MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Sunday said Philippine tourism is back on track as he cited Filipinos’ resiliency and talent in bringing the country to the path to recovery.

“So it is a good thing to remind people that the pandemic may have been difficult. The pandemic really put us through the wringer, but we are back. The pandemic is fading away. We are learning to manage it.” Marcos said in a welcome luncheon at the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City.

The Masskara Festival, a grand celebration for Bacolodnons to mark their milestones for conquering hardships, serves as a reminder of “all the opportunities” for Filipinos to thrive, according to the chief executive.

With its theme, “Balik Yuhum!” which means smile again, the Masskara Festival is back for its 43rd-year celebration after two years of being suspended due to the pandemic.

“And now it is time for us to all go back to work, to all go back to our normal lives, to remind ourselves of all the opportunities that were before us, before the pandemic that we now after — that we have normalized the situation a little bit — then it is time for us to go back to all of those endeavors that we were undertaking before, before the COVID hit,” Marcos pointed out.

Marcos is in Bacolod to lead the culminating activities of the MassKara Festival as well as the inauguration of The Upper East, a township and industrial estate development, and the unveiling of the township marker in the City.

The President said the Masskara Festival is an example of what the administration has been trying to promote despite the “difficult things.”

“We have tried very hard to remind people that it is time again, as I said to bring us back to where we were before and even to go further and to know that we have — although things are difficult,” he said.

Marcos also lauded the Filipinos people’s resiliency and resourcefulness in bringing the country’s tourism back on track.

“It is time for us to go back and exercise once again, show once again the Filipino resilience, the Filipino resourcefulness, the Filipino industry, the Filipino talent,” he said.

The MassKara Festival began in 1980 after a series of sugar crises caused by the oversupply of sugar in the global market that resulted in world prices dropping.

The colorful smiling masks showcased in the festival are a symbol of resiliency and unity despite challenges and problems. (PND)