COCKFIGHTS:- LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.

ARRIVAL MANILA PORT:- One of the main benefits of being employed in the “Merchant Navy” was the privileged of visiting exotic port city’s in India as well as all over the World. The life of a “Marine Engineer” on board a ship or any “Floating Vessel” is considered one of the World’s toughest professions, benefits being the incentive of touring the World free of cost while on duty. After quitting the shipping profession in 2008 and touring at my own expense I realize the facilities like “Accommodation” and “Air travel tickets” that was “Free of cost” while in the “ Mercantile Merchant Navy” consists of a large chunk of a “Private tour" or budget “Backpacker expense” account. On one of my voyages to Manila in the Philippines I came across the vicious but “poetry in motion” sport of “Cock-Fighting”. I was the 3rd Engineer on board “M.V.Rati” owned by “Essar shipping Company Ltd” and one of our port of calls happened to be Manila in the month of May 1995. The normal “ Engine Room Work Schedule” on board ships in ports is “Day-Duty” akin to a shore “Factory” where the ships machinery is serviced and overhauls or repairs conducted upto 1800 hrs or less/more depending on the importance of the preventive “Machinery Breakdown” repairs. After “Duty-Hours” its normal for a majority of the ships crew and officers to go ashore for “ local Sightseeing tour ”,”Shopping” or just a simple walk along the wharf to ease “Sailing lag!”.As for me , I was a passionate photographer on all my port sight-seeing tours and pub visits during my "Shipping Employment", living life to the maximum with a bank balance savings approaching zero!

The "COCKPIT" in Philippines which is similar to a "Boxing Ring", having  a glass fencing.

LEGALIZED COCK-FIGHTING IN MANILA :- On 29/5/1995 I decided to visit a “Cock-Fighting “ arena in Manila after visiting most of the pubs in Ermita street , the sailors hide-out because of its proximity to the harbour. We had arrived on 21-5-1995 and since then I had spent most of my wages on sightseeing and pub-hopping, also singing a duet of “Hotel California” at the “Lakay Sing- Along Club” with the local club singer. The normal money exchange rates was 1US$ = 24 Pesos(1995) and Philippines is a comparatively poor country where the difference between the wealthy and poor segment of the population is distinctly visible while touring the city through various localities. The Americal influence in Filipino style and method of living is obvious with English being widely understood, and spoken, the sport of basketball and boxing a ticket from "Rags to riches" saga of aspiring Fillipino's and the unforgettable “MUHAMMED ALI V/S JOE FRAZIER” heavyweight boxing fight later nicknamed the “Thrilla in Manila” setting a trend for tourist discoveries of the city.On 29/5/1995 I went ashore at 1530 hrs and after some inquiries got the address of the “Rolligon Stadium” which conducted “Cock-Fighting” in Manila. Went to the stadium by a taxi costing 80 pesos[Rs 100 approx] and on arrival at the stadium was surprised to find an entire closed-air stadium meant only for the national pass-time of the average Filipino, the bloodsport of "COCKFIGHTING”.

A Cockfight in progress

                                                                                                                                It was a suburb of Manila and not a posh locality and hence the economical scale at which the sport of “Cockfighting” was conducted absolutely stunned me. I had first witnessed “Cockfighting” as a teenager at my parents ancestral villages of Barkur and Sasthan( Mangalore district of Karnataka) in India where a few villagers gathered at the towns local pub(Arrack shop) and gamboled with their roosters, a totally illegal sport. “Cockfighting” has its origins in India where Maharajah’s and Nawabs weighed their “Fighting Cocks” in gold, such was their value and prestige before the abolition of the sport in India on grounds of cruelty to animals.This is a absurd excuse as “Table broiler chickens” meant for human consumption in India live a real wretched short life of torture before becoming a “Human meal” unlike the “Fighting Cocks” which are well cared during their short existence on planet Earth, some even dying of “Old-Age” after a career in the “Cock-pits” as fighter cocks and later as stud cocks ,akin to “Horse-racing”.A rooster known as a "BATTLECOCK" is pampered for the 18 months that it takes to mature from a tiny chicken into a "BATTLECOCK", fed the richest grains,vitamins( usually Centrum Silver meant for seniour citizens) and minerals to ensure speed, ferocity and tenacity.The United States is the largest supplier of "Battle Fowls" to the Philippines which consist of breeds such as Miner Blues,White hackles and Roundheads.The roosters are "Shampooed", coddled",real beautifully plumaged with some of the best of these "BATTLECOCKS" costing upto US$'s 450(10,800 pesos or Rs 21000!), a fortune in the Philippines. The "Battle Cock" roosters have their "COMB" cut as this does not allow its opponent to get a grip on it while pecking each other to death, hence their heads resemble a hens head.Took some photographs , purchased a book “TAHOR, PHILIPPINE COCKERS AND BREEDERS” edited by Chit Lijauco Macapagal and photographed by Wig Tysmans, now considered a "Collectors Book" in 2009. As usual made some local acquaintances and met some fascinating characters having a few beers at the local pub and leaving the place at 1900hrs on a “auto rickshaw” arriving at “Harrison Plaza”, later having “Shark fin crab soup” at “HongKong Teahouse”. Returned to the ship late in the night and “Merchant Navy readers” of this blog would be surprised at my “Excessive Shore Leave”, reasons, I was to “Sign Off(Leave the ship for vacation in India)” from this ship and hence the C/Eng and 2/Eng my superiors were liberal in my “Shore Leave", besides, I had worked like a “donkey” on board this vessel as this was an old ship with numerous “Engine Maintenance problems”.

