Mike Ermac
This is Mike Ermac’s photo that won 1st Place in the “Kari sa MassKara, Dala Kamera” photo contest—club category last October 19, 2009, sponsored by the Camera Club of Negros.
Byahilo
I grew up in Bacolod City and lived here for 24 years. It has been a family tradition every weekend nearest October 19 to have an early lunch and head to Araneta street and witness the world famous MassKara Festival.
A year after my mom passed away (2003), my sister and I decided to leave Bacolod for good and start a new life in Metro Manila. For the very first time, I skipped the MassKara Festival.
But during the Silver MassKara Festival celebration in 2004, I decided to go back to the city I call My Home. I visited Bacolod to enjoy the festival and once again, be mesmerized at the sight of dancers clad in colorful costumes and in smiling masks.
Although I only stayed for a few days, it was a homecoming for me. It was through the MassKara Festival that I get reunited with friends and relatives again.
But more than just a homecoming, the 25th anniversary of the MassKara gave a new spark in my life. It was because of the 2004 MassKara Festival that my blog BYAHILO at http://www.byahilo.com was born.
From a very simple diary of my homecoming in 2004, BYAHILO has turned into one of the leading travel
All Smiles for the 25th Masskara Festival
blogs in the Philippines today. It has been picked as a finalist in the Philippine Blog Awards for 2007, 2008, 2009.
Many of the stories and photographs I have taken have also been featured in various newspapers and magazines here in abroad.
From promoting our very own MassKara Festival, BYAHILO is now promoting the various festivals, as well as tourist spots all over the Philippines. From as far as Batanes in the north, to Basilan in the South, BYAHILO has travelled far and wide, because of one simple spark that started in 2004: The spark of MassKara Festival.
Today, I stand proud to say that I have already quit my day job and go full-time travel blogging at BYAHILO. Without the MassKara Festival, there’ll be no BYAHILO.
Since 2004, I never fail to go back to Bacolod City to witness the festival. Every year, I never fail to bring friends from other cities to experience our very own fiesta. Many return the following year to experience it again and again. This year, I am bringing with me six friends from Cebu and Manila. I am sure that these friends of mine will also have their own MassKara Moment after they get back home: something that they will forever cherish, and be a spark to go back again to the City of Smiles to experience our world- famous festival once again.*
Masskara is also a good time for barkada bonding!
Masskara is also a good time for barkada bonding!
ERIC B. DORMIDO
Blk18 Lot5Phase 3, Celina Plains Subd.
City of Santa Rosa,Laguna
www.byahilo.com