C0ckfighting is a popularly known sport in the Philippines where c0cks inflict pain on each other. The history of c0ckfighting traces back to the time period before Christ.
During the middle ages, the Persians brought c0ckfighting to Greece, although most experts believe that the tradition itself originated from Southeast Asia.
The Greeks practiced it before battle to encourage their warriors to act courageously. It became widely known across the countries in Europe especially in England as a gambling activity that can be enjoyed by all social classes from the nobles to the commoners.
Soon, the tradition spread across the world including the New World colonies as it was brought by the English settlers.
In the Philippines, c0ckfighting which is also known as Sabong, was first witnessed during Magellan’s voyage of discovery of the country in 1521.
It is considered to be a popular pastime in the country as it has been existing for more than a hundred years. Filipinos from all social classes partake in this gambling sport which has been integrated into the Filipino culture.
Due to its popularity, c0ckfighting has become a billion-dollar industry with thousands of arenas and an estimated more than a million c0cks killed across the entire country.
In many countries, this activity has been banned due to its violent and cruel nature, but c0ckfighting in the Philippines is considered to be legal.
During 1974, President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 449 creating the “C0ckfighting Law of 1974” which governed the establishment and operations of c0ckpits in the country.
As stated in the law, c0ckfighting is a vehicle for the preservation of Filipino culture which may enhance the national identity.
However, c0ckfighting will only be allowed to occur in licensed c0ckpits which means other unlicensed venues that hold c0ckfights are illegal.
While not all fights are to the death, the c0cks may endure significant physical trauma. In some countries, c0ckfighting is still practiced. While in other countries, it is regulated by law, or forbidden outright.
Bets are usually taken by the Kristo, so named because of his outstretched hands when calling out wagers from the audience and skillfully doing so purely from memory. Roosters normally go through proper training that involves teaching fighting skills in order to participate in the competition.
Sabong is very fast-paced and exciting to watch for some people. And before you know it, the match is over. For the Filipinos, Philippines c0ckfighting is also a form of entertainment to relieve the stress of life.
But most important perhaps, they see it as a way of earning money when jobs are scarce. Sabong in the Philippines can be either legal or illegal. It is illegal in other countries because it is usually classified as “Animal Cruelty”.
C0ckfighting, locally termed Sabong, is a popular pastime in the Philippines, where both illegal and legal c0ckfights occur. Legal c0ckfights are held in c0ckpits every week, whilst illegal ones, called tupada or tigbakay, are held in secluded c0ckpits where authorities cannot raid them.
On the day of the competition, owners would stay in a designated area outside the c0ckpit called ulutan where the c0cks are paired together based on physical qualities such as height, weight, and wingspan.
After the c0cks have been paired, a gaff, locally termed as tari, and a leg band with specific numbers for each c0ck are attached on the leg of the c0ck.
The length of the gaff is determined by the size of the c0ck’s leg and it must be set at the right angle and height to inflict the maximum amount of damage with minimal movement.
Owners feed their roosters with a variety of seeds. Some owners claim that it “boosts” the strength of the rooster and it gives it more energy to fight.
There are different kinds/breeds of roosters that were used for c0ckfighting. These were: The C0ck Pit, The Fighting C0ck, The Old English Game, and The A Reza Asil C0ck.
The country has hosted several World Slasher Cup derbies, held biannually at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, where the world’s leading game fowl breeders gather. World Slasher Cup is also known as the “Olympics of C0ckfighting”.
C0ckfighting has become one of the most popular sports in this country. The sport is not confined to just the poorer sections of society, it also has a huge following among the crème de la crème of Philippine society.
