NID ANIMA OF ALYANSA SABUNGERO INTERVIEWED OVER PROGRAM "HATAW" AT DZRH - THE BIGGEST AND WIDEST RADIO NETWORK IN THE PHILIPPINES.

MANILA TIMES (SUNDAY) EDITORIAL - AUG. 23

Sunday, August 23, 2009

EDITORIAL

Sabong goes to Congress

We wonder why it has taken this long for the Alyansa ng Sabungero to seek party-list status and congressional representation. The cockpit workers belong to one of the oldest occupations in the country but conditions of life and work have hardly improved.

Critics are wrong to say that the major heirs of sectoral representation are the wealthy cockers and cockpit owners. For every gambler, there are scores of kristo, sentenciador, casador, mananari, largador, matchmakers, takilyador and backyard breeders who depend for a living on betting money and on the tahor they work for winning and making a bundle.

Cockfight toilers claim a national constituency because a cockpit inhabits almost every city and major municipality. It is not known what cause—apart from improving their lot—the sabong workers will espouse in Congress. They might ask for a bigger share of the winnings and the losing cocks.

We heard the party would have for its motto, “Karangalan at Kaunlaran,” because cockfighting has a strong code of honor. Every player honors his bet; nobody cheats. The Alyansa said it hopes to infect the congressmen with its tradition of honesty.

A strong caucus is expected to lobby for the group—sportsmen like Chavit Singson, Peping Cojuangco, Ronnie Puno, Manny Pacquiao and Jun Santiago, among others. Many congressmen breed gamecocks and gamble a lot. National Artist Anding Roces, who has chronicled life in the cockpit, could be expected to write the group’s manifesto.

The entry of alyansa is one of the good news in the party-list scene. We heard the community of artists—writers, painters, composers and others—has applied for membership. They claim Malacañang has marginalized them. They claim under-representation in the boards of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as well as the Appeals Committee in the Palace.

The Comelec commissioners, some senators, opinion writers and other kibitzers find the Alyansa move amusing and the fact that more than 250 groups have applied for accreditation. They should re-read the Party-List Act which says that the state shall promote representation for marginalized and underrepresented Pinoys who could contribute to the drafting and passage of laws that will benefit the nation.

What is good for the cockpit workers could be good for the country. And that goes for the other threatened sectors—like the jueteng collectors, mistresses, smokers, gays, prisoners, call-center workers and housemaids—who are integral to society and who deserve a voice in the important task of lawmaking.

WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD...

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong
Peoples Tonight (August 21, 2009)

WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD…

“Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread”, as a popular old song
goes. The line may well describe Alyansa Sabungero leader Nid Anima
and what he has done, at least through the eyes of some political and
church leaders.

Let’s examine some of them and what they have to say :

“Hindi naman sila marginalized dahil sila may hawak ng pera [They
are not marginalized because they hold money],” - Comelec Chairman Joe
Melo.

“I don’t think they are marginalized” - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (laughs)

“Kasi kung bababuyin na rin nila (sabungero) ang party-list,
tuluyan na nating bastusin. Ang pinag-uusapan sa party-list ‘di lang
margina¬lized kundi sectoral representation” – Sen. Ping Lacson.

“Kapag sila ay naaprubahan, ako naman ang magtatayo ng alyansa ng
mga manok-panabong” – Archbishop Cruz (laughs)

“Agrabyado din naman ang mga sabungero. Karapatan nila itong
mag-apply, nasa Comelec naman kung tatanggapin nila ito. Marahil meron
din silang gustong mga ireklamo, isyu na gusto nilang isulong, itong
kanilang pagkaka-agrabyado sa Max's, sa KFC at sa Jollibee” – Sen. Mar
Roxas

If these politicians are trying to advance their political
interests, they should be wise enough not to ridicule or antagonized
the sabungeros. Well, at least, one of them is more broad-minded or
probably wiser.

“Dapat irespeto ang karapatan ng bawat organisasyong
nagpapakila¬lang party-list group at nasa kamay ng Comelec kung sino
ang karapat-dapat kilalanin at dapat lamang ibatay sa kuwalipikasyong
itinatakda ng komisyon ang pag-apruba sa mga application.” – Sen. Chiz
Escudero. Of course, it can not be denied that Escudero belongs to the
Nationalist Peoples Coalition with certified sabungero Danding
Cojuangco as their leader.

