The Rodeo Masbateño Festival is a month-long event staged annually in the city of Masbate. The festival includes a colorful parade of horse riders, rodeo competitions, livestock shows, animal health seminars, an agro-industrial fair and a country carnival.

Men and women in colorful cowboy outfits slug it out in competitions such as lassoing on foot and horseback wrestling, two-person carambola (free-for-all), bull riding, bullwhipping, casting down, and load carrying.

Over the years, the festival has gained popularity among homegrown rodeo artists and international bull riders and cowboys.

Rodeo Masbateño was conceived by MAKUSOG, an association of Masbate professional and business leaders in 1992 and was realized by former Masbate Governor Emilio R. Espinosa. As a festival, the Rodeo Masbateño was first staged in 1993—a modest tribute to the cattle farmers, cowhands, cowboys, and the thousands of families who are directly and indirectly dependent on the local industry for a living.

At the time it was envisioned, the local cattle industry was ailing. The provincial government as well as its cattle producers felt it needed the intervention of the local government. The festival proved to be a boost to the industry, and made the Masbateños aware of its potential to help develop the province as a “cattle country.” Not long after, the Rodeo was elevated into a national event and has since attracted participants from all over the country and abroad.

The Rodeo Vision

With the help of our partners from both the government and private groups, we envision Rodeo Masbateño to:

1. Make the event a showcase of livestock handling skills.

2. Develop an auction market for breeders and slaughter cattle.

3. Create a new avenue for trade fairs and exhibits.

4. Make Masbate not only the rodeo capital of the Philippines but also of Asia.

5. Use the rodeo as a vehicle for development.

The VROOM:

Members of VROOM

The Volunteer Rodeo Officials and Organizers of Masbate (VROOM) started its role in officiating the rodeo festival and has evolved into the technical arm of the RMI. The organizations credibility has earned invitations to officiate some of the rodeos in other parts of the country. The success of VROOM is made possible through the collective efforts of enthusiasts and Masbateños who do the work for the love and thrill of rodeo. 

Source:

http://www.rodeomasbateno.org/festival.php

http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/my_sarisari_store/rodeo_masbateo/