A group of able-bodied men sat sipping coffee at a food stall near pacu jawi (bull race) racetrack in Turawan village. A man named Trial, 25, showed off a blue bruise on his chest. "This was caused by a novice bull," he declared. "He kicked me during the training."

Another man, Israb, chimed in. "I sprained my arm after I was thrown face first off my plow when my two bulls ran in opposite directions," the 39-year-old said.

Trial and Israb are bull ri