Wednesday, March 19, 2008

BANTAY-SABONG : THE BEGINNING

BANTAY-SABONG SPECIAL REPORT

COCKFIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Even before the Spanish colonizers landed in our shores, our forefathers were already fighting roosters. According to Magellan’s chronicler Pigafetta when they landed in the island of Palawan, “We found the natives fighting huge, but tamed roosters”
In a case study by American Scott Guggenheilm, who stayed in Cagayan Valley for almost two years, it was mentioned that the Filipino’s fondness for cockfighting was emploed by the Spaniards to govern the natives easier. People were living so far apart from each other. The rulers built cockpits and the natives transferred around the establishments. It was also thru cockfighting that the first acts of taxation were implemented. Though it may be true that cockfighting was used against us, we did turned the tables on them in the same manner, due to the fact that the cockpit became the ideal recruitment places for the members of the Katipunan na naging daan upang makamit natin ang kalayaan. In the chapter The Cockpit of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, this conversation between Lucas and bothers Bruno & Tarsilo can be read :
“I’ve already told you. If you will undertake to get others for the purpose of making a surprise-attack on the barracks, I’ll give each of you thirty pesos and ten pesos for each companion you bring. If all goes well, each one will receive a hundred pesos and you double that amount. Don Crisostomo is rich.”
“Accepted!” exclaimed Bruno. “Let’s have the money.”
“I knew you were brave, as your father was! Come, so that those fellows who killed him may not overhear us,” said Lucas, indicating the civil-guards
When the Americans came, they implemented things to make the Filipinos turn their backs and forget about cockfighting, but hey failed. Under the American regime, textbooks were printed in the hope of putting the Sport in a bad light, thus the saying that “if a cocker’s house would catches fire, he will save his cock first then his wife”

The Americans also introduced baseball to the hilt, hoping the youth would adopt the said sport and completely veer away from cockfighting, but to no avail and cockfighting continuously became popular.

In 1974, two years after Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, he signed Presidential Decree 449 or what is known as the Cockfighting Law of 1974.

COCKFIGHTING DURING THE 80s


In 1981 the Philippine Gamefowl Commission was created by virtue of Presidential Decree 1802.

The 80s was the decade when Philippine cockfighting saw a strong resurgence. The success of what were considered as truly Filipino breeds such as the Lemon 84, the Mitra Blues and the Zamboanga Whites gave new color and a fountain of hope to the Sport.

It was also during this time that a number of cocking stars rose to fame.

New cockpits were built while existing ones were refurbished and improved such as San Jaun Coliseum, Cavite Coliseum and Roligon Mega Cockpit that presented record-breaking events that brightly augmented the glitter of Aranete Coliseum’s revered contribution to Philippine cockfighting , the World Slasher Cup.


COCKFIGHTING DURING THE 90s

The passing into law of the Omnibus Local Government Code of 1991 that ordered the devolution of the Philippine Gamefowl Commission and gave the local government units blanket authority and power over cockfighting, paved the way in the easing up of restrictions on cockfighting that blew open the long overdue expansion of cockfighting.

More cockpits were established.

It was also during this period that several periodicals on the Sport were put in circulation such as Pinoy Sabungeo Magasin; Sabong Magasin; Birds & Steel and Philippine Cockfights Newsmag. Tukaan, the first tele-magazine program on cockfighting and gamefowl breeding went on air in 1999.

It was also in the 90s when specialty feeds, vitamins and medicine for the gamefowls that were produced by such companies as Thunderbird Power Feeds and Lakpue Drug.

The huge increase in the number of cockpits resulted in stiff competition to the benefit of the cockfighters. Rich and attractive derby promotions became popular. They offered large guaranteed prizes with easily affordable entry fees like the Hatawan sa Tag-ulan and Largahan of Roligon.

2000 TO THE PRESENT

It can not be denied that at the onset of the second centennial, the biggest thing that ever happened to Philippine cockfighting, particularly in the field of gamefowl breeding, came to a reality. It was the creation of the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders that bind the already existing breeders’ associations under one umbrella and also provided the inspiration for gamefowl breeders in every region and provinces to put up their respective associations.

