Leyte holds Turogpo Festival

TACLOBAN CITY - Another action-packed Turogpo Festival was held in Barangay Camansi in Carigara town in Leyte on Saturday, once again thrilling locals and foreigners alike with its trademark animal jousts.

Every year the festival features carabao fights (Pasungay) and horse fights (Paaway).

Spectators numbering in tens of thousands watched in awe as the carabaos or water buffalos knocked horns, while ferocious stallions battled over female horses.

Some of the audience members were reportedly hurt with minor injuries, a normal occurrence in the event, when they moved away from the safe perimeter to try to get a closer view of the fighting animals.

Another noteworthy attraction was the carambola or cockfighting, where tourists and residents can place their bets. Owners of winning animals get paid as a prize, while the losers are left to tend to their wounded animals.

The Turogpo Festival is held every Black Saturday of the year.