The Masskara Festival originated in Bacolod City, Philippines in 1980. It began during a period of crisis for the sugar industry, which was the primary crop. The festival was intended to boost the economy and lift people's spirits following a shipping accident that caused 700 deaths. The Masskara Festival celebrates Bacolod's sugar industry through colorful masks worn in the streets every October.
The Masskara Festival originated in Bacolod City, Philippines in 1980. It began during a period of crisis for the sugar industry, which was the primary crop. The festival was intended to boost the economy and lift people's spirits following a shipping accident that caused 700 deaths. The Masskara Festival celebrates Bacolod's sugar industry through colorful masks worn in the streets every October.
The Masskara Festival originated in Bacolod City, Philippines in 1980. It began during a period of crisis for the sugar industry, which was the primary crop. The festival was intended to boost the economy and lift people's spirits following a shipping accident that caused 700 deaths. The Masskara Festival celebrates Bacolod's sugar industry through colorful masks worn in the streets every October.
The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis.The province
relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop ,the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high fructose (corn syrup) in the United States. This was the first Masskara Festival and a time of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel MV Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City, collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank. An estimated 700 lives were lost in the tragedy.