Why I want to be at The MassKara Festival

Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with the beauty the world offers.  I am simply amazed at the wonderful places not just of other countries but most especially of my own country, the Philippines.  It has become a passion of mine to travel to different places here in the Philippines and around the world.  And one of my dreams is to visit those places and experience the locality particularly on their long celebrated festivals.

One of the most colorful and famous festivals in the country is The MassKara Festival in Bacolod which has been celebrated for 31 years.  Bacolod, dubbed as the City of Smiles came up with this festival in order to give hope to the Negrenses in the 1980s when sugar was priced very low and a lot of Negrenses died when MV Don Juan sank that time.  What better way to lift everyone up than by smiling amidst the challenges that a city faces.  It is through this festival that the Negrenses move forward and overcome the difficulties life can throw at them.  Together as a city, nothing can break their resolve because of their hope that in the end everything will turn out alright.

Because of the hope and smiles shared with each other, the MassKara Festival has become a main attraction of Bacolod City.  It is one of the country’s festivals that many Filipinos want to go to not just to watch from the side of the street but also to get their share of happiness and contentment.  As a Filipino I want to be infected with that hopeful and fighting spirit by joining the celebration.  And as a Filipino with Ilonggo roots it is with pride to take part in the festivities of the MassKara Festival with my husband not just from afar but to be right there at the heart of the festival.

Experience MassKara Festival, Hermosa Festival and Lanzones Festival this October. Airphil Express flies daily to BACOLOD, ZAMBOANGA and CAGAYAN DE ORO from Cebu and Manila. Visit www.airphilexpress.com to book!

Kuya Hammie

When I got pregnant with Louie, I prepared not just myself but also Hammie.  My hubby and I conditioned him that there was a baby inside my womb who will be his baby brother.  I let him kissed my tummy, told him to love his brother and play with him when the time comes.  Hammie was a year and a half that time but as parents we wanted to include him in welcoming his baby brother so as to not let him feel left out.  Once again I realized that you could never underestimate the power of a child to understand.


I realized that when Louie finally came out, Hammie was left at the house with the nanny.  My hubby was with me in the hospital for two nights.  On the second day at the hospital, Louie was roomed-in and Hammie got to visit only early evening on that day.  We were waiting for his reaction seeing his little brother feeding on the bed beside me.  His father told him to say hi to the baby and he excitedly did.  Oh it was a sight to behold and thankfully my hubby caught it on camera.

Hi Louie!

This is one of those pictures painting a thousand words.  Hammie that day became a kuya and little did I know that he was serious about being one.