The Philippines has a tradition of celebrating "fiesta" or festivals right through the year. The fiestas are generally held to celebrate the date of birth of the patron saints of the particular provinces and cities. These celebrations are usually started with a procession of the images of the patron saints, followed by a Mass in church, a community get together where a program of entertainment is showcased, and households offer lunches to share.
Through the series of Fiesta Filipinas - a series of online events introduce Philippine festivals, culture and traditions to viewers around the globe, to rise above the challenges of the pandemic. This initiative is undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the National Commission on Culture and Arts.
Fiesta Filipinas is proud to highlight in this episode the Masskara Festival of Bacolod. This annual festival literally translates to many "faces", and is observed every October. The smiling faces of the mask is the reason why Bacolod City got the nickname of The City of Smiles.
The livestreaming will be shown on the Sentro Rizal Facebook at 7pm (AEST), Saturday, October 30. This can be accessed here.