AAB–N, Now on Its 50th Year, Joins MassKara Festival With Major Art Tilts

The Art Association of Bacolod–Negros (AAB-N), the country’s longest-running provincial art group and proud founder of the MassKara Festival, is joining the City Government of Bacolod and the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. for this year’s edition of the annual festival.

Tey Sevilleno, AAB-N president, in Tuesday’s press conference, bared the groups participation through three major art competitions “designed to honor the festival’s roots and inspire the next generation.”

She also expressed the group’s gratitude to Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and the City Government for “continuously giving space for the arts to thrive within the MassKara Festival. We also thank the Bacolod Gugma Foundation for championing creativity and making these events accessible to all.”

The art competitions include an On-the-Spot MassKara Painting Competition, MassKara Making Contest, and MassKara Mask-Higante Puppets Competition.

The On-the-Spot MassKara Painting Competition, now on its 4th year, competition is free and open to all Bacolodnon artists. With support from the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, all materials will be provided, ensuring inclusivity and wider participation, she said.

The MassKara Making Contest, meanwhile, is a creative homage to the very first MassKara masks made of paper mache. Designers and artists will be challenged to create unique mask designs, with base masks and financial assistance provided to support their artistry, Sevilleno also.said.

On the other hand, the MassKara Mask-Higante Puppets Competition, she added, is the much-awaited return of giant puppets. “This year introduces the first-ever contest with the theme ‘Toto and Inday sa MassKara,’ symbolizing children as the heart of our future. This is a celebration for the next generation—a reminder that MassKara is not just a festival of smiles but also of hope, resilience, and continuity.”

Sevilleno said those interested to join can visit the MassKara Festival Facebook Page or that of the Art Association of Bacolod–Negros.
Statement

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Art Association of Bacolod–Negros (AAB-N) said it is “deeply honored to once again join hands with the City Government of Bacolod and the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc.”

This 50th year of the AAB-N is more than an anniversary—it is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of art to unite people. It is also a moment to pay tribute to the legacy of Sir Ely Santiago and the pioneering members of AAB-N, whose vision transformed MassKara into the iconic festival of smiles it is today.

Through the universal language of art, we honor our beginnings while continuing to celebrate the vibrance of Bacolod’s present and future.

In addition (to its three art events during MassKara), AAB-N is embarking on a historic project in partnership with the Camera Club of Negros to create a comprehensive digital archive of MassKara.

This collaboration will preserve the festival’s rich visual history, ensuring that future generations can witness how Bacolod turned trials into triumphs, and how smiles became a symbol of strength.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to Mayor Greg Gasataya and the City Government of Bacolod for continuously giving space for the arts to thrive within the MassKara Festival. We also thank the Bacolod Gugma Foundation for championing creativity and making these events accessible to all.

As we mark this golden anniversary, we reaffirm AAB-N’s commitment: to keep nurturing local artists, to preserve the soul of MassKara, and to celebrate the artistry and resilience of the Bacolodnon spirit.

Together, let us honor the past, celebrate the present, and create a future where the MassKara Festival continues to shine as a festival of art, culture, and love for generations to come, the group added in its statement.*