NFGB’s Annual Bakbakan National Stag Derby was the shot in the arm that introduced the much-needed adrenalin to the veins of Philippine cockfighting that empowered and livened up the Sport and the gamefowl industry as well. Started in 2000, participants to Bakbakan continue to increase each year that reached 1,274 in 2006 and a world record 1,463 entries in 2007 when the richest prize money of P15 million was awarded.

The next big development was the easing up on the importation of fightingcocks and breeding stocks from America. While, before that time only participants in an international derby can bring gamebirds into the country, the Bureau of Animal Industry surprisingly allowed anyone to import, as long as his farm is registered with the said agency.

For the first time the fighting chances of the “haves” (meron) and the “have-nots” (wala) are leveled.

Nowadays, Philippine cockfighting is at an all time high.

There are four television programs aired on free tv (Tukaan, Sagupaan, Pilipinas Sabong Sports at Hataw Pinoy), while there are two shown on cable channels (Sultada and Sabong Pinoy).

There are seven magazines in circulation (Sabong Star; Fightingcock; Pit Games; Cockfights; Llamado; Sabong Pinoy and Sagupaan). Add to this is the new cockers tabloid Larga which was launched in October 2007.

There are now two federations after the United Gamecock Breeders Association was formed by groups that decided to dismember from the NFGB.

Today, NFGB is composed of 24 member breeders’ associations, which would eventually grow to 30, when the six new applicants are formally accepted later on.
It is estimated that 15 million rooster matches are held each year which translates to 30 million gamebirds. These huge numbers are proven by the entry of large conglomerate in the gamefowl health and nutrition business.

In addition to Thunderbird Power Feeds also joining the fray later were Sagupaan owned by popular cocker Patrick Antonio; Derby Ace of B-meg (San Miguel Corp.); Purina (Cargill); Supremo Feeds of Robichem (Gokongwei Group); Ninja Feeds (Lucio Tan Group); Panabong Feeds of Vitarich (Sarmiento Group); Raptor (CJ Feeds); Power Bullets (Feedmix) and a host of several others.

Other that Unilab’s Univet and Lakpue Drug, more vetmed companies followed suit that include Excellence Gamefowl Specialists; Tynor Laboratories; Asvet; Ave Science; Bayer; Novartis etc.

More and more cockpits now operate on a daily basis and there are others like the Cainta Coliseum that sometimes would start their cockfights as early as two in the morning due to immense number of entries.

Before, it was only the World Slasher Cup, but today there are five to six international derbies are being held each year.

Philippine cockfighting is alive and kicking and tens if not hundreds of thousands of families now owe their livelihood to cockfighting and the gamefowl industry.

There are those who are directly employed : the gamefowl breeders; handlers; gaffres; cockpit owners (there are more than 2,000 cockpits nationwide); cockpit operators; derby promoters; cockpit workers; poultry supply store owners and their employees; bet-takers; vendors inside and outside the cockpits; feed millers and gamefowl vetmed producers; manufacturers of cords, knives, boxes, folding pens, gloves, carrying cases, feeding cups, scabbards, pens and many more implements and paraphernalia used in fighting, breeding and raising gamebirds. There are minions of them.

Thousands more are benefited by way of employment in allied industries that provides products and services to cockfighting and gamefowl breeding. Such as those that work in gamefowl feeds at vetmed companies; in restaurants and other establishments around the cockpits; the airlines that carriy hundreds of gamebirds back and forth across the islands; the respective local government units like Bacolod City that earns from fees and taxes out of rooster sales and shipments.

Today, the sport of cockfighting and the gamefowl breeding industry is estimated to be a whopping P50 billion or $1.2 billion.

WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STOP COCKFIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Chances are you have seen on television or have read in the newspapers about the two members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) who tried to staged a demonstration in front of 2008 World Slasher Cup-I 8-Cock International Derby at the Araneta Coliseum last January 29, 2008.

In an interview with the PETA spokesperson Jennelyn Tagasa she declared that “cockfighting should be stopped because the roosters are being hurt (nasasaktan na ang mga manok kaya raw dapat na natin tigilan ang pagsasabong)”.

PETA and the HSPCA o Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are the groups responsible for the stoppage and the outlawing of cockfighting in America that will be fully completed when the suppoed last bastion of cockfighting in America- the State of Louisiana wherein the Sport will be rendered illegal come August 2008.

