Masbate rodeo gets bigger,but defended anew vs critics

MARK ALVIC ESPLANA / INQUIRER.

The cash prizes range from P60,000 (for overall team winner) to P5,000.

Gozum took the high number of participants as a positive sign that the activity—the idea of working on cattle farms and in the agriculture sector in general—continues to enjoy a measure of public appeal.

When conceived more than three decades ago, the festival sought to reinvigorate the “dying” cattle industry in the island province.

More grounded

When RA 8485 was being drafted, Gozum was one of the consultants approached for the bill, particularly on the cattle sector.

When the law was finally enacted, its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) had portions specific to the conduct of rodeos. Gozum later invited the writers of the IRR to see the conduct of the Masbate rodeo for themselves, and showed them the regulations he drew up for the competitions and the handling of animals.

“When they read them, (they saw that) my rules are more strict than the IRR. The rules here are more grounded than the law,” he recalled. “And so they ended up asking: ‘Why didn’t we use this?’”

BACK IN THE ARENA After a three-year pause, the Masbate Rodeo Festival is back with seven events meant to showcase the skills of local cowboys and cowgirls. The organizers, however, still see the need to explain that the event is governed by strict rules and may hardly be considered sanctioned cruelty or abuse, as animal welfare advocates put it. Photos taken on Friday.
-PHOTOS BY MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

Extra attention

Critics who continue to disparage the annual rodeo may change their minds if they immerse themselves in the life of cattle-raisers, Gozum said.“They need to be exposed more. They need to see the real world. They need to come over and check what we’re doing and see how things must be done,” he said.

For their well-being, cattle used in the competitions are given extra attention for about a week after the rodeo, Gozum said.

They are examined by “volunteer veterinarians,’’ given antistress vitamins, and are dewormed, he added. INQ