30 October 2021, Damascus- The Philippine Embassy in Damascus headed by Chargée d’ affaires, a.i. Vida Soraya S. Verzosa, with the staff and local hires, joined the virtual celebration of the dynamic Masskara Festival of the City of Smiles, Bacolod City during the special episode of #FiestaFilipinas on 30 October 2021 via Zoom.

Born out of a tragic disaster in the 1980s, the Masskara

Festival was started by the people of Bacolod City to uplift the spirits of the locals. It is a declaration of the people that they will rise and survive the challenges and tragedies that they are facing, showing their resilience and tenacity. 

The “Fiesta Filipinas: An Online Celebration of Philippine Festivals” project is a multi-format online event which will simulate the experience of a festival through a combination of live and pre-recorded videos and live workshops and activities. The project aims to introduce and showcase Philippine festivals, culture, and traditions to a global audience and invite them to the country when conditions are more favorable. 

The event started with the showcase of tourism videos followed by

the art and craft of mask making, which the Embassy staff enjoyed, including the tasting of PH local products such as piaya, biscocho and otap.

The project was organized by the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Tourism, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.  COVID-19 Health protocols and security measures were observed during the entire event.