Saddle up!

MANILA, Philippines - No, you’re not in Texas. This is Masbate, but the rodeo action is just as exciting here in the Rodeo Capital of the Philippines.

Every April, the province of Masbate becomes a cowboy haven during the annual Rodeo Festival. The ranches are abuzz with activity. People from all walks of life, from ranch owners to waiters to tricycle drivers, turn up in their spiffiest cowboy costumes. And the rodeo arena is packed with spectators and lovers of the sport.

Rodeo displays the animal handling skills and techniques of cowboys, and is the official state sport of Texas and Wyoming.

The events in Masbate’s Rodeo Festival are day to day ranch practices ramped up to competition level. The Rodeo Festival is intended to entertain, but more importantly, it is meant to show spectators the best practices in animal handling.

Whether on the ranch or in the rodeo, cowboys make sure that the animals are in great shape. technique performed by a cowboy in the arena has already been performed a hundred times in the ranch. For the rodeo, they don the fancy stetson hats, the shiny huge belt buckles and those boots. But the cowboys who handle the animals during competition are the same professional cowboys who take care of the animals in the ranch. Thus, the concern that the animals involved in the rodeo may be jeopardized is essentially unfounded.

This year, the Rodeo Festival will be held from April 1 to 15, culminating in the national finals which will feature the best professional cowboys in the country.

Among the much-anticipated events of the Rodeo Festival are: Steer Lassoing on Horseback (women), Carambola (men/women), Cattle Lassoing Wrestling on Foot, and Bull Riding.

For Steer Lassoing on Horseback, the lasso (rope) must be properly thrown to catch the animal while the participant is on horseback. The animal is roped around  the neck.

In Carambola, each team of two to four members must catch the animals without the use of any lariat or rope. Then, the animal is properly restrained and wrestled to the ground. The event is considered finished when three or four legs of the animal are properly tied.

In Cattle Lassoing Wrestling on Foot, the participants need to catch the animal by properly throwing the lasso around the animal’s neck. The animal is then wrestled to the ground and three legs are tied in the fastest and most effective way.

In Bull Riding, the bull rope and the flank strap should be tied by any member of the competing team. The bull rope is wrapped around the chest of the animal directly behind the front legs. The rider is allowed to use specific bull riding spurs provided that the pointed portions of the spurs rotate or move. The bull rider takes his ride while the bull is inside the bucking chute. Only one hand can grasp the riding rope when the animal is turned loose. The event starts as soon as the animal is let loose. In order for a rider to receive a score, he must stay aboard his bull for eight seconds.

The Rodeo Festival is under the strict supervision and regulation of the Rodeo Masbateño, Inc. (RMI), a non-stock corporation which aims to promote continuous and sustained growth of Masbate’s cattle industry.

In 1993, RMI organized the first Rodeo Festival in Masbate and from then on has successfully staged the annual festival, each year becoming bigger and better than the last.

“Back in the day, the Rodeo Festival was seen as an elitist event mainly because the organizers are mostly ranch owners. But when the Masbateños saw the many benefits that the festival brings to the province, they started to take active participation,” shared RMI president and one of the founders of the Rodeo Festival, Manuel Sese.

Armed with its new charter which sought the active participation of more Masbateños, especially those in the transportation and tourism industries, RMI promises that the coming festival will be more fun and colorful for participants and spectators alike.

Aside from the different competitions, the Rodeo Festival also offers other exciting events for tourists such as the cattle drive and ranch tour.

The cattle drive, locally known as Balanse, is a re-enactment of the old way of transporting herds of cattle from the ranch to the port.

More than 70 herds of cattle are driven through a 60-km distance by 30 cowboys. Four cowboys on horseback position themselves in front of the pack to serve as guides while the other cowboys make sure that no cattle gets lost along the way.

Ranch tours enable tourists to experience first hand life on the ranch, and they get to feed the animals and perform other duties around the ranch. This gives tourists a deeper understanding of how animals are being taken care of and how ranch life can be vibrant and fulfilling.

The Rodeo Festival is a perfect fusion of action-packed competitions and nature tripping. “Aside from the different competitions during the Rodeo Festival, tourists can enjoy various types of entertainment. They can allot one day to visit three ranches. They can see our dairy production and feedlot operation. Plus of course, we have beautiful white sand beaches. During the festival, we also have a beer plaza where tourists can sample native Masbate cuisine. If you are an adventure-seeker and a nature lover, you will not run out of things to do here in Masbate,” said Sese.

Saddle up!

For rodeo schedules, call Venus at 0926-5745318