Pony boys, karate champ raise funds for ailing girl

By Ramon Dacawi 

BAGUIO CITY -- Local and visiting horse tenders,  with support from  city officials and the audience, provided a humanitarian dimension to this year’s “Panagbenga”  by raising P24,997 for an ailing teen-aged girl during the Pony Boys Day feature  of the Baguio flower festival last March 1 at the city athletic bowl.

In-between their races and games on horseback, the pony boys – and girls -  passed the hat for 15-year old Arabella Maranes, daughter of a pony boy who was recently diagnosed  and  twice operated on for  Ewing’s sarcoma, a  type of cancer growth on her back.

In the process, the pony riders inspired the community – at least those who came to watch them race – to contribute to the girl’s hope – and dream – for a brighter tomorrow.  

Cancer specialists here were conferring last week on how to go about Arabella’s  third  surgery and chemotherapy treatment, said her father, Joseph, former president of the Wright Park Pony Boys Association who has been a member of the organizing committee of  the Pony Boys Day feature since the launching of the festival 19 years ago.

Arabella, a third year high school student at the Pines Montessori School and a scion of the once-landed Ibaloy clan Molintas of Pacdal and Gibraltar barangays here , had already  undergone two surgeries.

“My family is deeply grateful for this spontaneous and collective act of support to Arabella,” Joseph said after receiving the fund support from William Damian and Orlando Segundo of the Kabadjo Handlers Association based at the Camp John Hay.

Moved by the effort, former world shotokan karate champion Julian Chees, who is now based in southern Germany,  matched  what was raised with an equal amount of P25,000.

Part of Chees’ counterpart support, however, will now be used for the treatment and recovery of Valerie Sito, a 16-year old pony boy who was injured when his mount tripped while negotiating a bend of the athletic bowl in the penultimate race of the day.

Likewise, some of the competing teams decided that  part of  the cash prizes they will receive will be  support of Arabella’s fight against the big C. Such decision revived the pony boys’ practice in previous festivals to give away a portion of their winnings to people in need.

Topping those who responded to the call for support to Arabella’s fight was Engr. Benigno “Lao” Aliping, adviser of the WPPBA who issued a check for P10,000 after hearing of their girl’s medical plight.

The John Hay Pony Boys handed over P5,500 while city councilor Joel Alangsab, chairman of the Pony Boys Day feature, contributed P2,000, aside from providing the initial expenses for the medical tests on the injured pony boy.

Members of the multi-awarded highland Cowboys/Cowgirls Rodeo team who provided roping and bull whipping exhibition and are bound for the Masbate Rodeo this summer pooled P1,000. Councilor Arnel Bahingawan of Itogon, Benguet, also shared P2,000.

Two other city councilors, former La Trinidad, Benguet councilor William Esteban  Dr. Casusi, Leonarda Padduyao, lawyer Benny Bomogao  and Julia Pucay of the Guisad Central Line Dancers  each turned over P500. Leonie Keith added P100, while the audience pooled P893.

The Pony Boys Day, shelved in some editions of the festival, was ordered revived by then congressman and now mayor Mauricio Domogan  to enable locals and visitors to have a glimpse into local history, when they horse was the means of transportation among the Ibaloys, the original settlers of Baguio.