The Carabao

Image taken at Alicia, Bohol by yours truly.

@flapiz (23153)

United Kingdom

October 3, 2018 6:37pm CST

Although farming in the Philippines have greatly improved and is more modern, when one visits the provinces, it will be a common sight to see carabaos in the fields. Since land holdings in Bohol is usually small, it is more practical to use draft animals in plowing the fields rather than mechanical machines. In early days, carabaos were only used for field work and heavy labour. But now, it is also being raised as source of dairy products. The carabao is Philippine's national animal. It is a symbol of hard work and strength of the Filipino people. Have you seen a Carabao? Photo taken by me.

10 people like this

11 responses

@pinoycity (575)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

Yes, I have seen one. Have you eaten carabao meat?

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@pinoycity (575)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

@flapiz Yes, my relatives in Pampanga always make carabao tocino - more sour and tastier than pork tocino.

3 people like this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

@pinoycity Oh wow! I love tocinos I want to try!

1 person likes this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

I’m not sure I had cara beaf. Have you?

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@josie_ (10032)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

When I visited relatives in the province I tried carabao milk but the taste was not to my liking.

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

You tried the fresh milk? I’m not a fan as well. Because of those things that settle at the bottom. But I tried pastillas made from it and I am addicted to that!

3 people like this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

@josie_ Oh wow I didn’t know they had ice cream too. I’ll ask my mum to bring me some.

2 people like this

@josie_ (10032)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

@flapiz _I like pastillas and also ice cream made from carabao milk

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@sol_cee (38219)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

The carabao in the picture posed for you. :)

2 people like this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

I think he might have been a frustrated model?

2 people like this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

@sol_cee He’s hours away from where I am. It’s a town carabao.

@sol_cee (38219)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

@flapiz you can teach him to smile a little. Hehe

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

4 Oct 18

Yes, many times.

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

Where are you from Bhem? There’s a lot in your place?

1 person likes this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

@JustBhem Even in Bohol it’s the same. It’s mostly on the rural sides.

1 person likes this

@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

4 Oct 18

@flapiz I'm from Davao City, I can only see those carabaos if we go for a ride in the south or north part of Davao.

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Frederick Espiritu

@simplfred (20641)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

Yeah, we still have a few here but sadly their numbers are not the usual during my younger days. We have a carabao then that I enjoy riding to his back.

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@josie_ (10032)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

Never tried riding on a carabao. I imagine it would produce a sore butt especially if you're in a galloping pace.

1 person likes this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

Oh wow! I never ridden on a carabao. My grandpa used to farm and owns one. It’s a bummer I’ve never had the opportunity.

3 people like this

Frederick Espiritu

@simplfred (20641)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

@josie_ No,the carabao back is not that hard as they look.

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@dave121495 (1296)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

Some still use it for farming. My father is a farmer but he use mechanical equipment

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

Well if the farm is big it’s not very efficient to use a carabao. I don’t see them too much in other places. And even here in Bohol their numbers are decreasing.

1 person likes this

@Mavic123456 (21893)

• Thailand

4 Oct 18

we have here water buffalo, they don't know carabao here.

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

It must be a Filipino name then. But then we have it in Tagalog too it’s called “kalabaw”. So I thought it was the English name.

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

@Mavic123456 A band in Thailand? The band leader must be really smart to have passed UPCAT.

@Mavic123456 (21893)

• Thailand

4 Oct 18

@flapiz yes, but they have a band here name Carabao, as they say that the band leader studied at UP

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@JudyEv (342203)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 18

I have seen them but only at a distance. They seem to have very good temperaments. Do they sometimes attack people?

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 18

They never. I haven’t heard of any attack incidences. And since they are very gentle even the egret likes to hang out with them.

1 person likes this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 18

@JudyEv They have a mutualistic relationship. The egrets eat the flies on the carabaos back. So egret gets food and the carabao loses pests. In fact here it’s very rare to see a carabao on the field without an egret.

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@JudyEv (342203)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 18

@flapiz I've seen them with egrets on their backs.

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@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

4 Oct 18

I have never seen one in person.

2 people like this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

Oh bummer. I don’t think there are a lot left. Even here in my province it’s diminishing. Well I hope you get to see one in the future!

2 people like this

@freelancermariagrace (28690)

• Philippines

4 Oct 18

Yes, I always see one when going on an out-of-trip.

1 person likes this

@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

4 Oct 18

They are cute looking when they are not too muddy.

1 person likes this

@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)

• Bekasi, Indonesia

29 Dec 18

Are you in the Philippines

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@flapiz (23153)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 18

Yes Carmilla been here for 4-5 months now.

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@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)

• Bekasi, Indonesia

29 Dec 18

@flapiz it sounds really good friend

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