Betting Frenzy  and  food carnival in the midst of "COCKFIGHTING" in Manila.

Visit to “Rolligon Cockpit “ for the “COCKFIGHT DERBY’S” :- Left for the “Rolligon Stadium” early in the morning on 30-5-1995, catching a taxi which first took me to the “Pasai Cockpit” in Pasai, a suburb of Manila. In the Philippines cockfighting is a national pastime sport, legalized and a multi-million dollar business along with “American collaboration”, since most of the best American Cockfighters bring their roosters to Manila to participate in the “Cock-Fight Derby’s”, enhancing the value of their “Fighter cock breed” if it wins since “Cockfighting” is legalized in a few states in the U.S.A. The “Pasai Cockpit” was more of a cheap rustic stadium with less prize-money and quality of “Fighting cocks” and after viewing a few fights made my way to “Rolligon Cockpit”. At the “Rolligon Cockpit stadium” the atmosphere was akin to a race day at the “Mahalaxmi race-course” in Mumbai(India) with a fleet of expensive cars filling the entire “Parking Area”.Akin to "Horse-racing", the sport of "COCKFIGHTING" attracts both, the wealthiest as well as the poorest sections of Filipino society including top Filipino politicians.In a "Cockpit stadium" like the "Rolligon Cockpit" a common Filipino can mingle and bet alongside some of the wealthiest and most powerful people of the Country, the sport being a great leveler of the classes.Entrance tickets to the stadium were 200 pesos(Rs 248 approx) for ordinary seats and 500 pesos(Rs 620) for “Ringside seats”. I happened to meet a certain Mr Rolando.S.Luzong, the manager of the Rolligon Cockpit who allowed me to photograph the “cock-pens” and also the “Cock weighing room” where the “Fighter Cocks” are weighed to get evenly matched contestants.Later, thanks to the "Internet" i realised that the ordinary and simple looking Mr Rolando.S.Luzong is a pillar of the journalist World of "Cockfighting" in the Philippines and a iam attaching his credentials downloaded from his website.

PRIZE MONEY FOR COCKFIGHTIND ADVERTISED AT THE STADIUM.

For the love of sabong : Rolando Luzong was a former managing editor of Totoy de la Cruz's Pinoy Sabungero Magasin; editor of Philippine Cockfights Newsmag of Atty. Clem Abundo; served as Roligon Mega Cockpit PR Manager for four years & General Manager for 6 years (1991-2001); publisher of Karambola Magazine; host of Karambola sa Ere radio program with Princess Naldo; was part of the group that conceptualized and launched sabong.net.ph - the most popular cockfighting website in the internet; conceptualized and started sabungero.com; conceptualized and edited Larga tabloid and a contributor in various cockfighting magazines. Lando was the first to invest in Emoy Gorgonia's Tukaan - the first sabong tv program and also in 2006 conceptualized and started the cockfights tele-magazine program Hataw Pinoy. He is currently a regular contributor to Manila Bulletin's Animal Scene Magazine with 45,000 circulation; a Consultant for Thunderbird Power Feeds & Thunderbird Power Vet; editor of the Thunderbird Gamefowl Journal and PR man for Araneta Coliseum's cockfighting events. He is actively involve in community service projects thru the civic group Tambay Kay Epoy Association which he founded (www.tambaykayepoy.multiply.com) for which he was awarded by the Beta Sigma Faternity. "All for the glory of GOD" .

"PAIRING OF COCKS" for a "COCKFIGHT".

