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Article: Unravel the charms of Negros Occ.(Tourism)
- Article from:
- Manila Bulletin
- Article date:
- October 26, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Thousands flocked to Bacolod City in Negros Occidental to witness the grand celebration of the famous Masskara Festival held every third weekend of October.
The Masskara festival was conceived 25 years ago during a period of crisis and tragedy. It was a time when the sugar industry, the regions main source of income, plunged to a devastating low. Multiplying the Negrenses sorrow was the sinking of the Don Juan, a vessel carrying many of Bacolods prominent families. To ease their pain, local artists, civic groups and the government organized a festival of smiles. Coined from the words mass, meaning a multitude of people, and the Spanish word Kara, meaning face, ...