The MassKara Festival has been transformed into not just a world-class festival but it is in itself a “work of art,” Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said, during the opening of La Consolacion College giant MassKara puppets replica exhibit at the school campus Saturday as one of the highlights of MasKara Art Weekend.

If one looks at the costumes of the barangays and the schools in the streetdance competition, the creativity in them is clear to see, he said.

“With MassKara growing so much and getting to be one of the most popular festivals, and I would even venture to say that probably, by today, in the Philippines, we can claim to be the most popular,” ” he added.

Leonardia said that the MassKara is even one of the main features in PAL’s Mabuhay magazine, which is being distributed worldwide and read by thousands, and this has been consistent.

“With the artists here playing a bigger role, I am sure that this will be a momentum of sorts. As MassKara has metamorphosed into what it is today, the artistic flavor of the Bacoleños is also shown and have much to be proud of and much to show,” he said.

Leonardia said even the Film Development Academy of the Philippines considers Bacolod to be the center in the Visayas. ”With what we have here at LCC, we see that big potential,” he said.

Bacolod has artists who may be more organized than in other parts of the country, Leonardia said.

“I think there is a very big future for the arts here in Bacolod. And the possibility of Bacolod being made the art capital of the Philippines outside Manila is a big one,” he added.

Festival director Eli Francis Tajanlangit recalled that a few years back when they started dismantling the masks at the exhibit of masks and costumes, they realized that each was a work of art.

“And it just connected that everything that we do in the festival is all related to art,” he said.

Tajanlangit said they also realized that the MassKara Festival is running on the wings of artists.

So this year, they are highlighting that reality because they believe that it will also help position Bacolod in the art tourism field, he said, adding “I think this weekend has proven that we are a city of art in the Philippines.” *CGS

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