                                                                                                                                                            Now i realize the complimentary "THUNDERBIRD T-SHIRT" personally given to me by Mr Rolando.S.Luzong is a real authentic memento from a giant journalist and patron of the legalized sport of "Cockfighting" in the Philippines.LOOKS CAN BE REALLY DECEPTIVE.

Advertisement in the "Rolligon  stadium" for a popular cockfight and the prize-money.

                                                                                                                                                               The minimum price of a fighting cock-bird was approx 5000 to 8000 Pesos(Rs 6200 to Rs 9920 only), besides, an entire “Gamboling Industry” flourished on these cock-fights, indicating the passion of “Cockfighting” among the Filipino and American cock-fighters. “Cockfighting” is a brutal and fast sport, akin to a human boxing fight , only difference being the loser cock-bird dying and the winner living to fight another cock-bird..I personally “Timed” a few of the cockfights at the “Rolligon Cockpit” with the quickest fight ending in just 23 to 24 Seconds, the loser dropping “Stone dead”. The longest fight lasted 90 seconds to 1 minute 50 seconds with the two birds brutally tearing each other apart with “Knives” as well as “Pecking”, a sport definitely not for the faint-heated although “Table-Chickens" meant for human consumption are not frowned upon by either the “S.P.C.A” nor “Animal activists”.These birds fight in a “Glass boxing ring type Arena”
akin to a “Boxing Ring” with their “Human Handlers” conducting the bird fights, refreshing the birds after a quick “Lock-in clash” and re-fighting them until one dies or is just unable to stand and fight..The similarities between the bird sport of “Cock fighting” and the human sport of “Boxing” is bizarrely brutal and similar hence “Boxing” is a very popular sport in the Philippines, especially after “Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier” fight at the Araneta Coliseum on October 1 1975 making Manila World famous in an era when “Boxing” was the world’s most popular spectator sport.

Prize money  for different forms of Cockfighting.

                                                                                                                                                                The "World Slasher cup International Derby" cockfights as well as Local Cockfights are held in the Araneta Coliseum, indicating the importance of the sport of "COCKFIGHTING" in Filipino culture and tradition. Witnessed a unique “DRAW” where both the fighter cock-birds died simultaneously with the “Ring Judge” unable to decide which bird died first!Both the birds just had a “Head-On Collision” and fell dead on the ring arena, something bizarre to a first time spectator. Visited the “Medical room” where winner cock-birds are stitched by expert “Fighter cock practitioners”, exposing the physical punishment and “Death wounds” that these species of “poultry birds” can take and yet survive to fight another day, until they themselves become losers, ultimately, a rare few “Top fighter birds” being retired by their handlers for “Stud breeding” akin to “Horse-racing”. Left the “Rolligon Cockpit” late in the night and went to a “Discotheque” dancing away the morning and returning to the ship at 0330 hrs on 31-5-2005.. Met my reliever Mr Debashis Bhattacharjee who had arrived from India the previous day and after handing him over my “3/Eng engine maintenance work log books” signed- off the ship “M.V.Nand Rati” on 1-6-1995 at 0430 hrs . Was put up in room No 203 at the “Admiral Hotel” on Roxas Boulevard, a 3- star hotel situated in a posh locality of Manila by the company’s shipping agent in Manila,Mr Gary. Walked along the vicinity and visited the local Manila zoo and also got a closer look at the slums of Manila where a "Fighter Cock" was tethered to a post outside almost every slum house. Checked out of the hotel at 1330 hrs on 1-6-1995, boarded the plane at Manila airport and reached Mumbai after a transit at Singapore airport reached Mumbai at 0130 hrs on 2-6-1995.
Manny.Pacquiao, a unknown  Filipino  when i visited Manila in 1995 is in 2011 the Country's most famous sportsman, the World's top-flight boxer  and a Senator.He was an avid cock-fighter before he became a Senator and wouldn't be surprised if the sport of "Cock-Fighting" ignited the spark of boxing in Manny who held   World boxing records in various different  weights.

Mr Krisnappa massaging the wings of his "Fighter Cock".(30-5-2001).A Total illegal but popular village blood-sport in India.(Postcard photo converted to Digital)

ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING IN BANGALORE:- The cockfights that I witnessed at the “Rolligon” and “Pasai” cockpits in Manila left a lasting impression and I tried to do my own research of the sport in my native country,India.

