Monday, July 02, 2007 Riding on a Rodeo High By Arrah Camillia R. Quistadio
IF PEOPLE think there’s nothing more to rodeo than cowboy boots, dust and yelling “Yee-ha!”, these youngsters break that cookie-cutter mold.
Sure, they can draw circles in the air with their lasso, or make a thunderous crack resonate with a swing of their bullwhip. But beyond these traditional rodeo moves can be found stories of struggle and achievement, made all the more heartwarming by the camaraderie the group shares. These tales only members of the West Side Rodeo Club can tell.
The beginnings of West Side Rodeo Club, the only rodeo club in Cebu, dates back to August 2000, having as pioneers some Veterinary Medicine (VetMed) students of Southwestern University (SWU) and members of the Rodeo Club of the Philippines. The group met in the now defunct West Side Café, thus the club’s name.
Years later, the group clinched awards at rodeo competitions. Its current crop of 10 members for instance, bagged three awards at the students’ over-all categories: 1st Runner-Up award at the 12th Rodeo Masbateño Festival 2007, 3rd Place at the Canlaon City Rodeo 2006 and 2nd Runner-Up at the Buglasan Rodeo and Horse Show Competition in Dumaguete City. If anyone ever underestimated their team, as member Jaypee de Guia claims, they certainly bit the dust.
While they do get a kick out of these feats, the group wants to climb the ladder of success one step higher. These days, the group is busy working on their lassoing skills, if not jogging to improve their oxygen circulation, in a bid to enter another rodeo competition in Buglasan, Dumaguete this December. Never mind the broken teeth and bruises.
This sport offers perks, too. For member Kristina Carreon, the opportunity to travel to other places and hobnob with students from all over the country makes the hobby a lot more fun. Julius Subade says it’s an alternative to learning via the classroom. “Actually, hindi ‘yan naituturo sa classroom. Sa field mo malalaman (You don't learn these things in the classroom, but on the field),” he said.
As this bunch of SWU VetMed students would tell aspiring cowboys and cowgirls, physical prowess goes together with one’s interest, passion, active involvement in and enthusiasm for rodeo. Once in the club, not only will beginners learn proper handling and restraining of animals, but also the tricky act of balancing studies and sports.
Proving equally challenging is drumming up interest for rodeo. Despite odds like scant membership and shouldering travel costs from their own pockets, still, they press on with plans to expand the club to include students from Cebu City. “If they are thrill seekers, they should join a rodeo. It takes guts jumping in the arena alone,” says Michael Buado, beckoning adrenaline junkies in the city to try out the sport.
With their go-getter attitude, resting easy on obstacles does not look like part of the team’s game plan.
“This game is one that summons the best in a man. If you engage in this kind of sport, you have got to be very sure of yourself. If you harbor (a) little feeling of fear or reluctance... It will spell your defeat,” quips the club’s adviser, Dr. Jose Quitasol.
Like the way they handle cattle, these rodeo girls and boys only wrestle head-on whatever threats and opportunities headed their way.
