Enjoy MassKara

This is it. After all the preparations and the controversy that includes the brickbats and the lavish praise, the MassKara weekend of 2014 is finally here and its time for the streetdancers to start performing and the partygoers to party. The Paglaum Sports Center will be open to accept the competing groups and Lacson Street will be closed to traffic and transformed into MassKaraLand.

It’s time to put a hold on the complaints and constructive criticism and start enjoying the spirit of MassKara, whatever that may mean to you. For some it could be in appreciating the artistry and the efforts of the participants of the street dancing parade that is the unheralded backbone of the festival, even during these times when it seems to be all about the parties and the debauchery. Those who like it like that can party, whether with friends in the comfort of your homes, or with the entire city in the heart of the MassKaraLand beast. Forget politics and accountability for this weekend and feel the one rhythm of the one Bacolod and a million smiles.

It is time to stop expecting a financial report and start preparing party-going funds that should last the duration of the weekend. It is time to quit whining and start enjoying because MassKara whether we like what it has become or not, it is our festival and our visitors will certainly feel it if we are not at least happy this weekend. Wear your happy masks, look your best, party hard. Then we can get back to the issue of transparency and accountability once the epic hangovers have been dealt with.

The weather forecast doesn’t look good so come prepared. Bring rain gear so the weather doesn’t ruin the fun. If you do get wet, don’t mind it too much and console yourself with the thought that you are contributing to Bacolod’s ambition of being the wet and wild capital of the country.

Plan ahead. Know where the events are and scout parking locations that would allow you to get in and get out without too much hassle. Assign a designated driver if you plan to drink a lot. Watch your behavior as well as your belongings so the party doesn’t end with a trip to the police outpost.

People from near and far have been looking forward to this weekend and now that it is here the best thing we can collectively do for the MassKara festival, whether you agree with what the organizers are doing or not, is to have fun. We enjoy MassKara because it is our festival and its continued success depends on our support as much as it does on the decisions of the people running it.

MassKara may have become what it is now because of the people who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the years but it wouldn’t have become this big without our collective support. We could have been indifferent to it. We could have chosen to stay home instead of invading Lacson Street when the idea was initially introduced. But we chose to make it our own and we invested a lot into it over the years and that is why it is one of the biggest festivals in the country today. That could also be the reason why the topic has caused a lot of clashing opinions and high emotions and that is proof of how valuable it is to us and that is something the people running the show have to understand when they have to deal with the criticism that comes with the territory.

This is why we have to party all weekend long and give our visitors the best impression of MassKara, Bacolod and Negros that we can. Let us put the complaining and the quest for better standards and transparency on hold and go with the flow this weekend. That is our obligation as Bacoleños and Negrenses and that is what we owe the MassKara festival that has become a part of our culture and identity.

Have fun everybody!*

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