FOREIGN ENTRIES IN 2010 WORLD SLASHER CUP

. N A M E C O U N T R Y / S T A T E
1 Mr. Roger Roberts Georgia
2 Mr. Ray Alexander Alabama
3 Mr. Kali Casco Hawaii
4 Rr. Willy Casco Hawaii
5 Mr. Clarence Perkins Kentucky 9 6 Mr. Jorge "Goy" Goitia California 10 7 Mr. Mike Formosa Hawaii 11 8 Mr. Jerard Inman U.S.A. 12 9 Mr. Tom Cooper North Carolina 13 10 Mr. Jeff Hudspeth North Carolina 14 11 Mr. Brad Padgette Oregon 15 12 Ms. Minda Cereno California 16 13 Dr. Henry Fajardo California 17 14 Mr. Henry Navarro California 18 15 Mr Jeorge G. Torres California 19 16 Mr. Cesar Calvo Texas 20 17 Mr. Rodel Costales California 21 18 Mr. Romy Arciaga California 22 19 Mr. Guy Nazareno California 23 20 Mr. Joey Melendres Australia 24 21 Mr. Thomas Mischkus Germany 25 22 Mr. Wilbert Le Blanc Louisiana 26 23 Mr. Richard Harris Louisiana 27 24 Mr. Richard Mickormick Canada 28 25 Mr. Joe Tavares Guam 29 26 Mr. Art Mangubat California 30 27 Mr. Arnold Mangubat California 31 28 Mr. Greg Bartolome Florida 32 29 Mr Jun Montenegro Autralia 33 30 Mr. Randy Hall Texas 34 31 Mrs. Randy Hall Texas 35 32 Mr. Noe Palmares California 36 33 Dr. Bel Almoguera Chicago 37 34 Mr, Tommy Lequang Mississippi 38 35 Mr. Jose Ras Mississippi 39 36 Mr. Valentino Yap Mississippi 40 37 Mr. Rene Moraga California 41 38 Mr. Rene Penalosa Australia 42 39 Mr. O.W. Lainier Mississippi 43 40 Mr. Mike Lainier Mississippi 44 41 Mr. Wesley Saizon Hawaii 45 42 Mr. John Mcenroe Hawaii 46 43 Mr, Kallani Bullard Hawaii 47 44 Mr. Bill Knap California 48 45 Mr. Manny Jidaria California 49 46 Mr. Erning Jidaria California 50 47 Mr. Sedfrey Linsangan Guam 51 48 Mr. Ed Ranchero California 52 49 Mr. Joe Sanidad California 53 50 Mr. Bill Mcnutt California 54 51 Mr. Cris Casilan Hawaii 55 52 Mr. Mario Lagula California 56 53 Mr. Mar Gat Maitan Guam 57 54 Mr. Tony Ang Taiwan 58 55 Mr. Ting Ariosa California 59 56 Mr. Eddie Odell Tenneessee 60 57 Mr. Gene "Boy" Garcia Tenneessee
58 Mr. Benny Costes Illinois, Chicago
59 Mr. Zosimo Antivo Las Vegas
60 Mr. Zaldy Sandoval California
61 Mr. Vic Diez Guam
62 Mr. Greg Berin Australi
63 Mr. Cesar Ancaya Los Angeles
64 Mr. Willy Ancaya Los Angeles
65 Mr. Martin Barla Chicago
66 Mr. Jose Carcillar Chicago
67 Mr. Robert Te Chicago
68 Mr. Buboy Barboza Canada
69 Mr. Damon K. Yorkman Chelsea, Oklahoma
70 Ms. Cory Michioka Springhill, Louisiana

SINULOG PINTAKASI IS ON

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (January 13, 2010)

SINULOG PINTAKASI IS ON

Every major fiesta or festival in the Philippines is never without an equally important Pintakasi or cockfighting event. Before, during the pre-derby days, Pintakasi means three consecutive days of hackfights, but nowadays, a Pintakasis are mostly major derbies.

Take note that the term pintakasi pertains to derbies or hackfights that are held simultaneously or within the same week of a fiesta or a celebration of a feast day for a saint. Fiesta is the Spanish for feast.