Most Filipino cockers may say “No way that cockfighting will be eradicated in the Philippines, because of its extreme popularity”

That may be is true. However, do you know how popular cockfighting was in the States in the old days? Let’s find out.

a) While it is true that we have several congressmen who are cockers and we senators who also go to the pits, we are yet to elect a cocker as president. In America, the first presidents were cockers such as George Washington; John Adams and Abraham Lincoln who earned the name “Honest Abe” for being a good and honest cockfights referee. As President , he was approached by people who are seeking the eradication of cockfighting during that time for which he uttered these famous words, “As long as the Almighty has permitted intelligent men, created in his likeness, to fight in public and kill each other while the world looks on approvingly, it’s not for me to deprive the chickens of the same privilege”

b) In the early days, state guests in the White House are presented with cockfighting as part of entertainment.

c) The ROOSTER lost by only a single vote against the AMERICAN BALD EAGLE for being the national bird of America.

d) We may be staging derbies at the plush Araneta Coliseum, but would you believe that during the 60s and 70s they were holding big cockfights at the Madison Square Garden.

The people of PETA and the HSPCA are preaching about love for animals, but we will know from these websites http://petakillsanimals.com and the http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/136 that they are only for money and how many animals they have to put to death in the course of their campaign.

In several local television programs, particularly children’s shows, it is obvious how the wealth of these anti-cockfighting forces is being put to work. Discreetly, they are able to advance their objective by poisoning the minds of our children, employing such crazy tactics like the introduction of a “fairy-godmanok” who professes that cockfighting should be stopped because the roosters are about to be extinct.

They also employ movie actors and models to drumbeat their cause, so as to gain sympathy and support.

BANTAY-SABONG


The emboldened shift of strategy by the enemies of cockfighting from the crouching to the standing posture, have driven a handful of cockfighting lovers to form Bantay-Sabong.

And while there are already a lot of cockers and breeders organizations in existence, the founders of Bantay-Sabong saw a need for a movement that will engage head-on the various entities that aim to stop our Sport and take away from us a tradition that was handed down to us by our forefathers.

It is the goal of Bantay-Sabong to Guard (Magbantay), Depend (Magtanggol) and Strengthen (Magpatibay) Sabong and we call on all lovers of cockfighting to join us in this fight by joining Bantay-Sabong.

To date, we have about 300 members of Bantay-Sabong comprised of cockers from different parts of the country and OFW cockers based in various countries around the world who are hooked up to Bantay-Sabong via the internet.

All those who wishes to be a member of Bantay-Sabong may call or text us at 0917-2456608 o you can send email to bantaysabong@gmail.com. You can also register thru your local chapter of Bantay-Sabong at this address & contact numbers _______________________________________________________.

