MassKara Festival 2025: One Smile, One City, One Heart
Bacolod City is gearing up for the country’s biggest festival of smiles! The MassKara Festival 2025 was officially launched with a grand ceremony at Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center, setting the stage for 19 days of colorful parades, cultural showcases, and community-driven events from October 1 to 19, 2025. With inclusivity and unity at its core, this year’s celebration promises to be a festival for everyone.
A Celebration for All
Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon emphasized that this year’s MassKara is designed to truly belong to the people. From market vendors and tricycle drivers to senior citizens and grassroots performers, the calendar of events will shine a spotlight on Bacolod’s diverse sectors. The Gugma Foundation, in partnership with the City Government, underscored their commitment to ensuring that the festival remains both celebratory and meaningful, honoring those who make up the city’s vibrant fabric.
Remembering the Roots of MassKara
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya reflected on the festival’s beginnings during the launch, recalling how MassKara was born in 1980 amid the sugar crisis and the MV Don Juan tragedy. He noted that just as Bacolodnons once turned to the festival for strength and unity, today’s challenges — including the recent fire in Barangay 27 — remind the city of its resilience and ability to rise again through collective support.
The mayor also shared his personal journey, recalling his early days as a student participant in the street dance competitions, underscoring how MassKara continues to shape Bacolod’s identity and inspire the next generation.
Music, Pageantry, and Symbolism
The launch also unveiled the official MassKara 2025 theme song, “One Smile, One City, One Heart,” written by Bacolod First Lady Maih Gasataya and performed by the ZEL Band with featured artists. The song’s release set the tone for a festival that celebrates unity through music and culture. Adding to the festive atmosphere, the 15 official candidates of Miss Bacolod MassKara 2025 made their first public appearance, signaling the start of the city’s premier cultural pageant.
Festival Highlights and Innovations
The much-awaited highlights of MassKara 2025 are set from October 17 to 19, featuring the Electric MassKara and the street dance and arena competitions for schools and barangays. Unlike previous years, festival organizers confirmed that signal jamming will no longer be enforced, ensuring better connectivity for residents and visitors throughout the celebrations.
Meanwhile, the festival will once again take over Bacolod’s key venues, including the Public Plaza, the City Government Center grounds, the Lacson Tourism Strip, and The Upper East by Megaworld. From cultural showcases to sports activities, the program promises to deliver a dynamic mix of tradition, entertainment, and innovation.
MassKara Festival 2025 Schedule of Activities
For those planning to join the festivities, here are the much-anticipated schedule of MassKara Festival 2025:
- Festival Dates: October 1 to October 19, 2025
- Highlight Weekend: October 17 to 19, 2025
- Grand After‑Party: October 26, 2025
Sectoral and Cultural Events
MassKaralympics 2025
Theme / Tagline: One Smile, One City, One Heart
Official Logo: Titled Mass-Kasingkasing, it’s designed by Paula Romaine O. Salmingo. It draws on Bacolod’s culture, food (i.e. piaya), artistry, and history — including the tragedy of the M/V Don Juan that helped inspire MassKara Festival as a symbol of hope.
Organizer: Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., under Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon. This is in close coordination with the Bacolod City Government under Mayor Greg Gasataya.
A Festival that Belongs to Everyone
As the countdown to October begins, both the Gugma Foundation and the City Government reaffirmed their dedication to sustaining the festival’s legacy. Their message was clear: MassKara is not only a celebration of smiles but also a testament to Bacolod’s strength, creativity, and unity as a community.
With inclusivity at its heart and a vision of bringing people closer together, MassKara Festival 2025 stands ready to once again put Bacolod on the global stage — one smile, one city, one heart at a time.
