Wednesday, October 31, 2007 MassKa-Sadya By Mymy Suajico Avant Garde
MASSKARA all throughout the years has undeniably mimicked its predecessor's manner of salvo. In the past 10 years Masskara unfortunately, saw fewer and fewer fellowship from Bacolodnon themselves.
"Amo man na gyapon." as most say. Same old "over crowded Public Plaza beer garden," Same rock concerts swarmed with people high on everything, the inconvenience of the container toilets (not to mention the stench.ewe!) and the likely possibility of being harassed - robbed - or stabbed. All of this topped with the crazy traffic that just makes you want to lock yourself at home. In a nutshell - slides to bad tourism.
My last Plaza masskara was 5 years ago, wherein we have to chose the nearest stall to the Bac-up detachment just to ensure our safety as Masskara in the past usually concludes on the papers with incessant casualties. This becoming almost a norm, packaged to the festival. This Bacolod Fiesta, which was spun from the struggles of the Negrenses who battled the Sugar Industry recession back in the late 70's, was slowly becoming an omen of trouble.
Kudos to the 2007 Masskara directors, especially to the Artists behind who just in time refashioned a new character to this year's celebration. A great change far from the past duplication & monotony.
Masskasadya!
Like a caterpillar to the butterfly, the 2007 Masskara metamorphic growth is bursting forth and flying with an energy & tonicity so strong that it brought back the prodigy of Masskara's brilliance and fascination to the highest high.
Surely, the late Art Association of Bacolod (AAB) President : Ely Santiago who coined the word -Mass(people) & Kara (face) will be looking & smiling from above the Bacolod skies.
Early Friday morning (Oct 19, 2007), Bacolod closed it's Lacson Street to make room for a stretch of regalia. A smorgasbord of party tents, mini concert set-ups, larger than life sound system with throbbing sub-woofers & spot lights in every corner with the diameter of a bicycle tire.
The 6th street of Lacson to it's 23rd was officially a party zone. It was like falling into Alice's wonderland as soon as you ducked in the tug rope borderlines. It was a hedonist paradise.
Lucky enough to residing so close to this haven, I slipped into my most comfortable flip-flops & walked my way with friends to the Bank of Commerce where the charming: Ms. Grace Solatorio hosted an al fresco wine & dine for Bank of Commerce (BOC) clients & friends. It was one of the best Masskara parade lookouts considering the building was on elevated ground. Incidentally, the boom boxes were right in front of us that one can't just help but move down and street strut. The BOC masskara night was a homogenous mix of businesspeople, farmers & fellow bankers - all after a hard week's work would just like to welcome a good cocktail laced with great company.
We witnessed from our watchtower the spectacle of the 1st ever electric Masskara. An army of street dancers with reflectors, blinking head dresses, neon masks & night glow suits flouncing & jerking to the beat of the drums in pulsating volume makes you just want to run down on the street and dance with your beer.
The next day you wake up with a hang and try to remember as much as you can of the last night's pure pursuit of happiness. The next day I decided to stay more sober and relish the festival for what it really is, after all - the beers will always be there.
I trotted the streets of: Lacson early 4pm, Saturday, in broad daylight and with a strong dose of caffeine to take photos. I was caught in a weird sense of de ja vu.racking my brains to figure out it's relation, It was funny but I conjured it's ambience with my Boracay beach walks (sans the beach & the bikinis)
I realized that after 33 years as a Bacolod resident, it was my first time to really walk the Lacson round horizontally center ward; being the busiest street in the city.
It was fascinating to watch the establishments around propping up their tents, seeing a few drunks on every block who had 1 to many so early in the afternoon, the band stands conducting sound checks, Koreans here, Germans drinking to commemorate their own Oktoberfest and the Americans everywhere. It was like a different corner in a different time - so surreal. It took a long time for Masskara to feel this way, a feeling of wanting it not to end, a feeling that you will be eagerly awaiting for it again the next October.
The sundown ushered in more crowd, more lights, more sounds & course, more beers donned by the ostentatious splash & dash of fireworks glittering the City of Smiles; followed by the oohs & aahs of the revelers. This Saturday night was highlighted by the parade of masquerade dancers contemplated in almost theatrical costumes. In Silver , golds & platinums, they sashayed the streets, one can't help but pity the girls in stiletto pumps.
The performers gyrated & swayed glowing like human disco balls in the streets. One of the treats I enjoyed most were the Manila bands who played back to back with our own local bands.
It was the night to smile as you brush shoulders with friends and familiar faces. It was the night to smirk and throw your dagger looks to those who literally brush your shoulders whom you don't know.
I would like to congratulate our local police force for being so vigilant and alert in securing peace & order for this festival, ensuring everyone's right to enjoyment & partying without getting paranoid.
Sunday saw me with leg cramps from walking and what the heck! This masskara deserves a standing ovation anyway.