PHILIPPINE GAMEFOWL INDUSTRY INFO

PHILIPPINE GAMEFOWL INDUSTRY INFO
1) No less than 13,000,000 roosters are fought each yeara) 2,000 cockpits nationwide registered with the Phil. Gamefowl Commission in 1994. There are more cockpits today.b) Let's consider an average of 25 matches per fight day (25 x 2,000 = 50,000) = 50,000c) Cockpits are open 2-4 days per week - let's consider 2 days. ( 2 X 50,000) = 100,000d) Multiplied by 52 weeks.( 52 x 100,000 ) = 5,200,000e) Two roosters fight for every match (2 x 5,200,000 )= 10,400,000d) Plus an average ten percent for derby fights (10% of 10,400,000 =1,040,000) = 11,440,000e) There is practically one tupada (illegal) for every registered & license cockpit that operates just as much. There are places or towns like Pagsanjan wherein (at one time) the town cokckpit is closed, but, there are 8 tupadas being operated. Let's consider an additional 20% (20% of 11,440,000 = 2,288,000); 2,288,000 plus 11,440,000 = 13,728,000f) For every rooster fought, there is an average of three or more roosters left in the owner's backyard. With this considered, we can probably use the number four as multiplier. (4 X 13,728,000) = 54,912,000 ESTIMATED NUMBER OF MALE GAMEBIRDS = 54,912,000 2) The gamefowl feed, supplement & gamefowl pharmaceutical business is now a multi-billion peso industrya) In 1988, Sarimanok Feeds, owned by Unilab, came out with their line of specially-fedds for gamefowl carrying the Thunderbird brand.b) Thunderbird has registered a steady considerable growth each yearc) Over the years, big local corporations have come up with their own line of gamefowl feeds or vetmed like Lakpue, Sagupaan, Frst Farmer etc.d) During the last five years the big players came in like Purina, Phils. (Rooster Booster); San Miguel's B-Meg (Derby Ace); Lucio Tan's Foremost Feeds (Ninja Feeds); Gokongwei's Robichem (Supremo Feeds); Sarmieto Family's Vitarich Feeds (Panabong Feeds) and other small companies. The pharmaceutical companies which have products specially catered to the gamefowl-raising and cockfighting sector are Novartis, Bayer, Sanofi, Phils., Univet, Lakpue Drug, Tynor Laboratories, Excellence Laboratories, etc.e) The big demand for raw materials in making feeds like corn, green peas, soya, seeds, jackie oats, wheat and the likes have made feed millers even import because the local farmers can not just meet the requirements.f) The farmers are directly benefitted because of the demand.g) The farm implements and needs suppliers like fertilizers, tractors, seeds and the likes are benefitted.h) Farmers would also employ more and earn more and will have a stronger buying power because of the bigger income. i) Gamefowl feed companies like Thunderbird employs hundreds if not thousands of people. j) The feeds are distributed all over the country by all means of transportation in land, air & water.k) These commodities are sold through thousands of poultry supply stores or agrivet stores nationwide which also employ a lot people.3) Gamefowl farm and cockfighting materials, equipments and the likes :a) Incubatorsb) Nets, cyclone wires, posts and others for fences.c) Feeding cups, waterers, hoses, ETC.d) Carrying cases, folping case, matse) Tari, sapin, hasa, etc.d) Transportation of roosters from farm to buyers, from buyers to cokpits. The PAL flight from Bacolod City carries an average of 50 heads of roosters each flight.4) Employment 4a) 2,000 cockpits nationwidea)2,000b) An average of 20 personnel per cockpit (20 X 2,000) = 40,000c) An average of 40 vendors per cockpit. Inside and outside.(40 x 2,000) = 80,000 plus 40,000 = 120,000d) An average of 50 kristos (bet takers) per cockpit (50 x 2,000 =) = 100,000 plus 120,000 = 220,000e) An average of 20 mananari per cockpit (20 x 2,000)=40,000 plus 220,00= 260,000f) An average of 3 manggagamot per cockpit (3 x 2,000)=6,000 plus 260,000 = 266,0004b. An average of four poultry supply stores per cockpit (4 x 2,000 = 8,000a) Average of 3 employees per store 3 X 8,000)=24,000 plus 266,000 = 290,0004c. There are more than 20 big companies engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of gamefowl feeds, feed supplement, vitamins, medication, vaccines, , etc.a) They should be employing an average of 100 employees each from the plant to the wholesalers (20 X 100) = 2,000 plus 290,000 = 292,000.4d. In addition are a lot of small manufacturers producing gaffs, boxes, incubators, gloves, carrying cases, folding pens, feeding cups, cords etc. a) This can add up to 1,000 natiownwide that employs at least 3 persons each (3 x 1,000) = 3,000 plus 292,000 = 295,0004e. There are about 2,500 breeders registered as members of the 24-member organizations under the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders. a)In the large and medium scale farm categories, they employ an average of 5 farmhands each (5 x 2500)= 12,500 plus 295,000 = 307,500b) There is easily an average of 20 cockers or breeders with small backyard farms for every cockpit with 10-20 heads each on a per cockpit ratio with the owner as employee (20 x 2,000 cockpits)= 40,000 plus 307,500 = 347,500ESTIMATED NUMBER OF BREAD WINNERS DIRECTLY EMPLOYED OR OWING THEIR LIVELIHOOD TO COCKFIGHTING = 347,500WHEN WE MULTIPLY THIS AN AVERAGE OF 4 DEPENDENTS EACH (5 x 347,500) = 1,737,5005) Related businessesa) There are 6 cockfights magazines in circulationb) They have an average circularion of a circulation 10,000 eachc) There are four television programs about gamefowl breeding and cockfighting aired over IBC-13 such as Tukaan; Sagupaan; Pilipinas Sabong Sports & Hataw Pinoy. Plus two more all-fights program in Cable TV which are Sulatada and Sabong Pinoy.d) There is already a TJT Cocking Academy with an average attendance of 20 per class done every month.e) Beerhouses & other entertainment establishments, restaurants, hotels, airlines, health spa, pawnshops, banks and other businesses are indirectly benefitted by the gamefowl industry 6) What can be done to help the industrya) Establish a Philippine Gamefowl Authority under the Office of the President or expand the power and authority of the Games and Amusement Board to provide assistance to the gamefiowl industry such as standarduzation of rules, licensing of key cockpit personnel etc. Marcos recognized the sector by coming up with a Philippine Gamefowl Commission, but it only turned into a permit mill and a dumping ground of political apoointees.b) Rooster thievery and farm hold-ups are very rampant, so, there is a great need to solve this problem.c) Promote cockfighting and gamefowl breeding as a tourist attraction like what the Department of Tourism is doing now for the rodeo in Masbate and other sports tourism like diving, rapelling, mountain climbing, kayaking and rafting. Like bullfighting in Spain, cockfighting can bring a good number of tourists.d) Come up with an annual National Cockers and Gamefowl Breeders Fair.e) Come up with a National Sabong Festival.f) Come up with a Gamefowl Breeders and Cockers Week.g) Encourage and assist farmers to diversify into grains and other plants that are ingredients in gamefowl feeds, so as to make raw materials readily available and cheaper that also would render the prize of gamefowl feeds more affordable and would allow the rooster-raisers to make more profit.h) National associations like the NFGB and UGBA can probaly forged an alliance with cockers of other countries for a possible cockers' exchange programs or to come up with a common firewall against the enemies of cockfighting.

