Still no Pasungay in 2020

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The traditional Pasungay or bullfight in the town of San Joaquin, Iloilo will not happen in 2020.

In a statement, Mayor Ninfa Garin of San Joaquin, Iloilo announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, that Pasungay Festival will still not push through.

“Sang may kasubo, ginapamaan ko sa tanan, ilabi na gid sa mga San Joaquinhon kag mga aficionado sang Pasungay nga indi kita makahiwat sang Pasungay sa sini nga tuig,” she said.

(With sadness, I inform everyone, especially the San Joaquinhons and Pasubgay aficionados, that we could still not hold Pasungay this year.)

But Garin assured that they will not rest in their efforts to bring back Pasungay in San Joaquin being part of the town’s tradition.

Next year, Garin is looking forward to hold the Pasungay with independence and free from any fear and doubts, as “Pasungay is based on culture and within the bounds of law.”

Garin said Pasungay has been part of San Joaquin’s culture and tradition that they inherited from their forefathers.

As such, it is but fitting that they should nurture the festival which is anchored in the idea that a culture is based on human rights that should be freely continued with responsibility.

San Joaquin decided to call off the Pasungay Festival in 2019 amid protests from animal welfare advocates and groups citing that it is in violation of the “Animal Welfare Act.”

Despite that, Garin said that local leaders have not stopped in defending Pasungay as a cultural celebration which doesn’t violate any law.

Contrary to belief that it’s a form of animal cruelty, Pasungay Festival is an event celebrating the importance of livestock as part of the daily lives in an agricultural community like San Joaquin.

Several local leaders allegedly tried to talk different officials and agencies, both local and national, but their plea to hold Pasungay Festival apparently fell on deaf ears.

Last year, Garin had to defer Pasungay because of legal obstacles faced by the San Joaquin local government and owners of the animals that will take part in the activity.

Proponents against the activity cited that the holding of Pasungay Festival violated Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

Pasungay is a water buffalo or carabao fight held as part of an ancient tradition of San Joaquin done every third Saturday of January.

Local farmers bring their best animals to the town proper to pit them against each other.  It started when two raging bulls fighting one another caught the interest on local farmers.

It is said that there is no other place in the region where bullfighting is observed. Bullfighting is regarded an important part of San Joaquin’s history and culture.

But days before the holding the Pasungay Festival, the Animal Kingdom Foundation issued a statement against the holding of the activity.

“In Iloilo, bullfights are still held at present times as part of an old religious tradition. The festival called #Pasungay, involves bulls and horses that are pitted against each other for sake of entertainment. It’s not a ’fight to the death’ match per se, but there is still clear cruelty involved.”

The AKF said that under the current Animal Welfare law, animal fights — including horses and bulls, are seen as cruel acts, and are hence prohibited, with heavy fines and sanctions for violators.

“Abusing animals will not bring honor to any culture. Stop using tradition as an alibi.”