This I learned from my late friend and mentor Ephraim “Totoy” dela Cruz – publisher-editor of the former Pinoy Sabungero Magasin, that pintakasi means ”in honor of the saint”.

Some of the most notable pintakasi are the Candelaria Derby which coincides with the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Candles (lights) or Nuestra Seňora de Candelaria. The Masskara Derby in the Carlos Montilla Memorial Coliseum in Tangub is held in conjunction with the famous Carnival-in-Rio-like Masskara Festival of Bacolod City; the Peňafrancia Derby in Naga City in September is held to commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of Peňafarancia and is Bicol’s biggest cockfight event.

For the Cebuanos, with their world-renowned Sinulog Festival in commemoration of the Feast of the Child Jesus (Sto. Niňo), it’s the Sinulog Derby which is held annually at the Century Game Club in Bannawa, Cebu originated and hosted by Nonoy Chiongbian.

Currently, the 2010 Sinulog Derby which began last Friday with a first day field of 115 entries is on a record-breaking mode and as you read this column, I should be in Cebu, in time for the championship on Thursday.

ROOSTER THIEVERY, UNACCEPTABLE,

BUT UNAVOIDABLE

I had the honor to hitch up with actor Al Tantay last Sunday on my way home from Antipolo to Marikina. Me and Al met in a mutual friend’s farm. The first thing I asked him was about his being absent in the Sport for a rather long period. Apparently, he was a victim of “magnanakaw ng manok” who took his 25 aces that were all winners already in several hackfights and which he was preparing to fight in a derby. That sad incident turned Tantay’s taste for sabong sour. His disappointment caused the lost of steam and the drive to continue.

And Al is definitely not alone, because there are hundreds, if not thousands of them.

“But if they breed well po, then the thieves will be winning cockfights & will be encouraged to keep on stealing fighting cocks” was Araneta Center PR Manager Genny Marcial’s reaction to my last article in this column regarding the rooster thief who returned half of the fightingcocks that he has stolen to his victim and even had the tenacity to ridicule the unfortunate breeder by shouting “Ayusin mo breeding mo” seconds after throwing back into the farm a sack-full of live birds.

Well Genny, I’m happy you’re developing an interest in sabong evidenced by your reaction.

Sadly, rooster thievery which can also be attributed as a matter of survival for those individuals who belong to the high number of unemployed has become an accepted fact to which the sabungeros has learned to live with.

Rooster thievery as a fact has been accepted, but this crime against gamefowl breeders and cockers will never be acceptable, although as of today remains as something that is unavoidable.

******

COCKATAWANAN (JOKE TIME)

This one was sent by Michael LLanto and for which he will receive a Thunderbird 2010 calendar.

PINOY YATA…

There were two men playing cards, an american who owns a parrot and a Filipino with a rooster. After a while of playing cards, each one accused each other of cheating.

The argument turned into a fist fight until the American backed off and ran scared. His pet parrot asked his master what happened and the American said, "I had the upperhand, but that Filipino pulled out a fan knife (balisong)"

So, the parrot, thought of a vendetta for his boss and challenged the rooster to a fight. The rooster and the parrot mixed it up, but like his boss, the parrot ran.

It was the American’s turn to ask his parrot. “What happened?” The parrot replied, “Shit, that rooster has a knife for a spur”

WORST INSULT TO A GAMEFOWL BREEDER

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (January 9, 2010)

WORST INSULT TO A GAMEFOWL BREEDER

What’s the worst insult that can happen to a gamefowl breeder?

Immediately, you will say to yourself or to the person next to you reading this article, “Of course, if his rooster runs in the middle of a fight”. Well, that’s a blessing compared to what Joe Laureño of Murcia, Negros Oriental told me.

A friend of Joe who is also a breeder had his roosters stolen. If I remember it right, he said ten birds were taken by the thieves.

After a week, Joe visited his friend in his farm. It was evening and they were having some beers and were talking about breeding and the thievery for some time when there was a “Blaagghh” at the backside of the farm. Then, there was a shout that went “Manok mo bulok, ayusin mo breeding mo”.

When they went investigate, they found a jute sack with six live roosters. Apparently, the robbers fought the stolen roosters and lost five times.

The name of Joe’s friend has been withheld to not cause additional insult.

