
This year’s MassKara Festival celebration starts to heat up with a slew of activities, two of them at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod and at the atrium of SM City Bacolod Oct. 1.
The launching of the “Festive Faces” at the Art Cove of Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod features 14 colorful and intricately-designed masks created by Jojo Vito, the maestro of masks in Bacolod City.
The opening rites was led by Vito, previous Bacolod MassKara queens Nicole Puentevella Uy and Agnes Chang, Councilor Israel Salanga, and hotel and mall executives.
The exhibit will run until Nov. 22.

Over at the atrium, the 15 candidates for this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara were officially sashed and presented to the press.
They are Georgette Ysabelle Millan, Therese Pira-an, Tracy Mae Sunio, Marianel Tan, Geralyn Joy Basto, Allona Nejar, Jada Biaxyl Celeste, Janine Cabrillos, Cailah Jhane Delarma, Elli Rose Elola, Rose Mariel Sansing, Kyle Santillan, Ma. Ericka Panganiban, Crizwin Claire Española, and Yvonne Catamco.
Cabrillos, Miss Bacolod MassKara candidate no. 8, was later chosen as the Darling of the Press and received a bouquet of flowers and a cash prize of P5,000 from Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez, and Negros Press Club past president Carla Cañet and director Mae Singuay. Cabrillos, 22, an employee of the Bacolod Triumph Hardware, advocates for youth empowerment and inclusivity. | Dolores Epacta-Miranda photos