"CHICKEN CROSSING THE STREET" :- In 2001 the suburbs of Bangalore city were the equivalent of a village as was Banaswadi our  residence in Bangalore.Small cottage style houses with ample tree's and greenery. Notice this aged "Asil Cock" with its martial style walking gait boldly crossing the lonely road ."Asil Breed" fowls are also bred for common chicken meat .In India "ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING" is a big money sport in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu during the 3 day  Hindu festival of "Makar Sankranthi" in the month of January.In the State of Tamil Nadu the festival is celebrated as "Pongal" .If a tourist and visiting South India in the month of January then witnessing the "Makar Sankranthi" cockfights in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh would be a unique off beat tourism experience.Punters buy cocks as per the advice of astrologers.Crores of rupees change hands during "COCKFIGHTS". .

My career took me through various shipping companies and ships and thanks to the invention of the “Internet” I got to access cockfighting in the Philippines through the site “sabong .com” also observing occasional village cockfights in my parents native villages.I had  a holiday home in Bangalore which I often visited while on vacation from shipboard employment and in 2001 Bangalore was still a comparatively smaller city with cultivation fields in its far flung suburbs and my own cottage a home for roosting squirrels. Once , while cycling along a suburban unpopulated area of Bangalore I came across fighter roosters kept in pens and hence

Autorickshaw driver Krishnappa exercising his prized " Fight Roosters" in Kalkare village of Bangalore

I inquired with their owner, a auto-rickshaw driver who confirmed that he owned this fighter cocks indicating that “Cockfighting” did exist in Bangalore.In India "Cockfighting" is considered a poor mans entertainment sport and entertainment, especially in villages and is illegal. He agreed to take me to a local cockfight which was in a far flung suburb of the city, conducted in some fields. I contacted my school and childhood friend Biju.J.Karian also a "Marine Engineer" who lived close to my residence in Bangalore about a days outing to view an unconventional bird sport conducted by the villagers at Kalkare village. Biju agreed to come along with another of our school mate Leonard.Aarons who at that particular time was also a professional “Press Photo-journalist”, hence the excitement of viewing something different and uncommon.

Kalkare Village  Cockfights :- Reviving the Cockbird after a first round of "Cockfight". Water is forced into the bird's throat .

It was a long drive on Sunday (24-6-2001) to the local “Cockfighting arena” of Kalkare Village in Biju’s car, guided by Krishnappa the auto rickshaw man who was also a participant in these “Cock-fights”. On arrival at the “Cock-Fighting field” we were surprised at the massive crowd of villagers gathered together with their “cockfighting Birds”, reminding me of Pasai cockpit in Manila, only difference that these “cockfights” were conducted in an open out-door arena and the “ring” being a “human- circle formed around the “Fighting-cocks”.

COCKFIGHT in progress. Notice the knife tied to the right leg of each Cockbird.

In India most of the best "Battle-cocks" were of the "Asil Breed", a breed patronized by the Princely rulers when the sport was a aristocratic pass-time, hence most of the local illegal village "Battle-cocks" have a "Mix Asil" strain in their genes as the "ORIGINAL ASIL FOWLS" have almost become extinct due to out-crossing with common poultry fowls after the sport became "ILLEGAL" in India.In India the best "Battle-cocks" are from Hyderabad and South India as the sport still flourishes illegally amongst villagers and "Village Aristocrats".

This was one of the prized Asil breed cockbirds owned by Autorickshaw driver Krishnappa and it was the winner of 3 cockfights. Its ferocity can be gauged by its crowing posture .In 2001 Kalkere was a distant village of Bangalore 

These cockfights were more brutal since unlike the legalized professional cockfights of the Philippines these cock-birds were meant for just fighting to death on this particular day, the winning cock-bird, although alive, later bleeding to death due to its wounds not being sutured .The villager whose cock-bird won the fight by outliving its opponent and later succumbing to its fatal wounds finally had the pleasure of having the loser as well as his winner for a sumptuous chicken meal, besides, winning some betting money on his bird, simple gamboling pleasures of Indian village life.”Fighter cock” chicken meat is considered a delicacy as these birds are specially fed and bred unlike the common “Broiler Chicken” sold in Markets, hence sold at a premium. I personally feel that "COCKFIGHTING" is less cruel than the "CAGED BROILER CHICKENS" transported in inhumane conditions to city markets and later slaughtered for "HUMAN CONSUMPTION".Agreed, the "ILLEGAL BETTING" on "COCKFIGHTS" is a crime since it can lead to a "Law and Order" disturbance due to "Non-regulatory betting". The entire day was like a single day picnic outing for us city bred individuals and hence we waited till the last fight and returned home.In 2009 "Kalkare Village" in Bangalore is being converted into a township and cockfighting in its fields are a part of history of which we city dwellers were once witnesses.