BANTAY-SABONG : ANG SIMULA

BANTAY-SABONG SPECIAL REPORT

SABONG SA PILIPINAS

Bago pa dumating ang mga Kastila sa ating mga baybayin ay naglalaban na ng mga manok an gating mga ninuno. Ayon kay Pigafetta na tagapagtala ni Magellan, “Nang kami ay dumaong sa isla ng Palawan ay natagpuan namin ang mga katutubo na naglalaban ng malalaki, subalit maaamong mga manok na kinakabitan nang pinatalas na kawayan bilang sandata”

Sa isang case study ng Amerikanong si Scott Guggenheim na tumigil sa Cagayan Valley ng halos dalawang taon, nabanggit na ang pagkahilig ng mga Pinoy sa sabong ay ginamit nang mga Kastila upang mas madali mapahalaan at makontrol ang mga Pinoy. Nagtayo ang mga Kastila ng mga lugar na pagsasabungan at nagsilipat naman sa paligid nito ang mga Pinoy. At kung nagamit man ng mga mananakop ang sabong sa atin, may mga palatandaan at basehan na nagamit din natin ang sabong upang makamit ang kalayaan. Sa isang bahagi ng nobela ni Jose Rizal na Noli Me Tangere na Ang Sabungan, mababasa ang ganito, “Nang lumapit ang magkapatid na Tarsilo at Bruno kay Lucas, hindi sila nabigo. Sila ay binigyan ng tig- P30.00 sa kasunduang sasama sila sa pagsalakay sa kuwartel. Kapag sila ay nakapagsama pa, tig-sasampu uli sa bawat maisama nila. Kapag nagtagumpay sila sa gagawing pagsalakay, may tig-P100 ang mga kasama nila at sila naman ay tig-P200 ang tatanggapin. Tumango sila pareho sa lahat ng kondisyon.”

Nang dumating ang mga Amerikano ay ginawa din nila ang lahat ng paraan upang ilayo ang mga Filipino sa sabong, subalit, nabigo sila. Sa pamamahala ng mga Kano ay maraming aklat ang nasulat na nagpapahayag o bumabatikos sa pagkahilig ng Pinoy sa sabong. Kasama na dito ang kasabihan na “kung nasusunog umano ang bahay ng isang sabungero ay mas una nitong ililgtas ang kanyang manok bago ang kanyang maybahay”

Sinubok din ng mga Kano na pasikatin ang larong baseball ditto sa atin upang mailayo ang atensiyon natin sa sabong subalit wala rin nangyari at patuloy na tinanggap at lumaganap ang sabong sa Pilipinas.