Lesson : If you breed, breed well…

This one is a true story, but I bet you had a good laugh.

If you have any sabong jokes, please email them to rluzong2000@gmail.com or mail them to P.O. Box 103, Marikina Central Post Office, Marikina City

Senders of published jokes will win a gift that they will surely appreciate.

THUNDERBIRD NEW PLANT

IN CEBU WILL ANSWER

VIS-MIN’S GROWING DEMAND FOR THUNDERBIRD’S WINNING FORMULA

With the scheduled opening of the new UNAHCO-Thunderbird Power Feeds plant in Naga, Cebu in the first quarter of 2010, the continuously growing number of gamefowl breeders in the Visayas and Mindanao will be assured of unhampered supply of quality nutrition for their birds.

Visayas and Mindanao has moved by leaps and bounds in their gamefowl breeder population and this is proven by the fact that there are now a lot of breeders’ groups in the area.

From just one association before which is the Mindanao Gamefowl Breeders Association (MIGBA) now there are also the Northern Mindanao Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n (NMGBA); Zamboanga Gamefowl Breeders Association (ZGBA); the Zamboanga del Norte Gamefowl Breeders Association (ZNGBA) and the Socsksargen Gamefowl Breeders Association (SGBA).

In the Visayas, before there were only the Negros Gamefowl Breeders Association (NGBA) and the Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros (GFBAN), but we now have the Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros Occidental (GBANO), the Eastern Visayas Gamefowl Breeders Association (EVGBA); the Cebu Gamefowl Breeders Association (CEGBA) and the the Central Visayas Breeders Association (CVBA).

The new plant is a modern facility that employs the latest in European technology in the production of quality feeds.

ATONG IS BACK

I was watching Sultada some few nights ago and I was surprised to when I heard Boy Diaz said, “Okay our next fight is between Charlie Ang and…”. I looked at the monitor and yes it was Atong Ang, in shorts releasing a rooster.

Then I said to myself, “Oh it’s probably a rerun. A replay of old fights”. However, I noticed after about five fights, there was that NELBA entry of Engr. Moises Aluete and Cong. Lawrence Wacnang which bagged the championship in the United Gamecock Breeders Associaton’s Big Event 1-Day 8-Stag Derby at the Makati Coliseum. It was then that I was sure that what I was watching was newly tape-recorded derby.

So folks, Charlie “Atong” Ang proved to be a true-cocker after all who just can’t resist his passion for fightingcocks.

Welcome back Sir Atong.

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY to Engr. & Mrs. Ted Pachecho (TRISEVEN) tomorrow. May you have a hundred more anniversaries to come.

COMING WORLD SLASHER CUP WILL BE THE BIGGEST EVER

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (January 6, 2010)

COMING WORLD SLASHER CUP WILL BE

THE BIGGEST EVER

Brace yourselves, all indications point to a historic staging of the World Slasher Cup 8-Cock International Derby with 241 entries already listed as of yesterday and a final field of 260 competitors expected to see action in the biggest and most prestigious cockfighting event in the world.

The Araneta Coliseum blockbuster is set on January 18, 19, 20, 21 & 23. The first half of entries will face each other on the 18^th for their 2-cock eliminatyion round, while the remaining half will collide on the 19^th.

Qualifiers from the January 18 preliminaries will have their semi-finals on Jan. 20, while the Jan. 19 batch will have their semis on the 21^st.

All the finalists will lock horns on Jan. 23 4-cock championship round when this year’s champion will be decided.

Marcel Julao (MTJ Bros.) who is the current defending champion is fielding in two entries to try to do a repeat and duplicate the feat achieved by highly-respected sabungero Peping Ricafort (PTK Country Road) in 2000.Mang Peping is also on the comeback trail with two entries.

Phenomenal gamefowl breeder Sonny Lagon of Blue Blade Game Farm, who is Thunderbird’s top endorser is putting a total of 4 entries with majority of his fighters composed of his Blue Blade Swites or Sweater-White crosses.

Another Thunderbird Winning Team member Bernie Tacoy of Ormoc City who belongs to the Thunderbird Successors group, will be fighting his 16 of his multi-winner Ormoc Gold aces in two entries.