In the last national registration done by the Gamefowl Division of
the Games & Amusement Board in 1993, around 2,000 cockpits registered.
However, with the immense popularity and acceptance gained by sabong
over the past 16 years, it can easily be assumed a growth of at least
10 percent in the number of cockpits nationwide.

Each cockpit employs or is a source of income for an average of
30 cockpit staff; 3 sentenciadors; 50 vendors (inside & outside the
cockpit); 50 kristos (bet takers); 20 gaffers (mananari) and 3 cock
doctors (manggagamot) for a total of 156 income earners per cockpit or
a total of 343,000 breadwinners nationwide.

In addition, there is an average ratio of four poultry supply stores
per cockpit catering to sabong as their major business. Each one
employs at least 4 employees. 2,200 x 4 x 4 = 35,200 more
breadwinners.

There are more than 20 big companies engaged in the production,
marketing and distribution of gamefowl feeds, feed supplement,
vitamins, medication, vaccines, etc. employing an average of 200
employees each from the plant to the wholesalers. 20 x 100 = 4,000
more breadwinners.

There are a lot of small allied businesses producing gaffs, boxes,
incubators, gloves, carrying cases, folding pens, feeding cups, cords
etc. that can add up to 1,000 nationwide that employs at least 3
persons each. 3 x 1,000 = 3,000 more breadwinners.

There are about 4,000 breeders belonging to the 29-member
organizations under the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders and
the United Gamecock Breeders Federation which has 12-member
associations. These large and medium scale farms employ an average of
5 farmhands each. 4,000 x 5 = 20,000 more breadwinners.

There is easily an average of 20 cockers or breeders with small
backyard farms for every cockpit with 10-20 heads of roosters each on
a per cockpit ratio with the owner as employee. 20 x 2,200 = 44,000
more breadwinners.

All of these total to a sector of almost half a million breadwinners.
And how about the sabungeros themselves who can add up to another 2
million voters.

Election is getting nearer. If some politicians think ridiculing the
sabungeros will make them win, they better think again, especially
presidential hopeful Sen. Mar Roxas who is a nephew of highly
respected sabungero Jorge “Nene” Araneta – the host of the World
Slasher Cup.

It doesn’t matter if some politicians think Nid Anima is a fool,
because to many sabungero he is their Don Quixote…marching into hell
for a heavenly cause.

Sabungero party list, why not?

August 19, 2009 05:56 PM Wednesday Article read 62 time(s)

Sabungero party list, why not?

By: Rolando S. Luzong

COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo is questioning the application for accreditation by Alyansa ng Sabungero. “A group of cockfighters. Why are they marginalized when they hold the money?" Melo said as he vowed to screen thoroughly the party-list groups seeking Comelec accreditation. The statement of the Comelec Chairman only tells of how little the people know about sabong and the many benefits derived from it. Mr. Chairman, for a start, it must be made clear that gamblers are different from cockers. Ang mga sugarol ay malaki ang pagkakaiba sa isang sabungero. The gamblers look at cockfighting as only one form of a game o chance. A gambler may proceed to the casinos after a derby and still continue gambling. A true cocker and a lover of cockfighting is one who breeds gamefowls to fight or sell, or one who buys rooster, takes care of them, trains and conditions them and fight them, for honor and excellence that give him joy and satisfaction than any financial or material gain. One good example of such a cocker is the late Speaker Monching Mitra who would fight 20 roosters in hackfights and bet just P5,500 for each chicken. Filipino cockers have learned their lesson from the plight of their American counterparts who are now treated like criminals in their country for just being a gamefowl breeder or a cockfighter. Yes, it’s true that we have in our midst local leaders and lawmakers who are into cockfighting, but directly promoting or protecting cockfighting is something that they will not do, especially in a time when elections are past approaching. Again, of all the cocker-politicians who have achieved national prominence, it was only Speaker Mitra who n ever for one moment veered away from cockfighting to protect or advance his political carreer. He lost the presidential election using such slogans as “Manok ng Masa” and up to the end died emulating a rooster’s courage… fighting and proud until his last breath. I believe what the Filipino cocker needs is a law, or an act of Congress, declaring sabong as a national heritage or a culture that shall not ever be stopped or abolished by any law or declaration in the future. The anti-cockfighting forces that spearheaded and later succeeded in having cockfighting rendered illegal throughout the United States are already here in the Philippines, campaigning against cockfighting. And unless, a solid law that will protect cockfighting is passed, these people will not cease in their effort to convince our youth that cockfighting is bad. Let me congratulate Alyansa Sabungero for coming to the fore and lighting a torch for the Filipino cockers to follow. Heading the group is Nid Anima, a multi-awarded writer, publisher editor of cockfighting magazines and author of several sabong-related books. His love for cockfighting should be unquestionable. The cockfighting and gamefowl industry provide an honorable source of income to more than a million breadwinners in the country, but the sabong sector does not enjoy any assistance from the government. I hope that with the Alyansa Sabungero party list, finally, cockfighting as a sport and industry and the cocker as an individual will be more understood.