Noong 1974, dalawang taon matapos ideklara ni Ferdinand Marcos ang Martial Law, ay nilagdaan ang Presidential Decree 449 o ang Cockfighting Law of 1974

SABONG SA DEKADA 80

1981 nang maitatag ang Philippine Gamefowl Commission sa pamamagitan ng Presidential Decree 1802.

Ang dekada-80 ang panahon na kinakitaan ng kakaibang sigla ang sabong. Ang pamamayani ng mga matatawag na Filipino breeds tulad ng Lemon 84, Mitra Blues at Zamboanga Whites ay nagbigay-kulay at pag-asa sa larangan ng sabong.

Sa panahon ding ito pumaimbulog amg mga personalidad na mga kinilalang mga bituin ng sabong.

Nabuksan din at nagsulputan ang mga bagong sabungan tulad ng San Juan Coliseum, Cavite Coliseum at Roligon Mega Cockpit na nagtanghal ng mga record-breaking events na nagpatingkad pa sa kontribusyon ng Araneta Coliseum na World Slasher Cup.

SABONG SA DEKADA 90

Ang pagkakapasa ng Local Government Code of 1991, na nagbuwag sa Philippine Gamefowl Commission at nagbigay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan ng ganap na awtoridad at kapangyarihan sa sabong ay naging daan upang lumuwag ang mga restriksiyon sa sabong at lalo pang lumaganap ang sabong.

Lalong dumami ang mga sabungan.

Sa panahon ding ito naglabasan ang maraming mga babasahin tungkol sa sabong tulad ng Pinoy Sabungeo Magasin; Sabong Magasin; Birds & Steel at Philippine Cockfights Newsmag. Naumpisahan din ang tv program na Tukaan.

Dekada-90 din ng nag-umpisang lumabas ang mga espesyal na patuka at mga gamot para sa manok-panabong tulad ng Thunderbird Power Feeds at Lakpue Drug.

Ang pagdami ng mga sabungan ay nagresulta sa matinding kumpetisyon na nagbigay-daan sa mga matitinding promosyon na nagbigay ng mga malalaking ganitimpala, kahit maliit lamang ang mga entry fees katulad ng mga debies na Hatawan sa Tag-ulan at Largahan ng Roligon Mega Cockpit.

2000 HANGGANG SA KASALUKUYAN

Hindi maikakaila na ang pinakamalaking kaganapan sa pagpasok ng ikalawang sentenyal ay ang pagkakatatag ng National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders na nagbuklod sa mga dati nang breeders’ associations at nagbigay inspirasyon upang ang mga nagpapalahi ng manok-pananbong sa iba pang rehiyo at lalawigan ay magtayo din ng kani-kanilang mga samahan.

Ang taunang Bakbakan National Stag Derby nang NFGB naman ang nagturok ng masustansiyang bitamina sa sabong na biglang nagpalakas at nagpasigla dito. Inumpisahan noong 2000, patuloy na tumaas ang dami ng mga lumalahok taon-taon hanggang sa umabot na sa 1,274 noong 2006 at 1,463 naman noong 2007 kung saan P15 milyon na ang kabuuang premyo.

Sumunod ay ang pagluluwag sa importasyon ng mga manok-panabong mula sa Amerika. Kung noon dati ay ang mga kalahok lamang sa international derby ang maaring magpasok ng manok, napayagan na na sinuman na ang manukan o farm ay nakareshitro sa Bureau of Animal Industry ay maari nang mag-import ng manok. Ito ang naging daan ng pagdagsa ng mga imported na breeding stocks na nag-angat sa mga ordinaryong mananabong na makapantay sa mga bigtime na sabungerong dati ay nakalalamang ng malaki dahil sa lahi, galing at tibay ng kanilang mga manok-panabong. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nabalanse ang tiyansa ng panalo ng mga “meron” at ng mga “wala”.

Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa pimakamasaya, pinakamasigla at pinakamaunlad na estado ang Philippine cockfighting.

