臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

Philippines’ Smiling Mask Festival, is an annual event in Bacolod, Philippines, where thousands of people wear various masks and participate in a carnival-style street parade. These masks all share a common trait – a big, smiling face. Bacolod is known as the “City of Smiles” due to this festival.

The mask festival originated in Bacolod, known as the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines" in 1980s where faced economic downturns in its sugar industry and later experienced a shipwreck incident moreover the social atmosphere was low. In order to encourage the people, the local government held a mask carnival to get rid of the sorrow and used smiling masks to unite each other. Let yourself regain the strength smile by the smiling faces on everyone’s masks.

In 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the global economy and life underwent tremendous changes. Because the epidemic in Taiwan is well controlled, can minimize the impact of the epidemic on life with the most complete epidemic prevention measures. Starting from 2020, Taipei city began organizing the Philippine’s mask carnival inviting citizens to join the new immigrants and migrant workers from various countries, put on a smiling mask and step on the street together to convey positive energy.