City to sponsor horse show

CEBU, Philippines - The Horse Show and Competition formerly supported by suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has found new sponsors in the Cebu City government.

The Cebu Equine Owners Breeders Sportsman Association (CEOBSA) yesterday announced that the 2013 Cebu Horse Congress and Festival (Horse Show and Competition) will now be sponsored by the Cebu City government.

“We are very happy. This is like a dream come true. We have always wanted to hold the activity in SRP (South Road Properties). The area is just perfect,” activity chairman and Philippine Horsemen’s Federation president Anton Quisumbing told reporters.

CEOBSA, the same group that worked with the provincial government for the past years, is now working with the city for the biggest annual gathering of horse riders and breeders from around the country in the Queen City of the South from April 24 to 28.

“We recognized that the current provincial government’s priorities are different from the previous. Nevertheless, we sent Acting Governor Agnes Magpale a communication about our activity but did not expect the usual positive response,” Quisumbing added.

But he noted that Magpale’s son, Board Member Miguel, promised to send the provincial television channel Cebu TV to cover the event.

Riders from the Davao Horse Club, the Malaybalay Horsemen’s Association and Impasug-ong Horsemen’s Association from Bukidnon, the Cagayan de Oro Horsemen’s Association, the Bohol Horsemen’s Association and the Los Caballeros from Negros Oriental have confirmed participation.

Despite not being the main organizers in cooperation with CEOBSA and PHF, the provincial veterinarian’s office will still assist Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries.

“Since they are experts in handling this activity, they (provincial veterinarian’s office) will still be around. Plus, we have veterinary medicine students from Southwestern University and Visayas State University to help out. They will be divided into three teams, each with different tasks,” city veterinarian Alice Utlang said.

In gratitude for all the help in the previous years, Quisumbing said they also sent an invitation to Garcia but they understand that it is the campaign period and she may be busy visiting different town.

“We are very thankful to Governor Gwen but as much as possible, we would also like this not to appear as a political event. Of course, Mayor (Michael) Rama will be there since the city is sponsoring,” he explained.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)