My First Masskara Festival Experience

My first Masskara Festival experience was on October 2005. It was the first time I saw the most glamorous and colorful street dancing parade. Since I grew up in Cagayan de Oro City, I only experienced the ordinary fiesta parade in which I also participated but with the Masskara Festival, everything was brand new to me!

I was so amazed with the dancers and how colorful their costumes are. Aside from the fact that the dancers were not only adults, there were also children who danced and wore costumes.

Most fiestas I have attended in Mindanao is about families preparing food for visitors to eat, but here in Bacolod City, people gather at the public plaza. They eat and drink out. They tend to enjoy the open air while music is being played in every corner and even people dancing at the streets.

Masskara Festival is the most enjoyable time in Bacolod City aside from the many festivals they have. If you want to experience this festivity, check out the Masskara Festival 2009 Schedule of Activities!

Events This Week at SM City Bacolod

Like visiting the mall? Well, aside from doing the usual thing, SM City Bacolod also have events hosted to entertain their mall goers.

For this coming week, here are the schedule of events:

September 1, 2009; 10AM - 4PM
SSS Pensioners Day
@ the Event Centre

September 5, 2009; 10AM
Mother & Child Amazing Race by Lamblight Catholic School
@ the Event Centre

September 4 & 5, 2009; 8AM - 2PM only
Recycling Market Fair
@ the North Transport Terminal

September 6, 2009; 10AM onwards
Audition for SM Little Stars
@ the Event Centre

Viva Señor San Agustin!!

Today is Cagayan de Oro’s City Fiesta. They are celebrating this fiesta in honor of the city’s patron Saint Augustine of Hippo!

It’s been a long time since I have been there to celebrate. I missed the long parade that I usually participated when I was in high school. I love parades!!

Anyway, to all my fellow Cagay-anons:

Viva Señor San Agustin!!

Click on the banner below to view the schedule of events and festivities related to the celebration of the Kagay-an Festival 2009:

MassKara 2009 Schedule of Activities

Bacolod City Guide for the MassKara Festival 2009 Schedule of Events:

Sept 12

- MassKara Makati, Makati, Metro Manila

Oct 1

- Opening Program, Bacolod Public Plaza
- Festival Sites Opening, Bacolod Public Plaza (Until Oct 19)

Oct 10

- Night of the Press Club Star

Oct 15

- Search for Ms. MassKara Queen 2009

Oct 16

- Street Dancing School Category, Araneta St to Plaza
- Opening Electric MassKara, Tourism Trip, Lacson St

Oct 17

- Street Dancing Barangay Category, Araneta St to Plaza
- Electric MassKara, Tourism Trip, Lacson St

Oct 18

- Street Dancing Open Category, Araneta St to Plaza
- Electric MassKara, Tourism Trip, Lacson St

Oct 19

- Countdown to Charter Day, NGC Main Stage, With satellite stages in Lacson St. and Araneta St.

Schedule is subject to change without prior notice. Please subscribe via RSS for more updates.

August 2009 Cagayan de Oro Schedule of Activities

CDO Guide for August 2009 Schedule of Events and Festivities are as follows:

August 1 & 2

* Ploning and “Dead na si Lolo” – Flim Showing, SM Mini Theater

August 1-31

* Great Samsung Sale at Graphic All in One Store

August 4 – 13th

* APHCA Hair Olympics 2009 – Hair and Make-up Competition at City Tourism Hall

August 7 - 9

* Housing Festival 2009 at Limketkai Rotunda

August 14-31

* Samsung Mobile Exhibit at Robinsons

August 16-20

* International Invitational Chess Championship at City Tourism Hall

August 20

* Inter school Dance Competition (a hip hop dance battle) at Corpus Christi gymnasium

August 20 - 30

* SUNDAYAG sa Amihang Mindanao at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, Cagayan de Oro City

August 21-31

* Samsung Mobile Exhibit at SM City

August 21, 2009

* Endurance Race Competition (Horse Racing Competition) that’s being organized by the Cagayan de Oro Horsemen, Inc.