Having observed "COCKFIGHTING" in Manila and India decided to breed a "Asil Cock" at my residence in Mumbai. Asil hen "Queen Rat" purchased as a tiny chick for Rs 200(US$ 6) in 2000. NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "QUEEN RAT" AND THE COMMON "BROILER CHICKENS' IN THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE CAGES OF MUMBAI. After effects of viewing "Cock-fights" in Manila and also in India and admiring their beautiful poise and characteristics convinced me to try keeping one as a pet in my flat in Mumbai.I purchased this Asil fowl as a chick from "Crawford Market" which developed into a hen rather than a male fighter cock.I named her "Queen Rat" and she was with us for almost 1 1/2 year, later' donating her along with  Rs 500 as maintenance o the "S.P.C.A" for safe-keeping as i couldn't keep it in a confined apartment house .I told the authorities not to slaughter it for "Chicken Meat" and hope it died a natural death which ranges from 3-10 years.It was not "Chicken Brained" as is the normal phrase, since "Chickens" are just meant for "Broiler food Consumption" and hence never studied much, except by veterinarian scientists and laboratories. This hen was smart,and  could recognize "Home members" and was also very "Territorial" being a "Fighter Breed Hen" and not the normal "Broiler breed chicken"."Asil Fowls" are the fighter breed fowls used in "Illegal Cockfights" in India, having previously enjoyed royal patronage when the sport of "Cockfighting" was a "Royal passion". 

IS SLAUGHTERING AND TRANSPORT OF CHICKENS IN THIS MANNER LESS CRUEL THAN COCK-FIGHTING ? A photograph  of a visit to the largest "Chicken Auction Market" in Kolkata.

THE LATEST ON "ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING" IN INDIA IS GIVEN FROM A "NEWSPAPER ARTICLE".
NAVI MUMBAI:(DATED Monday 17-9-2009 in "Times of India") The New Panvel police on Saturday night busted a betting racket in cockfighting and arrested 143 people from a farmhouse under the
Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Those arrested include mainly businessmen from Mumbai, Pune as well as Mangalore.

Talking to TOI, deputy commissioner of police (zone 2) Ashok Dudhe said, "The New Panvel police carried out a raid at Abhishek farmhouse in Waje village near Panvel. A cash amount of Rs 2.1 lakh was seized along with some of the cocks that were used in the betting matches.''

Small knives were tied to the feet of the birds so that they could fatally wound the rival fighter cock. The spectators placed bets on the birds while enjoying the blood-sport.

Over 25 live cocks were rescued by the police, but they have been kept in a dark room at the police station.

"We will soon call a veterinarian to take care of the birds. The farmhouse belongs to one Tukaram Patil, who has also been arrested,'' said Dudhe.

According to the police, the racket was well managed and held during the weekends at the farmhouse. Several high-end cars were later seen parked within the farmhouse's premises as many people ran out and hid in the nearby villages as soon as the police raid began a little after 8.15 pm on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon, the feathery remains of some of the dead birds were seen scattered in the sealed farmhouse. "The losing bird was immediately killed in the farmhouse, cooked and served to the guests,'' said an official.
PLAYING "DEVILS ADVOCATE" IN SUPPORT OF "COCKFIGHTING" :- HAVING SUBMITTED A COMPLETE UNBIASED VIEW OF THE SPORT OF "BATTLECOCK FIGHTING" I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOUR OF THE SPORT NOT BEING "BANNED" IN COUNTRY'S WHERE IT ALREADY EXISTS AS A "LEGAL BLOODSPORT". ARE THE "BROILER CHICKENS" IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS LOOKING BETTER THAN THE "BATTLECOCK BIRDS", BOTH, IN MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS PLUMAGE ? IS SLAUGHTERING OF "BROILER CHICKENS" CONFINED IN CLAUSTROPHOBIC CAGES LESS CRUEL THAN "BATTLECOCK CHICKENS" WHICH FIGHT TO DEATH AFTER LIVING A WELL CARED 'CHICKEN LIFE" OF AT LEAST A YEAR ? GAMBOLING IS PREVALENT IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE,BEGINNING WITH WEATHER FORECASTS AND ENDING WITH "RUSSIAN ROULETTE", "COCKFIGHTING" BEING SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN AS AN "SOCIETY EVIL SIN". HOPE I HAVE PRESENTED MY CASE IN FAVOUR OF CONTINUATION OF THE ROYAL BLOODSPORT OF "COCKFIGHTING".