May apat na telebisyon program sa free tv (Tukaan, Sagupaan, Pilipinas Sabong Sports at Hataw Pinoy) at dalawa naman sa cable (Sultad at Sabong Pinoy).

May pitong magazines ang nasa sirkulasyon (Sabong Star; Fightingcock; Pit Games; Cockfights; Llamado; Sabong Pinoy at Sagupaan). Idagdag pa rito ang pahayagan Larga na inilunsad noong Oktubre 2007.

Naging dalawa ang pederasyon ng itatag ang United Gamecock Breeders Association ng mga grupong tumiwalag sa NFGB.

Sa kasalukuyan ay binubuo na ng 24 na asosasyon ang NFGB na maari pang umabot ng 30 kapag naaprubahan ang aplikasyon ng 6 pang bagong samahan na nais maging kasapi ng nito.

Sa ngayon ay tinatayang may 15 milyon sultada o labanan ng manok ang nagaganap taon-taon na nangangahulugan ng 30 milyon manok-panabong. Ang numerong ito ay pinatutunayan ng pagpasok ng malalaking kumpanya sa negosyo ng gamefowl feeds at medicine.

Maliban sa Thunderbird Power Feeds ng ay pumasok na din ang Sagupaan ng sikat na sabungerong si Patrick Antonio; Derby Ace ng B-meg (San Miguel Corp.); Purina (Cargill); Supremo Feeds ng Robichem (Gokongwei Group); Ninja Feeds (Lucio Tan Group); Panabong Feeds ng Vitarich (Sarmiento Group); Raptor (CJ Feeds); Power Bullets (Feedmix) at marami pang maliliit na iba.

Maliban sa Univet ng Unilab at Lakpue Drug ay pumasok na rin ang Excellence Gamefowl Specialists; Tynor Laboratories; Asvet; Ave Science; Bayer; Novartis atbp.

Araw-araw na ngayon ang sabong at may mga sabungan pa katulad ng Cainta Coliseum na may mga pagkakataon na nag-uumpisa ng ika-2 ng umaga dahil sa dami ng kasali.

Sa halip na World Slasher Cup lamang ay umaabot na ng lima hanggang anim ang ginagawang international derby taon-taon.

Buhay na buhay ang sabong. Hindi maikakaila na libo-libong pamilya ang nabubuhay sa gamefowl industry.

Nariyan ang mga direktang nakikinabang : mga gamefowl breeders; mga handlers; mga mananari; mga cockpit owners (may mahigit na 2,000 sabungan sa buong bansa); mga cockpit operators; mga derby promoters; mga empleado ng sabungan; mga poultry supply store owners at mga tauhan nila; mga kristo; mga vendors sa loob at labas ng sabungan; mga feed millers at mga gamefowl vetmed producers; mga gumagawa at nagbebenta ng tali, tari, kahon, folding pens, gloves, carrying cases, painuman, baina, kulungan at marami pang ibang gamit sa pagsasabong at pagpapalahi at pagpapalaki ng mga manok.Napakami nila.

Napakarami rin ang nakikibang dahil sa kanilang paghahanapbuhay sa mga industriyang binubuhay ng sabong katulad ng mga kawani at mga trabahador sa mga gamefowl feeds at vetmed companies; mga restaurant at iba pang establisimento na nakapaligid sa mga sabungan at tiantangkilik ng mga sabungero; mga airlines na pinagkakargahan ng daan-daang manok-panabong araw-araw; mga local government tulad ng Bacolod City na kumikita ng malaking buwis mula sa benta ng manok-panabong.


BAKIT MAY MGA NAIS NA MAPATIGIL
ANG SABONG



Marahil ay napanood ninyo sa telebisyon o nabasa sa mga pahayagan ang eksenang ito na naganap sa harapan ng Araneta Coliseum noong Enero 29, 2008 habang ginaganap ang unang araw ng 2008 World Slasher Cup-I 8-Cock International Derby.

Ang nagsagawa ng nasabing umano’y isang demonstrasyon ay dalawang miyembro ng PETA o People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, na ayon sa kanilang spokesperson na si Jennelyn Tagasa ay “nasasaktan na ang mga manok” kaya raw dapat na natin tigilan ang pagsasabong.

