DAY THREE ( 3 ) 3rd PINYAHAN FESTIVAL, CANNERY, POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO

DAY THREE ( 3 ) 3rd PINYAHAN FESTIVAL, CANNERY, POLOMOLOK, SOUTH COTABATO

On my second night in Lake Sebu, I met at the lodge good hearted people from Polomolok, South Cotabato. Tito Boy and Tita Malou Restificar, Tito William and Tita Nelly Ladaran, Kuya Rey plus a lot more, and of course the recollection master of the group Fr. Bobby Calunsag who had just arrived from Italy, where he was assigned as a priest for more than twenty years.

 

Fr. Bobby Calunsag and Tito William Ladara

They invited me to join them for dinner and to their recollection. I don't understand their dialect, so they spoke in TAGLISH. They made me feel important. They were genuinely kind and sincere with their invitations and really kind hearted individuals.

 

Tito William and Tita Nelly Ladaran

At 4 o' clock the following morning, I joined Tito William and Tita Nelly Ladaran and Fr. Bobby on the way back to Polomolok, South Cotabato.

We dropped off Fr. Bobby at the church gate before we proceeded to the house of Tito William and Tita Nelly.

I took a bath then had coffee for breakfast. Then the three of us proceeded to Cannery where they dropped me off 'coz they still have to fetch the other recollection participants back in Lake Sebu.

Alone in a town I've never been before, I decided to catch the activities at the Pinyahan Festival at Cannery upon my new found family's suggestion.

The third Pinyahan Festival's stage at Cannery

Department of Tourism Region XII signage.

One of the major sponsors of the event -DOLE PHILIPPINES.

There's an abundance of Watermelon in Polomolok.

SMB's Giant bottle besides the stage is so prominent. He he!

The kids had fun posing in front of this Giant SMB inflatable bottle.

Look! They're all there! I wonder what they're up to?

Onlookers filling up the truck cum stage. 

Curious as I am, I asked one spectator what was the event that they're waiting for? He said they're excited to see the Lumba Kalabaw race of Bgy. Cannery, Polomolok's Pinyahan Festival.

There's a lot of spectators, who came from all over Polomolok. And they do not mind the heat of the noon time sun.

The Carabao jockey waving at his fans.

 

The participants painted their carabao with paints to make them look attractive. This one is green color.

I wonder if they're not allergic to the paint. Oh I almost forgot they are "balat kalabaw" (meaning, thicked skinned). Water buffalo is a beast of burden known as carabao in the Philippines. Carabaos are associated with farmers, being the farm animal of choice for pulling both a plow and the cart used to haul produce to the market.

Before the start of the carabao race, onlookers inspect which carabao they're going to put their bets on.

The audience went wild when the race started. It was very entertaining! I even cheered with them!

The carabao jockeys gear up with motorcycle helmets and tennis shoes some in their slippers. I wonder if the organizer has safety standards set for the carabao jockeys.

There were moments when the carabao jockey would fell from the carabao. Everytime it happened, it really had the crowd roaring with laughter and cheers.

Bilib din ako sa mga Carabao Jockeys. They had plenty of fighting spirit. They still climbed up their carabaos to continue the race. One jockey even had to run side by side with his carabao when he found it difficult to climb back.

And there was one carabao who went wild and decided to run on his own and left the poor jockey altogether.

But what was really funny is the carabao that decided to join the crowd to watch the race.

Overall, I had fun watching the 3rd Pinyahan Festival's Carabao Race under the heat of the noon time Polomolok sun.

Live life to the fullest!

Smile always!