Also expected to add color to the Slashers is comebacking Charlie “Atong” Ang who is reported to be fielding two entries and is said to be personally conditioning his birds.

Gengen Arayata of Cavite – the only World Slasher Cup (two-time) and Bakbakan title-holder ever is going for a grad slam with four entries featuring his Gengen Bulik crosses.

PINOY POWER

Also bent to capture the biggest World Slasher Cup ever are Dicky Lim, Honey Yu, Rey Briones, Boy Lechon, Pol Estrellado, Cito Alberto, Manny Dalipe and Boy Marzo – all belonging to Thunderbird’s Champions of the World team.

Of course, the who’s who of Philippine cockfighting will be there to provide glitter to the competition. These includes Gov. Ito Ynares of Rizal; Biboy Enriquez with his Firebirds; Gerry Ramos; traditional breeder Boy Diaz of Purple Haze Farm who is Tukaan’s lead host; 2-time Slasher champ Cong. Claude Bautista of Davao; Ricki Reyes; Raymond Velayo, veteran cocker-breeder Eddie Araneta and his Karachis; Cong. Peping Cojuangco of Tarlac and Cong. Rudy Albano of Isabela.

FOREIGN INVASION

Determined to put up a good fight and give the local boys a run for their money are the Amerricans which include Roger Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia; Ray Alexander of Alabama and his famous Clarets; Kali Casco of Hawaii; Jorge “Goy” Goitia; Mike Formosa of Hawaii; former Slasher champ Rodel Costales of California; Jorge Torres of California; Tom Cooper of North Carolina and Jeff Hudspeth also of North Carolina.

Also out to challenge the Pinoys are Brad Padgette of Oregon; Wilbert LeBlanc of Louisiana who have been breeding roosters in a farm in Laguna for the past three years. LeBlanc with his feared Yellow Rose entry have had several runners-up finishes in the past and is threatening to finally capture the crown this time.

Happy Birthday to my son Rolando Mikhail “Kyle” tomorrow.

2010 World Slasher Cup Entries Continue to Build Up

2010 World Slasher Cup Entries

Continue to Build Up

The number of participants to the 2010 World Slasher Cup 8-Cock Invitational Derby continue to rise as more request for cockhouse reservations are received which points to a dizzying 260 up to a possible 280 competitors that will fight for the highest and most prestigious cockfighting title in the planet.

Cocking sensation Sonny Lagon of the Blue Blade has confirmed he is fielding a total of four entries and will be pitting a full show of his much talked-about Swites (Sweater-White) in one entry. Lagon recently bagged the Laguna Gamefowl Breeders Association’s 2009 Breeder of the Year title, which he shared with Pol Estellado. Both have their farms in San Pablo City.

Now on its 47^th year, the January 2010 edition of the “Olympics of Cockfighting” on January 18, 19, 20, 22 & 23 at the Araneta Coliseum, hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions and co-presented by Thunderbird Ganador Max.

Meanwhile, defending champion Marcel Julao revealed in an interview that he is putting in two entries composed of his winning battlecrosses of Sweater-Lemons; McLean/Lemon-Sweater Kelso; Kabayo Hatch/Lemon and Grey/Lemon aces.

Asked about his chances of pulling a back-to-back championship finish, Julao said “it will be hard, but I’m hoping for that”. “That will be something”, he added.

The last time the World Slasher Cup was won twice in a row was in 2000 when highly-respected cocker Peping Ricafort wityh his PTK Yucatan entry bagged first the January 2000 title, then came up with a repeat in June of the same year.

Gengen Arayata of Cavite won his first Slasher in January 2007 with his Super Clyde & KC entry and his second in January of 2008 with his bet Super Clyde & YCE II.

The powerhouse cast of foreign contingent is led by the Hanwaian-Guam Group of Joe Tavares who is reported to be fielding six entries. The visitors also James Campbell of Osage Game Farm, Clarence Perkins of Kentucky, Hawaian entry Lahaina Boys led by Kali Casco; Jeff Hudspeth from Ronda, North Carolina; Bill McNutt, Joe Wolcott, Bruce Barnette, Wilbert LeBlanc & Richard Harris of Louisiana, Roger Roberts of Georgia, Brad Padgette of Oregon, Damon Yorkman of Kentucky, Brian Corkren of Alabama & Kiana Borovies of Hawaii, Mike Formosa of Hawaii,, Jorge "Goy" Goitia of California, Arthur Rhodes of Tenessee and Ray Alexander of Alabama.

