Abstract
This chapter aims to examine the meanings of selected carabao festivals in the Philippines. A research framework proposing how such meanings can be interpreted through the interplay of published festival images, visitor experience, and festival contexts was operationalized. Based on this framework, a multi-method qualitative research approach composed of visual methods, field observations, document review, and small group discussions was employed. We found that images of agriculture, the residents’ artistry, traditional games, and communal practices were core themes common across all festival images produced by the Philippine Carabao Center. The analysis revealed deeper meanings of the carabao festivals. First, we interpret that such festivals mainly symbolize agriculture and the farming community. Second, these are potential vehicle for communicating sociocultural and developmental topics to the tourists and visitors. Lastly, these festivals offer farmers increased income opportunity by connecting them to the local market. We recommend future researchers to study how some biophysical, cultural, and economic issues are masked behind the favorable images of carabao festivals in the Philippines.
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Notes
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Filipino dessert made of mixed sweetened beans, fruits, and shaved ice drizzled with condensed milk.
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Del Rosario, P.J.B., Montes, A.R.J., Battad, L.G. (2022). Interpreting the Meanings of Carabao Festivals in the Philippines: A Multi-method Study. In: Aquino, R.S., Porter, B.A. (eds) Tourism in the Philippines. Perspectives on Asian Tourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4013-2_8
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