Celebrated annually on the 6th of January by the locals of Barangay Hupi, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, the Haring Karabao is a festival embodying a spirit of fun, celebration and freedom; yet unbeknownst to many, the festive tradition rooted from a period of tragedy and loss: the World War II. With the province bombarded by the attacks of invaders, hundreds of Marinduqueńos lost their livelihood, their homes, their crops, their loved ones and their lives. And the tragedy and bitterness resonated long before the invaders had left Marinduque. But the happy spirit of the Marinduqueńo is a force to be reckoned with, and as an attempt to move forward and leave all the pain in the past, the residents of Hupi came up with one of the most festive, and utterly humorous celebrations in the province today; the Haring Karabao, featuring rituals and activities revolving around the creature that helped them get through tough times: the water buffalo. Though now widely practiced in the barangay, the tradition has a murky history that has yet to be shed light upon. A team of English students investigate on the history, true meaning and purpose of this celebration; looking further on how the influence of the war contributed to the beginning of one the most comical festivities in Marinduque at today.