For more details, please contact Boy San Pedro or Dong Lamoste at 911-2928 or 911-3101 loc. 8361 or 8351 or log on to www.aranetacoliseum.com and www.ticketnet.com.ph

RECORD FIELD OF AMERICAN COCKERS TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD SLASHER CUP

RECORD FIELD OF AMERICAN COCKERS TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD SLASHER CUP

With only more than a month to go before fight time, the number of American and other foreign cockers lining up to see action in the 2010 World Slasher Cup 8-Cock Invitational Derby continue to build up.

Now on its 47^th year, the January 2010 edition of the “Olympics of Cockfighting” on January 18, 19, 20, 22 & 23 at the Araneta Coliseum.

In a telephone interview with Big Dome’s Pit Manager Dong Lamoste, it was reported that a record foreign delegation from America, Germany, Japan and Malaysia is expected to challenge and the Filipino sabungero who have prevailed since May 2007 when Wilson Ong of Dumaguete bagged solo victory.

In January 2008, it was again solo victory for the local boys with Gengen Arayata of Cavite fighting his famed bulik roosters. It was the second time that an all-bulik (dom) line-up won the most prestigious cockfighting title in the world after the late Cris Padilla with his Botchocoy entry shocked the aficionados with his high-breaking bulik fighters.

Honey Yu of Quezon with his Sweaters and Cito Alberto of Catanduanes with his Lemon crosses both cornered their second WSC titles in June 2008, while, three balikbayan entries shared the January 2009 crown. In the last WSC event in May 2009, Marcel Julao with a pinch of good luck ran away with the prestigious Cup.

The World Slasher Cup which was started in 1962 was practically dominated by the Americans until Paeng Araneta with his Lemon 84s became the first Pinoy to bagged the Cup.

Composing the U.S. team who are determined to stop the bleeding are Clarence Perkins of Kentucky, Hawaian entry Lahaina Boys led by Kali Casco; Jeff Hudspeth from Ronda, North Carolina; Bill McNutt, Joe Wolcott, Bruce Barnette, Wilbert LeBlanc & Richard Harris of Louisiana, Roger Roberts of Georgia, Brad Padgette of Oregon, Damon Yorkman of Kentucky, Brian Corkren of Alabama & Kiana Borovies of Hawaii, Mike Formosa of Hawaii,, Jorge "Goy" Goitia of California, Arthur Rhodes of Tenessee and Ray Alexander of Alabama.

For more details, please contact Boy San Pedro or Dong Lamoste at 911-2928 or 911-3101 loc. 8361 or 8351 or log on to www.aranetacoliseum.com and www.ticketnet.com.ph

2010 WORLD SLASHER CUP SET

2010 WORLD SLASHER CUP SET

The Araneta Center, Uniprom, Inc. and the Araneta Colieum announced yesterday the dates for what could be the biggest staging ever of the World Slasher Cup 8-Cock Invitational Derby.

Expecting to break the 207 entries that competed in last year’s event, Araneta thru its PR Manager Genny Marcial announced that the January 2101 edition of the “most prestigious cockfighting competition in the world” will again be a five-day event on January 18, 19, 20, 22 & 23.

The internationally-recognized and most respected competition of gamefowls in the planet - the World Slasher Cup is again set to rewrite cockfighting history with more than 100 entries already made their cockhouse reservations as of November 12.

The 2010 World Slasher Cup 2 is hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions with Thunderbird Ganador Max as co-presentor.

Started by Don Amado Araneta in 1962, two years after the historic sports landmark Araneta Coliseum opened, the World Slasher Cup has served as the burning torch for the Filipinos passion for sabong – a unique Filipino culture that was practiced even before Magellan came.

“To win a World Slasher Cup is the best accolade a cocker could achieve”, says defending champion Marcel Julao.

With the huge number of entries expected to see action, all those interested to join are advised to register early.