SABUNGERO PARTY LIST, WHY NOT?

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (August 19, 2009)

SABUNGERO PARTY LIST, WHY NOT?

It’s all over the news, in the papers , over the radio and in television. People are talking about one particular topic, that for a day yesterday and until today have practically kicked the “expensive dinner talks” in a manner that the opposition may think that it was Malacañang’s doing – the filing of party list accreditation at the Comelec office by the group Alyansa Sabungero.

Some of the news excerpts, said :

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo questioned the application for accreditation by Alyansa ng Sabungero.

“A group of cockfighters. Why are they marginalized when they hold the money?" Melo said as he vowed to screen thoroughly the list of party-list groups seeking Comelec accreditation.

The statement of the Comelec Chairman only tells of how little the people know about sabong and the many benefits derived from it.

Mr. Chairman, for a start, it must be made clear that gamblers are different from cockers. Ang mga sugarol ay malaki ang pagkakaiba sa isang sabungero. The gamblers look at cockfighting as only one form of a game o chance. A gambler may proceed to the casinos after a derby and still continue gambling.

A true cocker and a lover of cockfighting is one who breeds gamefowls to fight or sell, or one who buys rooster, takes care of them, trains and conditions them and fight them, for honor and excellence that give him joy and satisfaction than any financial or material gain.

One good example of such a cocker is the late Speaker Monching Mitra who would fight 20 roosters in hackfights and bet just P5,500 for each chicken.

Filipino cockers have learned their lesson from the plight of their American counterparts who are now treated like criminals in their country for just being a gamefowl breeder or a cockfighter.

Yes, it’s true that we have in our midst local leaders and lawmakers who are into cockfighting, but directly promoting or protecting cockfighting is something that they will not do, especially in a time when elections are past approaching.

Again, of all the cocker-politicians who have achieved national prominence, it was only Speaker Mitra who never for one moment veered away from cockfighting to protect or advance his political carreer. He lost the presidential election using such slogans as “Manok ng Masa” and up to the end died emulating a rooster’s courage… fighting and proud until his last breath.

I believe what the Filipino cocker needs is a law, or an act of Congress, declaring sabong as a national heritage or a culture that shall not ever be stopped or abolished by any law or declaration in the future.

The anti-cockfighting forces that spearheaded and later succeeded in having cockfighting rendered illegal throughout the United States are already here in the Philippines, campaigning against cockfighting. And unless, a solid law that will protect cockfighting is passed, these people will not cease in their effort to convince our youth that cockfighting is bad.

Let me congratulate Alyansa Sabungero for coming to the fore and lighting a torch for the Filipino cockers to follow. Heading the group is Nid Anima, a multi-awarded writer, publisher editor of cockfighting magazines and author of several sabong-related books. His love for cockfighting should be unquestionable.

The cockfighting and gamefowl industry provide an honorable source of income to more than a million breadwinners in the country, but the sabong sector does not enjoy any assistance from the government. I hope that with the Alyansa Sabungero party list, finally, cockfighting as a sport and industry and the cocker as an individual will be more understood.

Sabungeros eye party-list seats

Sabungeros eye party-list seats
By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) Updated August 18, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A group of cockfighting aficionados is among the more than 200 organizations seeking accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to run in the 2010 party-list polls.