August 22, 2009

* SKATEBOARDING COMPETITION 2009 at SM CDO Las Ramblas Parking Lot (10 AM to 6 PM)

August 22-23

* The 2nd Cagayan de Oro Invitational Vintage Car Show at A & G Arcade, Lapasan

August 22 - 31

* Samsung Mobile Nation at Limketkai Center

August 23

* International Night at Pryce Plaza

August 24 - 30

* Kahimunan Northern Mindanao: Regional Trade Fair 2009 at Limketkai Rotunda

August 26

* Kapuso Mall Show at Limketkai Atrium

August 26

* Philippine Military Academy Cadets Silent Drill at Pelaez Sports Center

August 27

* “TM Astigfest sa CDO” at Limketkai Parking Lot

AUGUST 28, 2009

* FREE Concert: Parokya ni Edgar with Norman Mitchell at Limketkai Atrium
* Handog ng Bombo Radyo at Star FM sa Kagay-an Festival 2009: Free Concert at Pelaez Sports Center
* ABS-CBN KAPAMILYA CARAVAN - Grand Via Lot (sa may SM CDO) featuring RIVERMAYA, JOHN LLOYD CRUZ (do I hear the screams na? hehehe) and other KAPAMILYA stars local bands that will play NOVELISTA PASTA and the ALYSS band

August 29 – 30

* SABADO BOYS with Norman Mitchell at Limketkai Atrium
* 100 Plus Fiesta Cup Badminton Tournament at Sports Zone, Tomas Saco St., Nazareth
* Breed Championship DOG SHOW at SM City Mall

Source: Travel & Tours

Cagayan de Oro City’s Regular Events

* Kagay-an Festival is held every 26th to the 28th of August in celebration of Cagayan de Oro's patron, Saint Augustine of Hippo (Señor San Agustin). Highlights of the Kagay-an Festival are the Kagay-an Agro-Trade Fair, Miss Kagay-an Tourism, Higaonon Street Dancing, Golden Float Parade and the Lambagohan Fluvial Parade. There are also cultural shows, competitions and concerts. The word "Kagay-an" means "the place of the river" is the root of the name of Cagayan de Oro, derived from the great river that runs through the city.

* Charter Day every 15th of June, the city celebrates the cityhood of Cagayan de Oro. It was on June 15, 1950 that Cagayan de Misamis became a city and its name changed to Cagayan de Oro.

* Kumbira a culinary show and exhibit that started in 1996 by local hoteliers and restaurants, it is now one of the most anticipated culinary show and exhibit in the region. There are food demonstrations, culinary competition and seminars. Hotel and Restaurant Management schools from neighboring provinces participate and showcase their students talent along with local hoteliers. This is usually held in mid of August as part of the Kagay-an Festival.

* Kagay-an Agro-Trade Fair a trade fair showcases the different indigenous and home-made products from various parts of Northern Mindanao including Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental province. Products include woven bags, goat's milk, soap, local wine, processed food and others. It is one of the core activities of the Kagay-an Festival.

* Holy Week Trek March or April (movable) on the eve of Good Friday (Thursday evening), thousands of Cagayanons trek Malasag Hill for the annual "Via Crucis" or "Way of the Cross". The 3 kilometer trek ends at the Corsillo Retreat House.

* Sakay-Sakay sa Lumbago organized way back in the mid 1980's, this fluvial parade, also called Lambagohan Festival, is held along the Cagayan de Oro river. Lambago (scientific name Hibiscus Tiliaceus) is a type of tree that used to be commonly found along the banks of Cagayan de Oro river.

* Miss Kagay-an Tourism Filipina are fond of beauty pagents and Cagayan de Oro is no exception. Local girls compete for the most prestigious beauty pageant in the city. The event, also known as Miss Cagayan de Oro, is held before the city fiesta or Kagay-an Festival.

* Golden Float Parade started in 2007, it includes marching bands from different city schools. It is also participated by local government departments and commercial establishments. It is one of the core events in the Kagay-an Festival.

* Independence Day every June 12, Philippine Independence Day is celebrated also in the city. Government, military parades and exhibits mark on this event.

Source: Wikipedia.org