Carabaos get makeup, body paint in Tarlac town feast

A carabao is all made up for Farmers’ Day in the town of Bamban, Tarlac province. At least 30 carabaos took part in a race
and parade during the feast in honor of the town’s food producers. —MARIA ADELAIDA CALAYAG

BAMBAN, Tarlac — Thirty carabaos raced across the shallow ends of the Bamban River on Thursday, as the town celebrated its Farmers’ Day.

Started 13 years ago, the race highlighted the town’s annual tribute to its food producers, said farmer and former Councilor Rudy Escoto.

Most farmers of this second class town (pop: 69,466 as of 2015) in Tarlac province, about 100 kilometers north of Metro Manila, plant rice, mango and root crops.

The carabaos were painted and decorated for the 6 a.m. parade. They each hauled carts made up to look like mini floats before they were prepared for the river race.

Dressed up

Some of the animals were adorned with crowns while others were dressed in robes and vegetable-inspired trinkets.

The race used to be held on dry land, with farmers being pulled in a cart by the competing animals.

In 2014, the organizers decided to hold the race near the river to prevent the carabaos from getting hurt.

Keeping them cool

At least 30 farmers rode on the carabaos during the race, among them Aetas from the tribal communities who constantly splashed water on the backs of these animals.

Keeping the carabaos wet ensured they were protected from the day’s heat, and that they would not go into tantrums when the race began, according to one farmer.

Among the carabaos that competed was “Agila,” declared last year as the fastest but he was unable to defend the title this year. The race winner went home with P4,000. —Maria Adelaida Calayag