Standing up for horsefights
Charles Raymnond R. Maxey
| THE horsefight has for so long been one of the most exciting highlights of the Kadayawan Festival through the past two decades.
Every August of the year, when Davao City holds its thanksgiving for bountiful harvest, Dabawenyos are treated to this exciting battle between two stallions for one coveted prize: a mare.
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Called the Bagobo horsefight since such diversion is part of the traditions of the Bagobo tribes, this is one of the biggest crowd-drawers not just for locals and lumads but also foreign visitors.
The thrill of a one-on-one battle of two stallions, kicking, biting and snorting is a display of strength and passion.
And like in previous Kadayawans, the Bagobo tribesmen and the people of Davao were expecting another horsefight this year.
They were in for a disappointment. The Bureau of Animal Industry jolted City Hall recently by sending a communication ruling that holding a horsefight would invite possible legal actions as this is cruelty to animals.
Apparently dismayed by the communication, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte asked the opinion of the City Legal Office on the matter and found the same answer: The horsefight faces legal impediments.
This is among the prohibitions in Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. Section 6 of RA 8485 states: It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare."
Still, despite the legal implications, City Hall tried to push through with the Bagobo horsefight but the lack of venue forced it to suspend the event.
The
argument being that horsefighting is an age-old tradition of the Bagobos and the horses, while they are wounded and bruised in the process are not killed.
Very much unlike cockfighting.
"We would have wanted to go on with the holding of the horsefight," says City Administrator Wendel Avisado, adding they intend to settle the argument in court. "The mayor wanted this to become a test case."
Avisado said the PTA would have been an ideal venue for the event, but the place is already full of activities like the Agro-Industrial Trade Fair. "The owners of other possible venues are also adamant because they ar afraid they will be dragged into a possible legal action," Avisado said.
"But the mayor had expressed his views. We would have wanted to hold it," Avisado added.
Bagobo tribe leader Datu Max Gabao said they tried to contest the BAI ruling by writing a letter to President Macapagal-Arroyo asking her to allow them to hold the horsefight.
Malacañang responded by referring the matter to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, but until now NCIP has yet to act on it.
Gabao said they have no choice but to forego the holding of the Bagobo horsefight this year. He, however, vowed to push through with the event next year.
"The horsefight is part of our culture," Gabao said. It is known that horsefighting is a long revered tradition of the Bagobo. It originated as part of an annual three-day celebration of their thanksgiving to the Manama (god) for bountiful harvest. On the third day of the thanksgiving, the different datus hold a horsefight to signify their respective strengths and influence.
In place of the Bagobo horsefight, the Kadayawan organizers will hold the tribal wedding this year where a total of 10 couples will be wed.
Duterte may have ran out of space this year, but he definitely is going to hold the horsefight in 2006 and challenge the law.
The Bagobo tribesmen, who look up to the horses as symbols of strength, are bent on keeping their culture and tradition.
The horsefight controversy, like the horsefight itself, is worth watching. |
