16
STAYUPDATED
GETALLTHE
LATESTMASSKARAFESTIVALBUZZAT
ONEBACOLOD.ORG
WOOHOO
excitingevents
Street parties, endless
food, crazy costumes and
smiles all aroundmake
Bacolod’sMasskaraFestival
— the country’s “happiest
fesitval”—an irresistible,
20-daymega-party.
The likes ofCNNand
NationalGeographichave
previously listed the festival
as amust-doPhilippines
experience, somake it to
BacolodbetweenOctober
1 and 19 if you can; the
biggest events start on
October 15.Herearea few
tips formaximizing your
Masskaramerriment:
1
BRINGDANCING
SHOES
Yourmost comfortable
shoeswill do.Masskara
is known for itsgigantic
street dance-off, which
is joinedby schools,
several barangayand
local businesses. It’s
joyful afternoon chaos as
costumed competitors
(somewith5kgheadgear)
and touristsdance to lively
beats. Keepdancing in
the four-night, dusk-to-
dawnextravaganza that
isMasskaraland, when
FRIGHTS
OFFANCY
All Hallows' events to
get your heart racing
Singapore
HALLOWEENHORROR
NIGHTS5
OCTOBER2TO31
Test your courage ina
scare-fest of spirits, aliens
and strange creatures.
halloweenhorrornights.com.sg
Tokyo
KAWASAKI
HALLOWEENPARADE
OCTOBER25
Get costumed for Japan’s
famousHalloween spectacle.
lacittadella.co.jp/halloween
Sydney
MAGIQUE
HALLOWEENCIRCUS
OCTOBER31
Party inghoulishexcess on
sparklingSydneyHarbour.
magique.com.au
Cheersto
Bacolod
Threeeasyways
tomake themost
ofMasskara
Festival 2015
@
LacsonStreet hosts as
manyas 80,000 revelers.
In theevenings, carnival
meetsdisco inElectric
Masskara, another street
dance competition, but
with theadded twist of
LED-lit costumes and
decorations.
2
BECAMERA-
READY,BUT
NOTFUSSY
Haveyour camera
ready for quick snaps—
thereareample selfie
opportunitiesbetween
all theparties, a 14ft
puppet parade, colorful
floats andfireworks.Also
picture-worthyare the
annualMasskaraQueen
Pageant contestants
and the local artworks
ondisplay.Doexpect to
bedousedwith colored
powder, get sweaty, and
get quitemuddyand
dirty (especially if you join
thepole-climbingand
pig-catching contests).
Even then, let your camera
captureall the fun.
3
PREPAREYOUR
TUMMY,TOO
Food is, of course, central
to theMasskaraFestival.
Checkout our Bacolod
eat-ineraryonpage23.
TEXTBYZANERONQUILLO
