Animal Advocates Condemn Bullfighting at Pasungay Festival

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a non-profit organization advocating animal welfare in the Philippines, has renewed its call to end bullfighting at the Pasungay Festival in San Joaquin, Iloilo.

Held every third Saturday of January, the Pasungay Festival has drawn criticism for its inclusion of bullfighting, which involves carabaos (water buffaloes) engaging in violent clashes.

The century-old festival was canceled in 2019 following concerns over animal cruelty but resumed in 2023 and took place again this year on January 18.

In a statement, AKF condemned the event as a form of “animal cruelty,” highlighting that the violence inflicted on the animals, while not life-threatening, is unnecessary and contrary to the ethical values of a compassionate society.

“While we respect traditions, the continuation of cruel animal fighting during the festivities—the pitting of animals against each other for spectacle, entertainment, and worse, gambling—does not have a place in the progressive society that we claim to be,” the foundation said in a social media post.

The AKF also urged the local government of San Joaquin to comply with the Animal Welfare Act, enacted in 1998, which prohibits acts of cruelty and abuse against animals.

“The preservation of tradition that honors history and culture while fostering an innovative and compassionate community is far better than exploiting animals and espousing violence,” the statement added.

The foundation’s call sparked mixed reactions online.

“This is not a tradition but a spectacle of a sadistic cycle of cruelty inflicted upon these animals. We are now in the 21st century; we cannot allow these archaic events to continue being celebrated. We should launch a campaign to pressure these fiestas toward prohibition,” wrote netizen Mizzy Milly.

Another commenter described the Pasungay Festival as a “heartless and barbaric practice” disguised as cultural heritage.

On the other hand, supporters of the festival argue that it is an important cultural tradition that must be preserved.

The Pasungay Festival has been recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage, further fueling the debate on balancing cultural preservation and ethical practices.