Philippine cockfighting

Philippine cockfighting

I am not a huge fan of cockfighting but curiosity got the best of me so I decided to check one out yesterday.

We are down in Donsol in the Bicol region of Luzon to see some whale sharks. It’s raining and windy so it didn’t look like a good day for spotting the sharks so rather than just sit around we decided to check out the cock fights. This one was a small local set up, but the entire economy of the Philippines is based on cockfighting so some cockfighting arenas are very elaborate.

Fortunes are made and lost on these roosters. A mans reputation is dependent on how long his cock can remain standing! It is very important that he have a regal cock.

These roosters have long razors attached to their feet and fight till the death. We witnessed one fight where they both lashed out in a fierce display of bravado but they both fell over dead. Somehow the one we bet on was declared the looser but the winner was also held by his feet with its head hanging limply and blood was running out of its mouth. They claimed that it lived a nanosecond longer than the other one.

Once a rooster has the razor blades attached to it’s feet, a sheath is placed over the blade. It’s removed just before the fight. One bystander got cut on the leg by a flying blade because the crowd was allowed to be inside the cockpit during the fight adding to the excitement.

Even the dead roosters are treated gingerly because a nerve spasm could cause it to lash out and could really injure a person if it caught an artery. Literally someone could be killed.

Blood spatters on our clothing bore witness to the fierce battles. The fights did not last long because the daggers were sharp and efficient.

There was one cock considered to have the advantage in most of the fights so the pay out was not as good as it was if you had bet on the underdog had it won.

In one contest the advantaged one was chasing the smaller one around the arena. Suddenly the smaller one had a burst of adrenalin and tore after the big one. It appeared that the rules are that if the small one could turn tables on the big one like that he was declared the winner without actually having to deal the mortal blow.

All the other fights were to the death.

Up on the hill a small cadre of young boys kept busy plucking the dead roosters for the owners. They are taken home and eaten.

Andrew

Cockfighting near Ormoc City

Checking out the competition.

The crowd gathers near the airport in Ormoc City.

This rooster is ready to go.

Cockfighting