For more details, please contact Boy San Pedro or Dong Lamoste at 911-2928 or 911-3101 loc. 8361 or 8351 or log on to www.aranetacoliseum.com and www.ticketnet.com.ph

COCKFIGHTING

...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 Filippino society including top Filippino politicians.In a "Cockpit stadium" like the "Rolligon Cockpit" a common Filippino can mingle and bet alongside some of the wealthiest and most powerful people of the Country, the sport being a great leveller 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”.

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.

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" .

Now i realise 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 legalised sport of "Cockfighting" in the Philippines.

http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Article_Features_22/Filipinos_welcome_New_Year_s_Day_with_positive_attitude_hope_for_peace_and_prosperity_pri

Article Features
Filipinos welcome New Year's Day with positive attitude, hope for peace and prosperity
By
Dec 31, 2009 - 2:18:50 PM

MANILA, Dec. 31 (PNA Features) –- Millions of Filipinos celebrate New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, like one big happy family with positive attitude and hope for peace and prosperity amid the trying times.

On New Year's Eve, many Filipino families hold reunions to further strengthen the bond that they share with loved ones and friends as they part with 2009 and welcome the New Year.

Monsignor Romulo Rañada of the Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish (OLAP) Church in Barangay Tandang Sora, Novaliches, Quezon City, said most Filipino families are expected to troop to Churches on Friday, which happens to be the First Friday of 2010.

Rañada said the family members will hear mass and offer prayers as a way of thanking God for the blessings they received in the past year and hope to receive in the New Year.

In the evening of the last day of the outgoing year, people usually light fireworks, loud firecrackers are heard, booming sound system reverberate in some neighborhood, bamboo canons are fired to produce a lot of noises, with the belief that such noises would scare evil spirits away and prevent them from bringing bad luck during the coming New Year.

Coins are also jumbled in tin cans, also to make noise with the belief that this will bring more money to the revelers.

Children are encouraged to jump about as there is an old belief that this would ensure good height for the kids.

Some people wear clothing with polka dots, the round figures symbolizing fertility and abundance (as in round fruits and coins).

Cockfighting enthusiast Rolando Luzong said the 2010 Chinese New Year begins on February 14, 2010 and will end on February 2, 2011.

On the modern Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though other dates were also used in Rome).

In all countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, except for Israel, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New Year starts.

January 1 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 14 on the Gregorian calendar, and it is on that date that followers of some of the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the New Year. (PNA Features)

© Copyright 2004 by Positive News Media

SABUNGERO, THE CONTROVERSIAL COCK FIGHTING FILM

SABUNGERO, THE CONTROVERSIAL COCK FIGHTING FILM

26 December 2009

“Sabungero”: An independent dramatic film in Philippine cockfighting - with video clips

MANILA

“Raise your bets! Choose your roosters!” bet collectors call off as they begin raising bets in a cockpit arena in Pasig City.

Roosters clashing. Cockfighting aficionados shout their bets.

At a snap, roosters fitted with “tare” sharp blades on their legs fly up in the air and battle for supremacy to the thundering delight of the crowd.

A victorious cock emerges the winner while the loser bleeds on the ground waiting to be sewed or stewed.

It’s bedlam inside the cockpit arena.

“Cockfighting should not be abolished because many people earn a living from it. If it’s taken out of the Philippine culture, it’s like you have stripped the Filipino way of life,” said cockfight aficionado and journalist Rolando Luzong, lead convenor of Bantay Sabong (Cockfight Watch).

“It has been a part of heritage. In the same way, bullfighting has been popular in Spain and Mexico,” Luzong said in an interview with the Philippines News Agency.

Luzong claims that over the past 16 years, cockfighting grew by 10 percent due to the immense popularity in the Philippines.

The Animal Welfare Act of 1998 ensures the protection of pets and poultry such as dogs and horses but not the abolition of cockfighting.

It also states that poultry and stud farms should be registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Animal right activists try to fight the rights of animals. They were able to end dog and horse fights.

Ana Hashin of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said: “No, there shouldn’t be any cockfighting. Because it’s a cruel sport and it only teaches us that animals can be killed or made to suffer for our entertainment and that in itself is unethical,” Hashin said.