Ang PETA at ang HSPCA o Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ay mga samahan na siyang nakapagpatigil ng sabong sa Amerika na makukumpleto na sa Agosto 2008 kapag naging bawal na din ang sabong sa State of Louisiana - na siyang pinakahuling lugar na lamang sa U.S. kung saan nakapagsasabong pa sila sa kasalukuyan.

Marami pos a ating mga Sabungerong Pinoy ang magsasabi na, “Aba, malabong matigil ang sabong sa Pilipinas, sikat na sikat yata ang sabong dito”

May katotohanan po ‘yan, subalit alam ba ninyo kung gaano kasikat ang sabong sa Amerika noong araw. Suriin po natin :

a) Bagama’t marami tayong Congressmen na mga sabungero at mayroon tayong mga Senador na mahilig sa sabong, hindi pa tayo nagkaroon ng Pangulo na sabungero. Samantala ang mga unang Presidente ng Amerika ay mga sabungero katulad nila Geroge Washington; John Adams at Abraham Lincoln na nakuha ang taguring “Honest Abe” dahil sa kanyang pagiging magaling at tapat na sentenciador. Siya rin ang nagdeklara na, “As long as the Almighty has permitted intelligent men, created in his likeness, to fight in public and kill each other while the world looks on approvingly, it’s not for me to deprive the chickens of the same privilege”

b) Noong una, ang sabong ay ginagawa mismo sa White House bilang bahagi ng entertainment para sa mga panauhin ng bansa (state guests).

c) Ang TANDANG o ROOSTER ay natalo lamang ng isang boto ng AMERICAN BALD EAGLE nang pinagbotohan kung alin ang magiging national bird ng Amerika at mapapasama sa mga emblem o sagisag ng kanilang matataas na pinuno.

d) Kung dito sa atin ay ginagawa ang sabong sa Araneta Coliseum, dapat din nating malaman na ang malalaking derbies noon sa Amerika ay ginaganap mismo sa Madison Square Garden.

Ipinapahayag ng PETA at HSPCA na ang kanilang kinakampanya ay ang pagmamahal sa mga hayop, malalaman natin sa mga website na http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/136 at sa http://petakillsanimals.com/ kung gaano karaming hayop ang pinapatay ng mga nasabing grupo. Malinaw na kumikita na malaking halaga ang mga grupong ito dahilan sa kanilang kampanya at magpapatuloy sila hanggang sa mya nakakalap silang mga donasyon.

Sa ilang mga television programs, lalo na ‘yung mga pambata, ay gumagastos ang mga kalaban ng sabong at maingat na ipinatutupad ang kanilang kampanya sa pamamagitan ng paglason sa kaisipan ng ating mga kabataan na pinaniniwala nilang masama ang sabong.

Gumagamit sila ng mga artista at mga modelo upang maikalat ang kanilang nais at makakuha ng simpatiya.


BANTAY-SABONG

Ang pagbabago ng estratehiya ng mga kalaban ng sabong na dati ay patago lamang ang pagkilos, samantalang ngayon ay hayagan na ang pagbangga sa mga sabungero ang nagtulak sa ilang mga nagmamahal sa sabong na ilunsad ang Bantay-Sabong.

Bagama’t marami nang mga samahan ng mga breeders at mga cockers ngayon sa ating bansa, nakita ng mga nagtatag ng Bantay-Sabong ang pangangailangan ng isang samahan na direkta rin na makikipaglaban sa mga nais magpatigil ng sabong at mabantayan ang mga kilala at maipluwensiyang mga tao o grupo na nagpapahayag ng hindi pagsang-ayon sa sabong.

Layunin ng Bantay-Sabong ang Magbantay, Magtanggol at Magpatibay sa Sabong at lahat ng may ganitong paninindigan at pananaw ay inaayayahan namin na sumapi sa Bantay-Sabong.


Sa kasalukuyan po ay mayroong nang halos 300 ang kasapi ng Bantay-Sabong na binubuo ng nagmamahal sa sabong mula sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas at mga sabungerong OFW na nakabase sa kung saan-sang bansa na lumahok sa pamamagitan ng internet.

Sa lahat po na nais maging isang Bantay-Sabong mangyari pong tumawag o magtext kayo sa telepono 0917-2456608 o kaya ay mag-email sa bantaysabong@gmail.com