No
other country in the world like Philippines where you can’t count how many
cockers living here. Cockfighting had been a tradition before the Spaniard came to the shore. Wherever you go you will find gamefowl chickens. Even the poorest
person in the neighborhood is raising chicken. They are very proud to be a
cocker even they had a lack of money to sustain their hobby. Once you’re a cocker
you’ll always a cocker what matter your situation in life.
Every
town in the Philippines has cockpit. So, if you’re a cocker, you have an outlet
to express yourself. I heard that in Zamboanga City they have more than ten
cockpits. Wow, it only means that there are so many cockers in that place.
In some cockpits, it almost every day they have fight schedules. While others
conducting derby every weekend. There
are many cockers joining derby on a regular basis. If the boss could not
attend, they will send their people to the cockpit.
If
there’s a gathering of men in the neighborhood, you’ll hear about chicken talk
and they spar their chicken in the street. Filipino cockers are very creative.
If they don’t have enough space or backyard to raise chickens, they make a cage
for chickens and put it on their roof! In some small stores, if the owner is a
cocker they will display their chicken in front of their store. Because they
believe that by doing this they will become lucky if they have a fight.
Nowadays, there are still many Filipino cockers who believe in superstition.
For
Filipino cockers, cockfighting is not only about gambling or betting. They
considered this as a real sport. They are very serious about breeding and
cocking. As a matter of fact, there are many associations and big derbies in
the Philippines like National Bakbakan 10-Stag Derby, Pambansang Digmaan,
Bullang-Bullang 8-Stag Derby, World Slasher Cup, Candelaria Open Derby, etc. Many
foreign cockers are visiting Philippines just to attend in any big derbies. For
them, Philippines is a paradise for cockers like them.
The
breeders train and condition their chickens very well. They know that it is not
easy to win in a derby today because of stiff competition. Even the backyard
breeders can compete in big derbies because some of them are knowledgeable and
has good chickens. All they have to do is to find financier or sponsor. So,
they can able to join to the derbies with a big pot money.
Filipino
cockers are very known for being gentlemen. When they lose in a fight it easy
for them to accept. And when they make promises they will do it. But in the
other hand, we can’t deny that there are also groups condemning cockfighting and
treating it as cruelty to animals. These animal rights activist want to stop
cockfighting like what they did in America. But for sure lawmakers would not
let it to be happening because many of them are cockers too. If they will
support any law against cockfighting, there political career would be affected.
The cockers will not vote them if there is a election. I really doubt that they
can stop cockfighting here.