There’s an independent film about cockfighting, which tells about what really is cockfighting and the people behind it who work to make both ends meet.

Shown all over the country last November until late December, the film is intended for cockfight aficionados numbering to nearly 10 million.

The film is also about a business executive who is also a gambler hooked on cockfighting. His luck ran when got entangled into a web of financial problems and disagreements with a congressman who was trying to rival him in the sport.

“Sabungero: Dangal At Tibay (Cockfighter: Honor and Strength), is the title of the movie.

“Sabungero” (Filipino for Cockfighter), sheds light on the country’s cockfighting and gamefowl industry. It even inspired a group of gamefowl breeders to pursue a representation in the legislative branch of Philippine government.

Cockers or cockfighters pride themselves with honor, while the “kristo” (bet takers) call bets and they pay or get paid, even if the contract is just a hand sign.

“Sabungero” is about the Filipino’s enthusiasm in cockfighting. It is an independent film made by young Filipino filmmakers who want to showcase the lives of the cockfighters, handlers and gaffers who love to ruffle quite a few feathers.

The movie is all about cockfighting and gamefowls, a very popular traditional game in the Philippines , involving breeding, training and fighting of roosters.

Independent film directors Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Delgado, who co-directed the film, also shared their insights on the film.

Kaimo said “once sabong is mentioned, it’s automatically a negative connotation in people’s minds so we aim to change that because our eyes were opened when we went to research that for the movie and we try to portray that in the film.”

Kaimo and Delgado are new to the film industry. They are both from prestigious private universities in Manila .

“I can’t say anything to the animal lovers because I’m also an animal lover and as a director I did feel bad shooting chickens killing each other but everybody is entitled to their own opinion,” Delgado told PNA. (PNA)

Animal rights issue stalks cockfight industry

BALITA.PH

http://balita.ph/2009/12/28/animal-rights-issue-stalks-cockfight-industry/

Animal rights issue stalks cockfight industry

December 28, 2009 11:31 pm

MANILA, Dec. 28 – Animal rights issue is hounding the country’s cockfighting industry.

“Cockfighting is here to stay. It has been part of the Philippine culture no matter what it takes, just like Spain’s bullfighting,” said gamefowl breeder Rolando Luzong, a member of Cockpit Watch.

He said bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain and Portugal. And in some cities in southern France, several Latin American countries and in Artvin, Turkey one or more bulls are ritually killed in a bullring as a public spectacle.

Novelist Nid Anima of Novaliches, Quezon City said cockfighting should be treated as a national treasure, national identity.

“It’s one with culture,” he said, adding that roosters are wild in nature. "They always fight even if not provoked." Anima is a member of Alyansa Sabungero.

Female cockfight aficionado Princess Naldo said a cockpit has become a regular fixture in the Philippine countryside and suburban areas.

In some municipalities in the country, a cockpit is situated along with a school, the municipal hall and the church, she said.

According to Naldo, cockfight serves as equalizer between rich and poor. Be they politicians, businessmen, yuppies, laborers and peasants, they enjoy, bet, win, lose and are energized by the euphoria generated by an exciting cockfight

Aware of some foreigners who come to the country and say that "Philippine culture is not right" because of cockfighting, Naldo cited wrestling and mixed martial arts matches in the United States.

Calling these matches "a bloodsport," Naldo said wrestling and mixed martial arts are more violent than cockfighting.

Meanwhile, Alyansa Sabungero, a partylist organization has been formed purportedly to help the marginalized components of Philippine cockfighting and to uplift the gamefowl industry.

Anima said some political figures have made a mockery of their group when they sought accreditation in the Commission on Election (Comelec).

A Comelec commissioner even remarked that "sabungeros" are already well represented in Congress.

Anima bewailed that the public only see the moneyed people in cockfighting.

On the other hand, Cockpit Watch (Bantay Sabong) was organized in 2008 to guard the sport of cockfighting against campaigns being done by animal rights activist.

“Some of them rally everywhere. At first, we were just observing them," said Luzong.

These activists demonstrated in front of the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City in 2008 when the World Slasher Cup was held.

"That was when we finally understood they were out to stop cockfights,” Luzong said.

