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There are cowboys and rodeos in Masbate
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: George Bernard Supetran
Date: 2001-06-04
 
The rustic province of Masbate was awakened once more by the rumbling footsteps of cows chased by ''cowboys'' in a rather entertaining physical duel. This is rodeo time in Masbate!

Masbate is an island province situated on the west of mainland Bicol and can be reached by a 60-minute flight via Asian Spirit airlines.



Started in 1993 by the ranchers of the province, the Rodeo Masbateño Festival puts to the fore the distinctive characteristics of this mystic place—the thrill of being a “cowboy’’ the kind of a stuff that Filipinos get to see only in Hollywood “wild wild West’’ movies. It also highlights one of Masbate’s important resources, cattle, which far outnumber people in the province.



At this time of the year, ranchers and college students from all over the barangays troop to Masbate to compete in a pleasing display of agility and “cowboy’’ skills to vie for honors and delight the audience with this unfamiliar sport.



The rodeo festival’s traditional events include a lassoing on horseback and on foot, a carambola (free-for-all), wood chopping, cattle wrestling, casting, load carrying and bull riding, which is the most-awaited event of all.



Eight seconds of riding the bull without falling off is all it takes to win this event. But even for the seasoned riders, eight seconds seem to be an eternity as they hold on, single-handed, to their reins.



This year, organizers introduced a new contest called “bull whipping’’ which tests the dexterity of participants to make brittle whip sounds when hitting an imaginary bull. Cowboys have to also whip it in style to bag the award.



Osmundo Salvacion, head of the Rodeo Masbateño Inc., owner of Bituon Beach Resort, said that this summertime festival is one of a kind in the country. “The rodeo is our main attraction, and with this, we hope to make visitors discover our other tourist destinations such as the centuries-old churches, fine sand beaches, excellent dive sites, enchanting caves and gorges, and many other natural attractions,’’ he added.



With events like these in Masbate, we don’t have to travel to Colorado to witness a truly breath-taking rodeo. If only Glenn Campbell can experience the thrill and excitement of Rodeo Masbateño, he’ll definitely rewrite his “Rhinestone Cowboy.”



 

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