Negrense Artists Circle Launches "MassKara...Gifting Smiles" Mask Exhibit in Bacolod

In a vibrant celebration of Bacolod City's renowned MassKara Festival, the Negrense Artists Circle Inc. (NACI) inaugurated a group exhibit titled "MassKara...Gifting Smiles" at the McCafé of McDonald's The Upper East last Saturday. The display featured unique hand-painted masks created by members Alden Macazar, Christopher Fernandez, Doreen Dofitas, Dynalyn Tan, Jerrylin Mangao, Joey Cabiles, Michelle Ma Belle Tupaz-Corteza, Olive Torres, Sherryann Quivis, Sherwyn Cadianza, and Wara Ichi.

Queenie Gonzales, Customer Experience Manager at McDonald's The Upper East, was present during the exhibit opening alongside the participating artists. The event highlighted the cultural significance of the MassKara Festival, a celebration famous for its mask-wearing participants adorned with smiling faces, symbolic of Bacolod's nickname, "The City of Smiles."

The term "MassKara" was originally coined by the late Negrense artist Ely Santiago. It is a blend of the English word "mass," meaning a large group of people, and the Spanish word "cara," meaning face, effectively representing "a multitude of faces."

Through this artistic showcase, NACI continues to promote local culture and artistic expression, capturing the festival's spirit and the community's joy through their vibrant creations.