Cock Fighting

Cock fighting was a popular entertainment across the world for thousands of years but in the Philippines its popularity is still unparalleled and has been since pre-hispanic times. Although legal, the fights are supposedly regulated but the vast majority take place with no licence in the back alleys that make up the Philippines’ seemingly endless shanty towns. Most fights, or Sabong, are gambled on and rarely last more than a few fleeting seconds before one of the birds is killed. Even though the westerners find it immoral because it causes animal suffering and usually results in the death of one of the birds; sometimes it ends in the death of both, in South-East Asia it’s still about gambling and entertainment. A usual cockfight can last from a couple of minutes to more than half an hour. The cocks are kept in very special condition; often have better food than their owners. They are getting vitamins and antibiotics to prevent them from illness. On the other hand, the birds are often kept in the sun, to become stronger. The bird winning the fight brings usually big money to his owner; the bets are pretty high considering the life-standard. The loosing bird had usually death injuries. As the meat is extremely healthy for all the vitamins the bird ate, they normally make it as a dinner for the whole family. Before the fight, birds are getting spurs to tighten hard to their leg. While the owners preparing the cocks for the fighting, locals have the last minutes to bet on the winner. Then the birds are placed into the ring and the play can start. It’s fast and hard to follow for strangers, but the locals are closely watching the bird they put their money on. It’s fascinating play. Shouting, fast movements, and it’s done. One bird died and the second is taken out of the circle and spur carefully removed. Locals are getting their money for their bets and another fight is starting the preparation.