MASSKARA

According to Wikipedia:

The Masskara Festival is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third week of October.

The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agriculture crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low. It was also a time of tragedy; in April of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City, sank. There was a great loss of life.

In the midst of these tragic events, the city's artists, local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles.

They reasoned that a festival was also a good opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere. The initial festival was therefore, a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the times were, Bacolod City is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph.

Today, Masskara is no doubt the largest festival on Negros Island. It's also a great time for us "Haris" to get together once more and paint the town red (minus Reiven and Mark Xander).

Me, Paulo Mirasol (Hari ng Negros 2007) , Masskara dancer and
Paul Brett Orozco (Hari ng Negros 2005)

I know, I don't need a mask anymore because my face will suffice.

Paulo being his usual clown self.

Wish you were here...

Partying at Sueño Bar with our buddy Bob Porter (Hari ng Negros 2006 finalist)

and what we have been all waiting for

THE MASSKARA BIKINI FASHION SHOW

Guess who won? The winner is one of the above.