The anti-cockfight rallies prompted Luzong to organize Bantay Sabong to protect, defend, promote and preserve cockfighting.

While there is no doubt that Alyansa Sabungero is a political aggrupation, Bantay Sabong is a social movement, according to Luzong. But essentially, they fight for the same thing: to promote the continuity of cockfighting.

Luzong said he and Anima have been friends for a long time.

Asked about animal cruelty, Luzong said one cannot classify cockfighting as animal cruelty because it's the roosters' instinct to fight each other.

For his part, Anima said roosters do not have the instinct for blood relations. “Left to themselves, roosters fight because they love and enjoy fighting,” he said. (PNA Features)

vcs/JCA

Full Speed Ahead in 2010

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (January 2, 2010)

Full Speed Ahead in 2010

The bearings are set, all engines are on the maximum, so let’s go…full speed ahead in 2010.

Predictions are the most anticipated things at the start of each year, so I’ll try to give my share.

Roderick C. Meredith, leader of the Living Church of God; Harold Camping, president of Family Radio; Ric Steiner and several other self-proclaimed prophets of doom have predicted that the world will end in 2010. I say to hell with them, because my life has just taken a turn for the better and for me the world is just beginning to bloom.

I am no Jeanne Dixon who predicted the assassination of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy. I am also not Jojo Acuin – Philippine’s most credible when it comes to predictions, but, I am Rolando S. Luzong and I think I can predict that 2010 will break all records in the annals of Philippine cockfighting. Watch out for these developments :

1) The World Slasher Cup will have more than 250 entries for the first time eclipsing the 207 entries registered in January 2009.

2) The 2010 Candelaria Derby in Jaro, Iloilo which is the 43^rd staging of the annual event that is the biggest in the Vis-Min area will be posting another record in terms of entries, as well as foreign participation.

3) The National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders will have at least four new member associations.

4) Off-color roosters will make their presence felt in the 2010 World Slasher Cup.

5) A Philippine-based American breeder or American with a farm here will win a major derby.

6) Sonny Lagon will win his first World Slasher Cup.

A DAY WITH BOY DIAZ

If you’re a sabungero, you should know Boy Diaz. He’s that kung fu master-looking host of Tukaan – currently the number one sabong tele-magazine show shown every Sunday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. over IBC-13.

I had a very nice day with him last Wednesday and I was so embarrassed because the day before, as I was talking to him over the phone, he said he just came from Nueva Ecija and it was so hot there and he was not able to reply to my text because he was driving. My first reaction, bad boy me, was ‘Can you still drive?’ He said “Of course”

Yesterday, as we began negotiating the foot trail going into Kuya Boy’s farm from where we parked our vehicle, I began to feel ashamed as I slowly realized that Kuya Boy who looks not that healthy on tv and who is fighting Parkinson’s Disease can manage to go back and forth to his farm twice a week, while me, in my first visit, was already gasping hard and had to stopped several times to catch my breath.

One thing I have proven after talking to Boy Diaz for several hours is that, a viewer must not believe everything he sees on television, particularly with Boy Diaz. What you see is not what you get.

Boy D. as he is fondly called is as strong as a bull and his only problem is movement control, but like Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, he is fighting back and beating the odds.

Kuya Boy, thank you for a fruitful and revealing chit-chat refreshed with fresh buko juice. And thank you for the McLean broodcock and the Lacy Roundhead hen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to Pareng Sonny Lagon and Dong Lacson for the New Year eve calls; to Isko Martinez, Albert Uy, Edwin Mapanao & Mr. Ricardo Alba for the opportunities; to Ken Cantero for everything; to my just-married friend James Pope of Mexia, Texas, who I talked with over the phone last Christmas; to Mayor Nene Aguilar who welcome us (Fred Canumay, Willy Villaruz, Francis Ong and me) in his home with the same enthusiasm last Thursday; to Jun Martinez of Plilia Cockpit for the partnership; to Bernie Tacoy of Ormoc for his nice accommodation for me and Francis when we were in Leyte; to my good friend Princess for always being there to lend a hand or a shoulder to lean on; to Dr. Rex Iwuanyanwu for being a friend in the real sense of the word; to my family and to all the friends, as well as all the not-so-friendly who stirred me to proved that I can do better.