[1] For more ample details vide “Rápida descripcion de la Isla de Cebú,” by Enrique Abella y Casariega. Published by Royal Order in Madrid, 1886.
[2] Monsieur Jean Labedan, who had been the original proprietor of the “Restaurant de Paris” in La Escolta, Manila.
[3] “Hist. de la Provincia de Batangas,” por D. Pedro Andrés de Castro y Amadés, 1790. Inedited MS. in the archives of Bauan Convent (Batangas).
[4] “A Visit to the Philippine Islands,” by Sir John Bowring, Spanish translation, p. 67. Manila, 1876.
Domestic Live-stock—Ponies, Buffaloes, Etc.
The Phillipine pony is not an indigenous animal. It is said to have originated from the small Andalusian horse and the Chinese mare. I have ridden more than 500 Philippine ponies, and, in general, I have found them swift, strong, and elegant animals when well cared for. Geldings are rarely met with. Before the American occupation ponies ranged in value from ₱25 to ₱150 for a sound animal. Unfortunately, prices of everything have risen since 1898, and, moreover, a fatal horse-disease, called “surra,” unknown in the Islands before that period, has considerably reduced the stock of ponies. Due to these causes, ponies cost to-day about three times the former prices.
The importation of Spanish and Australian horses resulted in failure, because green grass (zacate)—the fodder of Philippine ponies—was not the diet they had been accustomed to. Amateur enthusiasts constantly urged the Spanish authorities to take measures for the improvement of the breed, and in 1888 the acting Gov.-General Moltó sent a commission to British India to purchase breeding-horses and mares. A number of fine animals was brought to Manila, but the succeeding Gov.-General, Weyler, disapproved of the transaction, and the stock was sold to the public. Two stallions and two mares fetched together ₱2,600, the prices of the others ranging about ₱700 each.
Pony-races took place at Santa Mesa (Manila) every spring. They were organized by “the Manila Jockey Club,” usually patronized by the Gov.-General of the day, and the great meet lasted three days, when prizes were awarded to the winners. Ponies which had won races in Manila fetched from ₱300 to ₱1,000. The new racecourse is at Pasay.
In Cebú also there were pony races every autumn on the racecourse facing the Cotta and the Government House.