Joining the competition for eight years now, the winner of the 40th Carabao Carroza Festival in Pavia said he will definitely not get tired of joining this much-awaited contest next year.

Geovannie Deriada, who was raised from the agricultural district of Pavia, embraced the life of farming as his main source of income.

A product of a farming family in Purok 1, Deriada outraced the 17 other farmer competitors and bagged this year's carabao race championship title.

"I am again lucky in this year's carabao race," he said.

"I am happy and I'll definitely join next year's carabao race again," he ecstatically said when interviewed right after the competition yesterday.

Deriada said his recent win is his third win with the help of his fourth carabao, or water buffalo, after having his previous "partners" stolen.

It is unfortunate for farmers to lose their carabaos, he said, because in a semi-backward agricultural country like the Philippines, this mammal plays a big role in the tilling of the agricultural lands.

"But I believe God had his reasons why I lost those three carabaos," he said, and added that "life must go on."

"I could have not won the race if it wasn't for the help of my carabao," he said.

Deriada, as a farmer, cherished his prized livelihood pet for it helps him in farming.

He is an experienced breeder, diligent farmer and a good caretaker of the farmer's best friend, he said.

FESTIVAL

The Carabao Carroza Festival is held in celebration of the town's fiesta. It is the longest-running tourism event in the province and is celebrated every 3rd of May.

The race is participated by the town's 18 barangays and is divided into three hits. The top two winners of each hit proceed to the final round. The winner takes home P10,000.

Foreign and locals enjoyed the race, despite some excited carabaos which started running even without the signal.*with reports from Kay Ann Marie Abar