(The national headquarters of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in the Science City of Muñoz.)
(2nd of 4 Parts)
SCIENCE CITY OF MU Due to the various kinds of works in which the carabao is the powering energy, several kinds of implements designed for specific kinds of work and materials needed for accomplishment of certain works were fashioned.
Thus came out the plow, harrow, leveling boards, yoke, carts, sled, and “guyuran-pamitik-suga” which are made of ropes, and others. Their production spawned several thriving businesses, too.
For the Filipino’s other ways of life, this animal became a source of an immense cultural depth.
In the arts, a painting of a rustic scene is not complete if the carabao is not there. In songs – especially in lullabies by the farmer’s wife whose husband is away with this animal – the carabao has its mark as a theme.
Different legends concerning the carabao had also come out and have regaled generations of children. Folklores, parables, and anecdotes, and history abounded as testaments to the important roles played in the psyche and everyday living of Filipinos.
This animal has also become focal center of interest in culture such as in fiesta celebration, festivals, sports and others.
Among the more commonly known fiesta celebrations and festivals with the carabaos as the stars of the show are the Kneeling Carabaos of Pulilan in Bulacan, the Carabao-Carroza Festival in Pavia, Iloilo; the Katigbawan Festival in Catigbian, Bohol; the Karbo Festival in Vigan City in Ilocos Sur; the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon; in Angono, Rizal, considered as the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” the carabao is depicted in giant replicas thru papier-mache and paraded on the streets000, and in San Agustin, Isabela, the Nuang Festival.
During Holy Week, residents of Barangay Camansi in Carigara, Leyte showcase the Turogpo Festival or the combat of two carabaos for a test of endurance. Others relish the holding of carabao races.
The carabao is used too as “brides’ wealth” or dowry and as offering for peace in tribal conflict and as payment for crimes against persons or properties.
The carabao has also become the source of delectable meat. For the family’s food, and in big gatherings, the carabao is slaughtered for its meat to be turned into several dishes.
To maintain its big number, the government instituted a “carabao slaughter ban”. It was only in recent years that the ban was virtually lifted.
Suffering
Yet for all the significant roles the carabao had played in the economic, social, and cultural affairs, it silently endured sufferings, both natural and man-occasioned, that factored heavily on its population.
In the early 1900, diseases, particularly rinderpest, swept through this animal population. As if conspiring with it, locust infestation damaged the vegetation that resulted to the poor dietary supply for this beloved animal. Almost 90 percent of its population was wiped out.
The locust infestation merited alarm in one of the issues of the New York Times in 1902. The paper’s story carried this headline: “Dearth of Field Animals. Pest has Almost Exterminated Carabaos in the Philippines. Agriculture at a Standstill.”
But in time, the population of the carabao grew and the reliable partnership with the farmers moved on.
During World War II, another catastrophe befell on the carabao. Japanese officials suspected that the carabaos were being used by the Filipino guerrillas for transporting weapons and goods in aiding American soldiers. The massacre of the carabao was ordered and about two million bodies of them were left rotting.
Their breed suffered, too, as many farmers castrated their best of bulls to make them bigger and fatter. Soon, the carabaos sired by the inferior bulls came out in declined size and weight.
Development
There, indeed, were efforts to address the declining population and breed of the native carabao and other related concerns.
The government imported 10,000 swamp buff aloes from China and Kampuchea in 1903. In 1917, another importation was made, this time, Murrah buffaloes which marked the beginning effort to introduce the importance of the dairy breed of buff aloes in the country. This was followed in 1955 with the importation of Nilli Ravi breed, also from India.
Some herd owners imported Murrah buff aloes, too.
As for an organized research and development efforts, in 1973 the carabao was included as a subject for research and development by the Philippine Council for Agricultural Resources Research (PCARR, now PCAARRD). Then a Carabao Commodity Team was established.
One achievement by the team was the development of a proposal for an accelerated development of the Philippine carabao not only for draft animal need but for the national goal of sufficiency in red meat as well as milk and milk products. The proposal was submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which was subsequently approved.
In 1981, funding was provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) of the FAO. for the establishment of the “Strengthening of the Philippine Carabao Research and Development Center.” It came in two phases: from 1982 to 1987 and from 1987 to 1992.
The institutions involved in the R&D project were the University of the Philippine at Los Baños, Central Luzon State University, Cagayan State University, Central Mindanao State University, and La Carlota Stock Farm. Eleven groups of farmer-cooperators were also enlisted to participate in the project.
The farmers involved eventually attested that the crossbreds produced had higher capacity to produce milk, better growth, having more meat, and also good for its draftability.
Esteem
After the “darkness” that befell on the carabao, “bright” light shone on it. That light was in the form of a law enacted by the Philippine government, Republic Act 7307.
Titled “An Act Creating the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to Propagate and Promote the Philippine Carabao and for Other Purposes”.
Principally authored by then Sen Joseph Estrada, it is now simply called the “Philippine Carabao Act of 1992”.
The PCC is mandated, among others, “to conserve, propagate, and promote the Philippine carabao as s source of draft animal; power, meat, milk and hide… and to enable the farmers to avail themselves of good quality carabao at all times and at reasonable prices through an organized program of production, breeding, training and dispersal.”
To be continued
