Sabong

Sabong is the Filipino term for cockfight. And in our dialect, its bulang.

From Wikipedia,

A cockfight is a blood sport between two specially bred roosters held in a ring called a cockpit.

The combatants, known as gamecocks or cocks, are specially bred birds, conditioned for increased stamina and strength. The comb and wattle are cut off in order to meet show standards of the American Gamefowl Society and the Old English Game Club and to prevent freezing in colder climates. Cocks possess congenital aggression toward all males of the same species. Cocks are given the best of care until near the age of two years old. They are conditioned, much like professional athletes prior to events or shows. Wagers are often made on the outcome of the match. While not all fights are to the death, they may result in the death of both birds. Cockfighting was at one time considered to be an accepted, traditional sporting event in the United States. In many other areas around the world, cockfighting is still practiced as a mainstream event and is viewed as the national sport in some countries where it is Government controlled and a large amount of revenue for the state is raised.

This coming Friday, my father and brother are planning to enter small a derby, a 4-cock derby in time for our baranggay’s fiesta celebration. Of course, I know it since I’ll be the money-ger. LOL! I can still recall the times when our place was filled with wooden compartments and cages, scattered chicken feeds, injections, vitamins and gloves. Oh wait, our place is still filled with them.

One time, our neighbor asked us to sell his broomsticks around the city in exchange for two chicks. We immediately said yes. But selling those sticks posed a problem. We ended up hungry and tired that we spent all the money in a sari-sari store and return with nothing. We were young then. He got mad, of course.

There was never a year that we are rooster-less. Feeding them is not always easy. They have mood swings too. Haha! My father is very particular with them but my brother is planning something other than joining cockfights. He told me, a few days ago, that he will start a business of breeding fighting cocks together with my cousin-in-law and a friend of him. I told him, that’s a good idea and I hope that it will be a successful venture. Then he blurted out, don’t forget to give me a capital to start the business. What? LOL!

I enjoy participating in derbies too. But I would enjoy more if I will get the pot money. Hehe. As I said, this Friday, all of their entries will be my brother’s own roosters. My father will be there to give him moral support. This tournament can really test you, imagine staying from 12 noon to 3 am. Got to bring packed lunch, dinner and midnight snack. Haha.

Goodluck ‘Pa and Dorb. Don’t forget to send me back the money if you grab the championship .

Sabong is an art. An art of spending money. LOL!

/totomai
04/29/08