The City of Smiles

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The celebration of Bacolod City 's premier festival, the MassKara, officially started on the first day of this month, but this week is when it will begin to peak. Varied activities have been scheduled to take place and they are all designed, not only for visual treats and other forms of enjoyment, but also have educational and cultural significance and messages.

Among those already held were the Garden Show sponsored by the Negros Occidental Garden Club, and the MassKara Queen Talent competition. Other activities being anticipated during the week are the 6 th Bacolod History Quiz, NOPSSCEA Recognition Day, Battle of the Bands, the showing of Majica MassKara, a convention of optometrists, a Photographers workshop, the MassKara Queen 2009 search, a drag race competition for the whole week, the Electric MassKara, Ledge Dance Competition, concerts, streetdancing for three days, the unique countdown to the City's Charter Anniversary, which will be the climax of the festival.

Many and varied are the offerings for natives and visitors all over town, and what is most interesting and gratifying to note is that more of them are privately-initiated, by business establishments, schools, organizations, and other groups who have prepared their own contributions to the celebration.

These are the things that have made the MassKara Festival so successful and has kept it growing and evolving into a more encompassing celebration. MassKara is truly living up to the “Mass” in its name which refers to the people, this time, the people of Bacolod who are joining and helping to make this project their own success.

To those, therefore, who are claiming that, because of the calamities in the country, MassKara should be scrapped this year, it seems they have forgotten that this festival was born out of disasters and calamities, and that it is symbolic of the strength of will of our people. Or perhaps it is just their political slips showing. They should therefore be reminded that the smiles on the faces of the MassKara had helped to bring back real smiles after tragedies struck.

So, on with the MassKara Festival, and welcome to all visitors who come to Bacolod who will surely see how it became “The City of Smiles”!*