the streets with smiles — we filled homes with income and hope.”
In total, more than 130 small and medium-sized vendors benefited directly from the festival food parks, underscoring MassKara’s dual identity as both a celebration of culture and a powerful economic platform.
The P17 million in recorded sales does not yet include income from other festival zones, roaming vendors, or unofficial stalls — suggesting that the broader financial impact may be significantly higher, the BGFI said. ||
