South Upi's Kuda Festival highlights farmers' partner in livelihood
TOURISM • 01:47 AM Mon Aug 17, 2015
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By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
Photo by Ace Aivon Layson Casuno/Our Lady of Salvation Parish
SOUTH UPI, Maguindanao – Traditionally,
when Teduray-Lambangian celebrates feast day, it will not be complete without
horse fighting.
Gone are the days when male horses fight it out,
violently, to earn the right to take on the female horse. Gone are the days
when violence accompanies traditional celebrations.
Today, festival highlights kuda” or horses as
partners in livelihood. Teduray-Lambangian tribes recognize these partners” that
haul farmers’ agricultural products. And female horses take center stage as
among the highlights of Kuda” Festival in celebration of the Our Lady of
Salvation Parish patronal fiesta celebration.
We have contest and limited only to female horses, hindi
pwede yong stallion kasi mag-create ng away, kuda ay major farm draft animal ng
lugar because of the terrain. It is one way also of giving adornment sa patron
saint of every chapel shown sa costume nila with horses,” Laura Salinas, Kuda
Festival committee chair.
Horses were decorated according to parish chapel
area and its patron saint.
About 40 entries joined the festival that also
highlighted the chemistry and blending between the kuda” and its owner.”
Fr. Dennis Gui, OMI, parish priest, has said the
event also recognize the help preserve the rich culture of the
Teduray-Lambangian tribes of South Upi. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)