The king meets the queen in the City of Smiles! Property giant Megaworld formally revealed the iconic design of the latest exciting addition to its 34-hectare The Upper East township in Bacolod City. It is a bronze statue immortalizing the ideal beauty of the MassKara Queen, with the launch coinciding with the city’s celebration of the 45th MassKara Festival. Designed by world-class Spanish sculptor, Ginés Serrán-Pagán, the statue will be prominently installed on top of The Kingsford, a luxury hotel by Megaworld Resorts that will rise at The Upper East sometime in 2028.
What is The Kingsford X MassKara Queen Collab
Announced as part of the MassKara Festival 2024 celebration, the bronze statue of the MassKara Queen is a 16-foot-tall statue to be installed atop The Kingsford. This choice celebrates and honors the unique culture and identity of Bacolod City, the capital of the province of Negros Occidental in southern Philippines.
The MassKara Queen is the latest masterpiece from Spanish sculptor Ginés Serrán-Pagán, one of the world’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. He has created more than 3,800 sculptures and other masterpieces for private collectors, institutions, and museums, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Recently, he inaugurated the sculptures of Venus, Genesis, and Vulcan at the Port of Ashland in Kentucky, USA, the tallest group of sculptures in the United States. Only the best for the world-class development of Megaworld in Bacolod City, said Mr. Harold Geronimo, Vice President for Public Relations and Media Affairs, Megaworld Corporation.
The MassKara Queen Immortalized in Bronze
The MassKara Queen will be made of bronze, a kind of material that can withstand even the harshest elements for at least 2,000 years. It portrays a beautiful MassKara queen — a beautiful woman who was crowned queen during the MassKara Festival. She is then considered the jewel of Bacolod’s world-renowned celebration.
The MassKara Queen at The Kingsford is adorned in finery fit for royalty and wears a smile while being depicted mid-dance. She is shown with her right arm raised while holding a MassKara mask on her left hand. As she twirls, the elaborate design of her, skirt which is adorned by colorful flowers, feathers, and other festive decorations, is highlighted.
“Historically, the MassKara Queen is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Bacolod City’s MassKara Festival. Her graceful movement, radiant smile, and colorful costume bring life to the festivity and resemble the joy and the spirit of the people of Bacolod. The MassKara Queen at The Kingsford is a true masterpiece that honors the unique identity of Bacoleños in finding joy and spreading positive energy in every moment. We are delighted to share the royal beauty of this statue as we get ready to welcome tourists, travelers, and the rest of Bacolod City and the world at The Kingsford in The Upper East, where the king meets the queen,” says Avinash Menon, cluster general manager for Visayas, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts.
Location
The statue will be seen even from Upper East Avenue, as it will face the sprawling plaza in front of The Kingsford. It will be sandwiched by the first two office towers in the township – No. 1 Upper East Avenue and No. 5 Upper East Avenue. It is envisioned to become a prominent attraction in the township, particularly since it will be framed against The Kingsford’s all-glass façade.
The Kingsford
Managed by Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the country’s largest hotel operator, the 12-story The Kingsford will have 300 room keys and will feature a variety of ‘first in Bacolod’ facilities and amenities. This will include its own Executive Lounge, a high-ceiling, pillarless Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 700 persons, and four (4) dining outlets.
Set to open by 2028, The Kingsford will be strategically located between the four residential condominium towers by Megaworld: One Regis, Two Regis, One Manhattan, and Herald Parksuites.
Related: President Marcos Inaugurates Megaworld’s The Upper East Township in Bacolod