Panagbenga horseshow prizes received after a long wait

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

Last Sunday, pony boys gathered at the Pacdal bridle path to receive their long overdue Panagbenga gymkhana prizes. Apo councilor Joel Alangsab was there, accompanied by his sparring partner newsman Arthur Alladiw who helped him distribute the awards. At last, the pony boys who asked for nothing in return for selflessly contributing their part to a thriving tourism industry stopped the long wait.

With that, horses that catch the fancy of both pinoy and foreign tourists in the city can now show off their usual elegant poses and firm gallop even while some died in the past due to bad health and the lack of a veterinarian’s care.

Dropping by the Pacdal bridle path last month, I was asked by pony boys Scott Madon and Jaime Silbino to remind Councilor Alangsab of long overdue cash prizes and medals they have yet to receive six months after participating in the Panagbenga last February.

They said, the medals and cash prizes worth more or less P200,000 were their last remedy to get by as bad weather has discouraged tourists from horseback riding. Scott, a former officer of the Pony Boys Association at Pacdal said, many of them do not have money to buy the required volume of horse feed and enough medicine because there were hardly any riders in recent weeks.

I informed apo councilor Alangsab who happened to chair the 2015 Panagbenga events last February, including the gymkhana or horse games, and he set a date for the awarding of the cash prizes and medals at the Pacdal park.

However, this was reset for at least three times due to his tight schedule. To tell you the truth, the councilor is busy doing his rounds, something he cannot do once he files his candidacy for the same position in December. Whether he is already going around “informing” people of his 2016 plan is something that has to come from the horse’s mouth.       

There are around 300 pony boys renting out horses in at least three spots – at Pacdal that has become commonly called Wright Park (although Wright Park is rightly situated near Mines View), inside Camp John Hay and beside the Country Club area.

Around 200 horses are rented out at Pacdal, 60 at Camp John Hay, and 20 at Country Club at P300 per hour. The association pays its business permits that include health and sanitary permits at P500 per horse per year. With 200 horses each paying P500, that accounts for some P10,000 contributed to the coffers of Baguio.

For paying their dues to the city, the pony boys do not get enough in return. An association member claimed that in a year, they do not see any visit by city health authorities or a veterinarian despite paying for health, veterinary and sanitary permits. 

Pony boys Jaime and Scott also told me of the need to scrape off the stones and rocks that were laid on the horse track as this puts at risk riders and hurts the horses. As to when will the track be scraped is up to apoAlangsab’s promise to request the city engineers to do something about it, as early as possible or in time for the holidays in November or in time for the long Christmas break.    

For posterity, accounting and record purposes, I promised to publish in my column the winners in the 2015 gymkhana during the last Panagbenga because they promised in return to buy copies of the newspapers. Here is the list.

Big horse race – Alvin Pataras (1st prize), John Rex Opena (2nd), Raymund Dangatan (3rd), Jerry Gabuyog (4th), Genesis Labbot (5th); Medium horse race – Rio Glen Manaois, Joevimar Segundo, Joshua Segundo, John Rex Opena, Carlo Penaflor; Small horse race – Joevimar Segundo, John Rex Opena, Willy Camacho, Gembrylle Perez, Billy Jose; Dwarf horse race – JayRLucyao, GlenfordLampuyas, JersonPeli, John Rex Opena, Billy Fernandez;

Pole bending – Marner Segundo, Jason Ramirez, Marvin Cayatoc, Darwin Alquizar, Noel Alquizar; Balloon bursting, Men – Elmer Emeterio, Emil Binay-an, Noel Alquizar, RamramCayatoc, Jed Balonan; Barrel race – Kier Dela Cruz, Marner Segundo, Elmer Emeterio, Jason Ramirez, Noel Alquizar; Flag and barrel – Marvin Cayatoc, Kier Dela Cruz, Marner Segundo, Paul Bagnos, RamramCayatoc;

Flag relay – Clevinne Mike Chalmas, Paul Bagnos Jr., Billy Jose, Rojan Nicer, Newton Hugo; Lady jockey – Rachel Obo-ob, Ina Capsil, Marivic Ramos, Vanessa Joy Oligo, Imee, Dupingay; Rescue pair – Marvin Cayatoc, Kier Dela Cruz, JimboyCaline, Bill Jose, Gilbert Lim; Musical chair – Lamstrong Burcao, RamramCayatoc, Emil Binay-an, Ralph Lim, Joel Rollan; Sack race – Clevinne Mike Chalmas, JayRLucyao, Rio Glen Manaois, Ralph Lim, Aldrin Bangcawayan;

Imported dwarf horse race – Edward Castillo, Paul Bagnos, JersonPeli, John Rex Opena, Joevimar Segundo; Duck/ hat picking – Carlo Penaflor, Brian Mateo, Joel Rollan, Gembrylle Perez, Amboy Villanueva; Saddle relay – Brian Mateo, John Rex Opena, Harley Aglamas, Kenneth Petalbero, Miller Canuto; Musical lady/ Balloon bursting, Women – Gwen Cayatoc, Rosni DizonTriong, Rachel Obo-ob, Jayla May Burcao, CheskaManalo.