The most notable place I've been to during my first trip to Bacolod for my thesis research (July 2006) was the house/studio of Rex Cuenca, one of the original and famous mask-makers of the MassKara Festival since the time it started back in 1980. It is located at Manokan Country, a certain place where restaurants serving Bacolod's specialty - chicken inasal which goes best with beer - are lined up. Rex Cuenca has made about 500 masks, excluding headdresses, for barangays competing in the street dance competition of the MassKara Festival. His home/studio at Manokan Country, called New Paz, is the current haven and place of gathering of members of the Art Association of Bacolod (AAB). The place abounds with colourful happy masks in various renditions – from wood carvings, to intricately decorated terra-cotta, to the traditional papier-mâché masks painted ever so ornately with his fine detailing, to oil and/or acrylic on canvas as a popular subject matter in his numerous paintings depicting peaceful country life or the simple joys of awaiting the most blissful festival time.
 The place is just la-la-la-love that I had to go back to it the second time I went to the City of Smiles. Pictures above were taken during MassKara 2007.
Every nook and cranny of New Paz is filled with paintings and mask art of different media and proportions. These beauties are not just works by Rex Cuenca. Also adorning the walls of New Paz are the works of other artists and maskmakers of the Art Association of Bacolod. True to its being an artists' hang out, the place looks more like an art gallery than a restaurant. In Rex Cuenca's words in his interview for the December 2007 issue of FHM: "Artists from all over the Philippines are welcome here."
 New Paz was still undergoing renovation the last time I went there in October of 2006. Last month, when I went back to Bacolod, I decided to drop by before the flight back to Manila. The place is more astounding than ever! Above: Huge masks and paintings done by other AAB members. The framed painting at the middle is by Rex Cuenca. More of Rex Cuenca's detailed paintings in oil and water colour. His paintings reflect the radiant colour palette he uses for the festival masks.
A complete meal, which consists of chicken inasal, rice, and a beverage of your choice, costs less than a hundred bucks. Meanwhile, the artworks and masks are available at reasonable rates. The masks, in particular, vary in design and are very much good for a collection. With that said, New Paz is one place you should definitely see should you travel to Bacolod.
**New Paz is the last establishment in the row of restaurants at Manokan Country.
 | What an amazing store
the art is exquisite and I would love to buy one of those masks
does he have internet sales
do you know? |
 | HEllo.!
This place is terrific.!!
love this..!!
=))
Your blog its incrible.. Congratulations!!! |
 | Marvelous masks!
Exquisite pics!
Plus the intelligent essay that goes with them.
Great one-of-a-kind profile! |
 | sweet jesus i would like to visit there! the images, descriptions and the blog says a lot about the place! and the masks are very interesting! |
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smile plenty :D 