Rodeo Masbateño, Inc. chairman Francis dela Fuente said that at the onset of the preparations for this year’s festival, 27 teams from outside Masbate signified their intention to participate in the contest. "But we have to trim down the number to 20 teams. Such is the interest that the Rodeo Festival has generated," he added. This year’s participants came from as far as Bukidnon; La Trinidad, Benguet; Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; and Cagayan de Oro.
The Rodeo Festival also became a one-stop shop for cattle ranchers, horse breeders, and feedlot operators to present their products and get the best prices. It also provided entrepreneurs with access to new technologies in leathercrafts, mango and cut flower production, aquaculture, and handicrafts. A trade fair featured quality local products made from coconut trees and other up-land crops abundant in the area, as well as by-products of rice, corn, vegetables, and root crops gathered from the fertile soil of the plains.
With the success of past rodeo events, Masbate is now being dubbed as the "Rodeo Capital of Asia," a label strengthened by its affiliations with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association of America and participation in the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. In Sept. 2, 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through Executive Order No. 120 declared Masbate as the "Rodeo Capital of the Philippines," a distinction that greatly contributed to the development of the travel and tourism industry in the island-province.
"The rodeo events is a testament that the Masbateños have cleverly and gainfully utilized the pasture lands along most of the mountain ranges and rolling hills, which account for 81 percent of Masbate Island," said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano. He added that these pastures have been most suitable for ranching and cattle raising, which have become a trade mark of Masbate and a major source of livelihood.
Even before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, Masbate’s vast grazing lands have already been teeming with cattle. The presence of cowboys slinging their ropes on their shoulders and steering their broncos in galloping cadence behind herds of cattle, announces that a boat is docked at the waterfront to load a cattle.
Organized in 1993 by the Rodeo Masbateño Foundation, a group composed of local ranchers and prominent businessmen, the month-long Rodeo Masbateño Festival has raised the province’s self-esteem as it hosts one of the country’s unusual socio-cultural events. It is an opportunity for the public to come and enjoy the different rodeo events, engage in homecoming celebrations, visit more tourist destinations, and explore investment opportunities.
At the time it was conceived, the local cattle industry was ailing and the provincial government, as well as the cattle producers felt the need for the intervention of the national government. The launching of Rodeo Masbate was to boost the industry, to make the Masbateños aware of its potential for the province’s development as a cattle country, and also serve as a tribute to the local cowboys.
The succeeding Rodeo opened new doors for the province’s development in trade and tourism, even attracting participants outside of the country. It proved to be a success as a crowd drawer and investors from neighboring provinces opened opportunities for trade. At one time, the Rodeo was named Rodeo Filipino. Masbateños, however, preferred to use the name Rodeo Masbateño for sentimental reasons. A permanent rodeo site was established and the Rodeo Masbateño, Inc. was formed to handle the annual event.
The islands of Masbate (an hour-and-a-half travel via Asian Spirit), has a total land area of 4,047.7 square kilometers and lies exactly in the center of the Philippine archipelago.
According to Regional Director Nini Ravanilla, domestic travel to Masbate have been increasing since 1999 with 30,269, except for a slight dip in 2000 with 28,429; 2001 recorded 31,254; 33,360 in 2002 and 37,627 in 2003. In 2004, there were a total of 44,177 visitors with 41,155 domestic travelers, 1,065 overseas Filipinos and 1,957 foreigners who are mostly from Korea, Japan, India, United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Western Europe.
Masbate’s pristine topography is filled with limestone hills, sea cliffs, springs, waterfalls, underground and underwater caves. It also has several enchanting islands with glittering white sand and coconut tree-rimmed beaches, well-polished pebbles, crystal clear waters, and rich marine life, which are ideal for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
