Masskara Festival
The Philippines
The Masskara Festival
started in the 1980s as
an initiative to boost the
people’s spirits after the
decline of sugar prices.
It honours the resolute
character of the Negrenses,
and reminds them to
keep their optimism in
the face of overwhelming
challenges. Participants
are colourfully dressed and
wear elaborate masks. The
street performance takes
the form of a mock dance
battle between the towns.Vegetarian Festival
Phuket, Thailand
Dating back 150 years,
Chinese tin miners living
in Phuket were affected by
a fatal epidemic. Realising
that they had failed to
pay their respects to the
nine emperor gods, they
abstained from meat,
alcohol, sex, quarreling and
lying – and the epidemic
stopped. Since then,
performers have showed
their devotion by piercing
their flesh with sharp
objects, claiming they feel
no pain. Not for the queasy!“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries” – Aldous Huxley
OCTOBER OCTOBER
14 19
Vegetarian Festival
Masskara Festival99