What’s Masskara?

By Ed Coambs, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Bacolod Philippines

Masskara

It is time to smile! That’s right Bacolod, Philippines has a festival that is committed to smiling. After all the city is also known as the city of smiles. I have had the distinct pleasure of witnessing bright colors, load music and woftting smell of chicken roasting on an open BBQ.

During the third week of October every year Bacolod decorates its city in smiling faces. These faces are symbolic of the resilience and strength of the community. The festival was originally created during a hard period of time in Bacolod’s history. It’s 1980 …Bacolod is faced with historically low sugar prices, which proves particularly challenging for a community built on sugar cane. To top the city’s pain many of the prominent city leaders are killed during a tragic boat collision.

The remaining leaders of the city know they must pull Bacolod from the depression that is afflicting their people. In comes Masskara a festival of smiles reminding the people of Bacolod that eventually they will overcome these challenges and find them selves successful again.

Enticed by the smell of BBQ chicken it is now time for me to enjoy the festival and see what it is about.  I start by walking with up  and down the main drag with my Kiva Coordinator Presy from Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation.  the walk helps me to take in the overall ambiance Masskara. Then after my eyes have been overloaded with sights, my taste buds are left craving some attention.

Presy and I then find a table with friends of hers and settle in for a variety of distinctly Filipino treats. Including my new favorite fish. It is called milk fish that is served raw in vinegar, with onions and garlic. All I have to say is man I am glad I tried that. The other special treat of the night are a few locally brewed beers that do a nice job or washing down the roasted and spicy peanuts we bought from a street vendor.

The night wraps up and I feel a bit sad that I did not actually get to see any of the dance teams perform. Well to my surprise we go back the next night to enjoy the festivities again and I get the chance to see the dancers.

Masskara after two nights has got me ready to get out and meet the people that are served by Kiva loans not only in Bacolod but in the whole province of Negros.

Be sure to check back soon to check on my progress as a Kiva Fellow. I will soon be talking about my weekend of training.

Flying a true educational experience!

On my way to Bacolod, Philippines

By Ed Coambs KF9, Bacolod  Philippines

I am standing in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport October 13, enjoying one last long hug from my wife before I depart on my travels to Bacolod, Philippines. Little do I know the many lessons that I will learn over the next three days. My travels start with no problems as I board my plane in Charlotte at 6:10 am for departure to Cleveland, OH. The flight goes smoothly to Cleveland and I will have a few quick minutes to grab breakfast before my next leg of my flight to San Francisco. I had briefly checked the airplane in-flight magazine for fast food locations in the airport, identifying a close Burger King. The plane lands and I quickly get off and start moving towards the Burger King. As I approach the area where the magazine reported there would be a Burger King I realize there is not one here. Lesson number one, just because you read it in a magazine does not mean that things have not changed.  I settle for a pretzel dog, I know it seems strange for breakfast but I needed something quick.