Coca-Cola Joins Bacolodnons in Celebrating MassKara Festival

Coca-Cola continues its longstanding connection with Bacolod as it returns to this year's MassKara Festival with refreshing beverages, live music performances, and initiatives that promote sustainable festivities. November 9, 2026 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Coca-Cola has grown alongside Bacolod City for nearly 80 years, becoming part of its celebrations while supporting the people, livelihoods, and community efforts that keep the City of Smiles thriving. From its first plant along Lacson Street to its current mega plant in Barangay Mansilingan, Coca-Cola has maintained a strong presence in the city, supporting local employment and the sugar industry while fostering partnerships that advance sustainability initiatives. At this year's MassKara Festival, Coca-Cola joined Bacolodnons in celebrating the city's rich culture, cherished traditions, and vibrant community spirit. Celebrating MassKara with refreshing moments

Serving as Coca-Cola's central festival hub, the Coca-Cola Refresh Zone along Lacson Street brought together activations from the company's portfolio of brands, including Coca-Cola, Royal, Sprite, and Lift, in one destination. Complementing the Refresh Zone was the Coca-Cola Food Strip at Merkado Lacson, alongside a sampling activation for Coca-Cola's alcohol portfolio, where festivalgoers enjoyed Bacolod's signature street food paired with Jack & Coke, Lemon-Dou, and Absolut Sprite. An annual fixture of the MassKara Festival, the Tapon to Ipon bottle collection initiative marked its third year of encouraging PET collection among festivalgoers through a drop-off booth where they can exchange used clear PET plastic bottles of any brand for Coca-Cola products or merchandise. The initiative forms part of Coca-Cola's efforts to promote collection and recycling at major festivals across the country, helping make responsible waste management a visible and accessible part of community gatherings. Since 2022, Bacolod City has been an important partner in expanding Tapon to Ipon across the Visayas. The Coca-Cola system has worked closely with the city government and community partners to strengthen PET bottle collection efforts, including broadening access to recycling through a network of 500 participating sari-sari stores and carinderias that support PET bottle recovery across communities.

Coinciding with the celebration of 10 seasons of Coke Studio Philippines, Coca-Cola once again brought live music to the heart of the festivities, featuring performances by Ben&Ben, Arthur Miguel, Infinite Ridge, and homegrown Bacolodnon artist Doughbaby. For a decade now, Coke Studio has brought both mainstream and emerging musical talents to festival stages nationwide. Previous performers on the MassKara stage include The Juans, Zack Tabudlo, and Janine Berdin. “MassKara embodies the warmth and festive spirit of Bacolod. We are proud to be a part of this tradition each year, sharing our iconic beverages in joyful moments that bring families, friends, and communities together,” said Banu Karakullukcu Cetin, Coca-Cola Philippines Vice President and General Manager. Among those who joined this year's MassKara celebrations were content creators Axcel, Adi Molina, Pareena Jee, and Tico, who immersed themselves in the festivities and experienced firsthand the moments that make the festival a cherished tradition for many Bacolodnons. Reflecting how Coca-Cola continues to be part of the shared moments that bring Filipino communities together, the creators explored festival activations and gathered for a salu-salo hosted by Tico, where they shared local favorites and conversations over food. Building on decades of shared growth with communities in Negros Coca-Cola's presence along Lacson Street during MassKara has served as a reminder of the company's roots in the city, with the street having been the site of its first plant in 1948. Fifty years later, Coca-Cola transferred operations to its current ten-hectare plant in Barangay Mansilingan, expanding its capacity to serve more communities across the region.

“Bacolod City has been part of Coca-Cola’s story in the Philippines for nearly eight decades, and our connection with the city continues through the people, communities, and shared experiences that have shaped that relationship over the years. We are proud to call Bacolod home and remain committed to supporting its growth and creating opportunities that contribute to the city’s continued progress,” said CCEAP President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Pesigan. Throughout the years, CCEAP's Bacolod plant has become an integral part of the local community across the Negros region by helping sustain livelihoods and contributing to economic growth. CCEAP continues to provide employment opportunities through its operations and initiatives, such as the recently concluded fifth MassKara Job Fair. The Bacolod plant continues to use locally sourced sugar in the beverages it produces, reflecting Coca-Cola's longstanding support for the local sugar industry and the communities and livelihoods in its value chain. As Coca-Cola’s story in Bacolod continues, it remains committed to celebrating local traditions and growing alongside the city and the wider Negros community for years to come.