And there was silence....

posted by: blueberry010 at September 19, 2005 14:38 | link | comments (5) |

Piyesta na naman sa Kidapawan, Cotabato. Nakasabit na ang banderitas, panay na rin ang mga parada’t prusisyon sa buong bayan. Pero ang tunay na inaabangan ng mga tao… ang giyera sa kuwadra!

Ang labanan ng mga kabayo ang idodokumento ni Sandra Aguinaldo ngayong Lunes sa I-Witness. Bahagi ito ng kultura ng mga Bagobo at Manobo, kung saan itinuturing na simbolo ng kalakasan at katapangan ng isang tribo ang mga kabayo. Sa isang malaking kuwadra, pinag-aaway ang dalawang lalaking kabayo gamit ang isang babaeng kabayo. Ang kabayo ng tribong magwawagi sa laban ang siya ring tatanghaling pinakamalakas at pinakamakapangyarihan.

Pero sa paglipas ng panahon, tila nawawala na ang pangunahing diwa ng tradisyon. Sugal na raw kasi ang turing sa paglalaban ng kabayo. Ang dating dangal na hatid ng bawat panalo, napalitan na raw ng malakihang pustahan. Kaya naman hindi na natigil ang protesta sa naturang okasyon.

Ngayong Lunes, susundan ni Sandra Aguinaldo ang biyahe nila Garroto at Bad Boy, dalawang kabayong itinakda ang tadhana na lumaban sa tatlong araw na Horse Fighting Fest sa Kidapawan. Sisiyasatin ni Sandra ang pagsasanay na ginawa ng kanilang mga amo bilang paghahanda. Aalamin din niya ang dahilan kung bakit sa kabila ng mga pagtutol ng mga animal rights activists ay patuloy pa ring isinasagawa ang marahas na tradisyon.

Makikilala rin ni Sandra si Jeffler Transmil, na sa murang edad ay mulat na sa karahasang naidudulot ng horsefighting. Mariin ang pagtutol niya sa kanyang ama na wag nang sumali sa labanan ng kabayo.

Saksihan ang matinding giyera sa loob ng kuwadra sa I-Witness ni Sandra Aguinaldo, ngayong Lunes, pagkatapos ng Saksi sa GMA-7.

"GIYERA SA KUWADRA"
(Horsefighting)
On Sandra Aguinaldo’s I-Witness
September 12, 2005

A festive atmosphere fills the streets of Kidapawan, Cotabato. Bands are practicing, colorful flags have been hung and it seems the entire town is preparing for the fiesta. But the most awaited event of all is the annual horse fight.

Horse fighting, believed to be proof of dignity and strength among the tribal groups, has been practiced by the Mindanao people for centuries. Using a mare as a bait, two stallions from competing tribes fight it out for the female, resulting in a bloody battle. The winning horse determines which tribe will be declared the strongest in Mindanao.

But time has passed and the custom has begun to lose its essence. Instead of a game for tribal pride, it has become a large scale gambling event. Horses are trained for the cash their victory will deliver. And bets are placed not by tribesmen but by ordinary folk during the fiesta.

In this Monday’s I-Witness, Sandra Aguinaldo follows the journey of Garroto and Bad Boy, two horses whose fate is bound by the horse fighting tradition. Sandra delves into the training that both owners and animals go through in preparation for the horse fight.

Sandra meets Jeffler Transmil, a five-year old whose exposure to the cruel custom has prompted him to prevent his own father from joining the horse fighting festival.

Animal rights activists have long been protesting the violent tradition. And for the first time, horsefighting was cancelled in nearby Davao’s Kadayawan Festival. Will Kidapawan residents soon follow suit?

Find out on Monday’s I-Witness with Sandra Aguinaldo, right after Saksi on GMA-7.

posted by: blueberry010 at September 08, 2005 14:02 | link | comments (2) |

help!

Need your help friends.

Just text..

SS<space>VOTE<space>DAILY<space>TRIP and send to 2929

It's for Joshie and his other band DAILY TRIP.

Kasali sila sa NESCAFE SOUNDSKOOL...

Sige na...P2.50 lang naman eh..

posted by: blueberry010 at September 01, 2005 15:33 | link | comments (3) |