Cockfighting in the Philippines

Cockfighting in the Philippines or “sabong” is not only a long-standing tradition, but also a vibrant cultural spectacle where passion and excitement are intertwined. Here you will see everything from the preparation of the cocks to the actual moment of the fight, as well as the emotions and atmosphere of the event, which is an important part of the lives of many Filipinos. However, this tradition, on the one hand, evokes admiration for its colorfulness and authenticity, and on the other, controversy and debate about animal rights and ethics.

Although cockfighting is illegal throughout much of the United States, Brazil and Europe, it is practically a national sport in the Philippines. Fighting roosters are specially bred and trained to make them aggressive, and the birds are tortured. To make them more angry and resilient, they are injected with special substances, for example, amphetamines, caffeine, strychnine. Compared to dog fighting, where dogs often maul each other to death, cockfighting looks no less terrifying.

1. The fighting cock is preparing for battle.

2. The rooster is prepared for battle - a sharp knife is attached to one of the legs. It’s amazing, but sometimes people even die from such miniature bladed weapons during battles. So one day a rooster killed a police lieutenant.

3. Roosters are best cared for up to two years of age. And then they are treated the same way as athletes before an important event.

4. There are two types of fighting cocks - the one that flies more and the one that sticks to the ground. The Flyer delivers devastating blows from the air, but is quite weak on the ground. It's the same with his opponent - he's quite weak in the air, but on the ground he's much stronger than a flyer.

5. In the Philippines, cockfighting appeared in the 16th century, it was invented by the Spanish colonialists.

6. Before the start of the fight, the birds are held so that they can see their enemy. At the sight of an enemy, the rooster turns into a killing machine, he thirsts for blood. Typically a fight lasts less than three minutes.

7. In the Philippines, two types of knives are used for cockfighting - with one and with two blades. All knives are tied to the rooster's left leg. Although if the owners agree, you can attach it to the right one, or even both. In some areas special spurs are used.

8. Flyer in action.

9. The “rooster surgeon” performs an operation on the rooster. The rooster may well survive and after some time enter the ring again.

10. "Operating room."

11. Loser's paw.

12. Cock farm where future fighters are raised.

13. Roosters are shown to each other - “remember your enemy by sight.”

14. Training gloves.

15. Jose Andreda trains his roosters.

16. Training farm.

17. Place your bets, gentlemen. Many people borrow money to place a bet.

18. One of the famous feathered champions.

19. The rooster is waiting for the fight to start.

20. Roosters look closely at each other.

21. The battle has begun. The flyer immediately took off into the air.

22. Most often, the battle continues until the death of one of the fighters or, at least, until the inability to fight.

23. Looking at this photo, I just want to ask: “Where are the animal activists?”

24. Before a fight, roosters are “trained” to make them even more aggressive.