"Sabong"
History They Don't Teach You
By: Mishiwa Gallardo
Of all the influences that can affect men, none is so powerful as tradition. It contains experiences rather than thinking. That’s what I think about the traditional cockfighting. They did not taught it in schools but instead you learn it through the experiences and understanding of an elder passing it to their young ones. A legacy, as they may say.
Cockfighting, also known as Sabong, is a place where everybody is welcome. Whether you are undergraduate or graduate, young or old, rich or poor; in this industry, you are equal. Because these people share the same thing, the love and passion for cockfighting.
As the pandemic hits the country, the cockpits were closed and the colorful life of sabong became dark as it was halted for the safety of the mass. But now that vaccines are available, a glimpse of light shed through the gloomy situation of sabong. A hope of bringing back the tradition that made the Filipino cockers united. The traditional sabong under the new normal.
Sabong is not about gambling, it is about the culture, livelihood and legacy of the Filipinos. Many are against it because it is a blood sport and some get addicted to it. But if you’ll look deeper, you’ll see that sabong helped a lot of families to gain livelihood. The undergradutes can have their children finished schools and achieve the diploma they never had. The senior citizens can have a decent and more lenient work without risking their health. If you are a bettor, you need to have an awareness about the money that you are spending especially that e-sabong are a lot more accessible than the traditional sabong. Traditional sabong have a place and schedule of their events as stated to the Presidential Decree No. 449 or the Cockfighting Law Of 1974. That is one of the difference of the traditional cockfighting to the E-Sabong.
The legacy of the traditional sabong of the Filipinos are kept alive by inheriting ones knowledge and teaching it to the future generation. After all, what are Filipinos without sabong
Pot Money Collector/Runner
Noli Cinco, 58
Due to the closure of cockpits during pandemic,Mr. Noli Cinco worked as an employee in a local bakery but now that the cockpits were allowed to operate again, he chose to go back in the cockfighting industry. “Natutustusan nito ang pamilya ko. Mas madali ang trabaho dito… at dito ka masaya dahil nandito ang mga tropa. Mas maluwag sa akin.”
Gaffer
Carlito “Mang Carling” Sarinas, 64
Mang Carling can’t walk his leg easily thus he needs to exercise regularly. In his case, the sabong industry helped him to maintain his body healthy thru being busy and walking around the cockpit to keep him active. As a gaffer, he wanted to share his knowledge and leave his legacy to his students for it to live on.
“ Sa akin, kaya mahalaga ang [traditional] sabong, hindi na ito tungkol sa pera. Dahil ito sa katayuan ng health ko, kailangan ko lakad ng lakad. Meron akong relaxation, maging happy. Nagsh-sharing na lang ako… yun ang kailangan mong maipasa ng tama para ang susunod na gagamit ng tinatapakan mo, meron ng kaalaman. Hindi ka kasi pwedeng matuto ng sarili mo lang, kailangang may nagtuturo sa iyo. Experience kasi ng ibang tao. Minsan hindi mo alam nasa kaliwa ka na pala dapat nasa kanan ka… dapat nasa tamang knowledge ka hindi nasa mali.”
Manggagamot
Domingo Nazaire, 68
Mr. Domingo Nozaire worked in the sabong industry for 35 years. He managed to have his five children finished their high schools through the commission he got being a manggagamot in the sabong industry.
“Lahat ng pangangailangan gamit sa bahay, kinakain namin sa araw-araw, kinikita ko. Napag-aral ko mga anak ko sa high school, nakatapos naman lahat… Malaking bagay sa akin ang sabong, kasi nung mawalan ng sabong medyo walang kita. Dalawang taon yun. Medyo nahirapan kami. Maraming naapektuhan. Nagpapasalamat kami at bumalik na yan [traditional sabong]. Malaking bagay sa amin yan, kumikita kami, meron kaming trabaho. Kahit matanda na ako kumikita pa rin, sa iba wala na yan. Hindi bale kung pensyonado tayo kaso wala eh… diskarte nalang.
Mabuhay ka ! Well said. Iam 2nd generation of sabongero & this legacy help me financially. Nanganak mrs ko 2004 4manok lang solve na bayad sa hospital. Pinanganak bunso ko 2009 champion ako sa pasig solve na naman pambayad sa hospital. To think Manila Doctors sila pinanganak. Hehehe
Very inspiring! San po farm nyo, Sir? Story to feature po