Paint the Town Smiling: A 3D Street Art Surprise for MassKara
By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY — What began as an idea on the table has now burst into life on the streets of Bacolod City.
A 3D street art mural is adding a fresh splash of creativity to this year’s MassKara Festival, transforming an idea hatched in an office discussion into a colorful showcase of local artistry and collaboration.
A section of Araneta Street was transformed into a colorful 210-square-meter three-dimensional street art mural in celebration of this year’s MassKara Festival, which is now in its 47th edition. It is located in front of the replica of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) at the public plaza.
Mayor Greg Gasataya shared his excitement over seeing the project come to life.
Fast-forward: This once-on-paper idea is now making its mark, bringing an extra dose of color, creativity, and excitement to the City of Smiles this MassKara season, with the theme “Share the Smile. Celebrate Gugma (love).”
“Tuman ang aton kalipay to see it come to life,” Gasataya said, celebrating the creativity and artistry that Bacolod continues to share with the world.
Beyond its eye-catching design, the mural highlights what makes MassKara special: the coming together of people, ideas, and talents to create something that the entire community can enjoy. It also gives Bacolod’s artistic talents another platform to shine, adding a creative twist to the city’s already vibrant festival atmosphere.
Gasataya thanked the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Bacolod Chapter and La Consolacion College (LCC)-Bacolod School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Interior Design for their contributions to the project, underscoring the importance of partnerships in bringing creative ideas to life.
The initiative is sponsored by Davies Paints, the Official MassKara Festival Partner, whose involvement helps bring more color to the city’s biggest celebration.
Dr. Vincent Raymund Alovera, dean of SAFAID, in a statement, emphasized the value of bringing architectural and artistic education beyond the classroom and into spaces where students can contribute directly to community life.
“This project demonstrates how art and design can bring people together and transform ordinary public spaces into meaningful experiences. For our students, it is an opportunity to apply their creativity and technical skills while contributing to a celebration that is deeply rooted in Bacolod’s identity,” Alovera said.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and professional organizations in providing students with opportunities for experiential learning and community engagement.
The initiative also forms part of the observance of World Architecture Day 2026, with the global theme “Housing is a Human Right. Build It.”
From a simple office conversation to a street-level work of art, the mural proves that in Bacolod, a little imagination and a lot of collaboration can go a long way.
And this MassKara season, the city has one more reason to smile — and perhaps stop, look, and snap a photo or two!
(Photos courtesy of MassKara Festival 2026, Al Joseph Samson of ill.tv, LCC ARFIEN Dept.)
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