Bacolod Unveils Longest Mural for MassKara Festival

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By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – A 150-meter street mural was unveiled in the “City of Smiles” to showcase the past and rich heritage of Bacolod, along with the birth of the iconic MassKara Festival.

Dubbed “Bacolod WallStory,” more than 50 local artists collaborated on the mural to highlight Bacolod’s resilience through a powerful work of art.

The Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. (BYFI), in collaboration with Davies Paints, organized local artists and volunteers from various groups to transform a frequently vandalized wall into a masterpiece.

The wall, owned by former Senator Pedro Conlu Hernaez, forms the perimeter of the historic Hernaez Mansion at the corner of Mabini, Rizal, and Galo Streets in Barangay 22.

The mural, conceptualized by internationally acclaimed artist Charlie Co, was inspired by Bacolod’s vibrant culture and history, as part of this year’s Sapphire edition of the MassKara Festival.

“We hope to create a mural that the Bacolod community will feel proud of and protect for years to come,” Co said.

Candy Nagrampa, project and execution director of the Orange Project, noted that the mural reflects the journey of Bacolod, highlighting laborers, sugar workers, and everyday life.

“It showcases how our artists cope with challenges and create a masterpiece through unity,” Nagrampa said in a press release.

Joann Viriña, corporate communications manager of Davies Paints, mentioned that the property owner wanted the wall to become a work of art. “We created a customized color palette for Bacolod, using hues that reflect the city and its enduring spirit,” she added.

The mural features paintings of a train with piayas, food, the San Sebastian Cathedral, religious icons, sugarcane plantation workers, a sugarcane field, the MV Don Juan tragedy, and MassKara Festival dancers at the Bacolod Public Plaza.

Barangay Captain Diosdado Mayo expressed gratitude to the artists for transforming an old wall into one of the city’s key attractions for the MassKara Festival, now in its 45th year.

A day after the mural’s unveiling on October 13, more artists gathered for a community mural painting.

Members of the Arts Association of Bacolod (AAB), along with BYFI, teamed up with Boysen Paint Philippines to create another mural along 19th to 20th Lacson Streets, further adding color to the festival.

Ihvonie “Tey” Sevilleno, president of AAB-Negros, said that the new mural, dubbed “All Things Bacolod,” showcases the city’s culture, food, and traditions, which are sure to attract tourists. Last year, AAB also completed a mural along 18th to 19th Lacson Streets.

This year, Bacolod celebrates the Sapphire edition of the MassKara Festival.

(Photos courtesy of BYFI)