CEBU CITY, Philippines - On stage wearing a cowboy hat and boots, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Monday led the launching of Cebu’s annual horse show, renamed Governor’s Cup, which she said could become a “world-class” event.
“The possibilities are endless. Even as we look at the Governor’s Cup, not just as a mere provincial event, not even a premier national event, but perhaps we can work together and believe together, and make this an international event,” she announced.More than 100 horse enthusiasts from all over the country are expected to participate in the February 15 to 17 horse show and competition in the Mandaue City Reclamation Area. After a mock gun-slinging match on stage with Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, a 10-foot-high tarpaulin of Garcia posing in a ranch was unfurled. A photo of other organizers appeared in the lower part of the banner. The launch at the Capitol Social Hall was a grand production number, as promised by Capitol officials.
As each organizer was introduced, they came out of swinging doors resembling those of American Wild West-era saloons. Mayor Cortes went on stage and gave Governor Garcia a cowboy hat. The two then posed back to back with toy revolvers in a pretend gun-slinging match and fired “shots” in the air. That signaled a burst of confetti and the drop of the giant banner. Officials and board members of the Cebu Equine Owners, Breeders, and Sportsmen Association (Ceobsa) along with officials from Mandaue City and the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) joined the launching. They also dressed up like cowboys. Garcia, who ordered full publicity for the horse show, said the Capitol wanted to maximize its P200,000 donation to the event by showcasing the province’s towns and component cities in a Tabo sa Sugbo market during the horse show. She said the Capitol has a track record of “making events grand and successful,” citing the Gov. Gwen Garcia Unity Cup volleyball tournament, where 49 of the province’s 52 towns and cities participated. “So if we joined hands, work together, lead together, we can achieve a world-class event,” Garcia said. “We are now looking at the long-term, increasing the level of interest in our towns as well as the breeding of our stocks of horses.” Mayor Cortes said he was happy Mandaue has been a constant venue for the event.
“This is a good indication that Mandaue is still competitive and a favored destination for activities like this and this is something that we will work to sustain,” he said. Anton Quisumbing, one of the directors of Ceobsa, said Monday’s launch was the “greatest ever made” for the event. “This is the first time we’ve experienced support like this, and we are overwhelmed. We have plenty of plans, and with the governor's office behind us, we can materialize our plans for the event,” he said. He said Ceobsa officials plan to go to the towns and cities to spread the sport of horseriding get involved in other activities, such tree-planting. | 
