The winner. PHOTO BY ELMO ROQUE
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ – They looked for the beauty in the beast and found it in a male native carabao.
The adorned carabao, seven years old, was led for a “walk” on the grounds of the public elementary school here Wednesday for the judging of four judges who are involved in animal science and development. The owner of the winning carabao, Melencio Ramirez, 56, of Barangay Bantug here, received P7,000 for presenting his carabao which fi tted the criteria for artistry, uniqueness, locomotion, and impact.
“It was held in connection with the celebration and observance of this city’s 13th charter anniversary and “1st Uhay Festival: Ani ng Sining at Agham,” said Dr. Edwin Atabay, director of the Philippine Carabao Center at the Central Luzon State University.
This city’s multi-faceted affair ran from December 9 last year to January 20 when a grand parade was be held to showcase in fl oats the achievements of the participating agencies and entities of the “harvests” here in arts and science.
Atabay said he was requested by Mayor Nestor Alvarez to hold and sponsor a carabao festival to increase awareness of the importance of this beast of burden not only for its draft power but as a source of milk for economic enterprises.
For coordination works and setting of activities for this Carabao Festival, Apolinario Salazar Jr. of PCC and Jerry
Rigos, head of the city agricultural and veterinary offices, were tapped by Atabay. They contacted the carabao owners in the different barangays here for the contest.
Unfortunately, only a few of the expected 50 native and crossbred carabaos promised by their owners to be brought in for the occasion came. The owners sent word that their animals were currently being used for the cultivation of the land for the second cropping season. Nevertheless, a big number of spectators, including
pupils and teachers, came to watch the event.
Two other carabaos emerged as first- and second runners-up and were given P5,000 and P3,000 as cash prize. Atabay said that two other carabaos, one female and one male won the heaviest in estimated weight category.
Based on their body condition and measurement of the heart girth, the female which is less than four years old weighed an estimated 1,051 pounds while the male, 943 lbs. The two animals which won the “heaviest award” were owned by Rick Tobias.
He received a total of P6,000. Also held in connection with festival was a milk-feeding activity for 200 elementary pupils and a milk-drinking contest for age brackets 7-12, 13-40 and 41-70 years old. The top winners in each age bracket were given P1,000 each, P500 for second placers, and P300 for third fastest drinkers.
Atabay said in next year’s affairs, the farmers will be enjoined to participate in the planned “Gatas ng Kalabaw
(carabao’s milk) Festival here.