In a four-page petition, the Alyansa ng Sabungero claimed that their sector – composed of kristo, asentista, kasador, sentenciador, mananari, largador, matchmaker, takilyador and backyard breeder – is marginalized and, therefore, needs to be represented in Congress.

“(We) lead a hand-to-mouth existence... earning only if the tahor (we) work for wins and earns,” the petition noted.

The group listed a certain Nid Anima as its president and has office at Huelva street, Camella Townhouse in Sucat, Parañaque.

Cockfighting is one of the favorite pastimes of Filipinos. Some of the popular politicians in the country are known and avid sabungeros, like former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Tarlac congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco who is now Philippine Olympic Committee president, Rizal ex-governor Casimiro Ynares, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and presidential adviser on revenue enhancement Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr., husband of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Even boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is an avid sabungero. Pacquiao has announced plans to run for congressman in Sarangani province in 2010.

Yesterday was the deadline for the filing of accreditation for party-list groups.

As of 5 p.m., a total of 264 organizations have filed for accreditation, including Ang Ladlad which represents gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals.

According to Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the poll body intends to screen all groups for their track records, constituency, previous projects, source funding and if they are truly marginalized.

Sarmiento added they would reject a party-list group if it is found to be funded by either the government or religious groups.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said they hope to trim down to at least 50 the number of party-list groups that would participate in next year’s elections for the sake of voters and to streamline the ballots.

Asked why he thinks many groups wanted to run in the party-list elections, the poll chief claimed it is either because of the pork barrel given to congressional representatives and the “typical Filipino mentality” to form his own group when rejected by a group.

“We have to be strict. Otherwise, there would be a lot of names that need to be printed in the ballots,” Melo added.

The other party-list groups that filed for accreditation are All Rainbow Party, United Filipino Seafarers, Aabot, Alab ng Lahi, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Citizen Call for Action, Better Philippines, One Nation Empowered with Technology, Liwanag sa Bilangguan, OFWs, Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan, Grand Bohol and Balikatan.

Are there that many marginalized people out there? Even cockpit workers want a say

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug18/news7.htm

Are there that many marginalized people out there?
Even cockpit workers want a say

---

SWAMPED with a total of 264 groups that had applied as of yesterday for party-list accreditation in the 2010 polls, Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo yesterday said he believed the system has been abused.

Melo said it is ridiculous that the number of new party-list applicants in the Comelec roster had ballooned to 264 as of 4 p.m. yesterday, the last day of filing for accreditation.

"It seems that each and every small group is filing. It is already impractical," Melo said.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they will be screening tightly which organization would be accredited, but added the Comelec would welcome oppositors to the applicants.

He said that among the possible reasons for the denial of accreditation include the lack of track record and/or constituencies or if the applicants were found to be funded by religious organizations, government agencies and foreign groups.

Melo had earlier expressed his desire to limit the number of party list groups to about 50 to 70 as this would be reasonable and manageable by Comelec.

Melo cited as one difficult problem the Comelec would face would be the length of the pre-printed ballots to be used by the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) voting machines.

"What would happen now? Would we print it in microscopic fonts (so that it will fit into the ballots? " Melo said.

A group of cockpit workers was among the last-day filers. Listing up as Alyansang Sabungero, the group said they represent workers in the cockfight industry composed of kristos, asehistas, mananaris, match-makers and takilyadors.

"We lead a hand-to-mouth existence earning only if the tahor they are working for wins and earns. If they don’t win, there would be no source of income," said the Parañaque-based group. – Gerard Naval

Cockfighters file accreditation with Comelec

Cockfighters file accreditation with Comelec

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/cock-fighters-file-accreditation-comelec

FEELING marginalized and underrepresented, a group of cockfighting aficionados is now seeking representation in Congress through the party-list system.

Alyansa ng Sabungero is among the more than 200 party-list organizations that filed accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the coming May 10, 2010 polls.

In a four-page petition, the Alyansa ng Sabungero said their purpose in seeking representation in Congress is basically to help the workers in the cockfighting ring who earns and lives on a “hand to mouth existence.”

Alyansa ng Sabungero is represented by its president Nid Anima and holding office at Camella Townhouse in Sucat Paranaque.

According to the clerk of the Comelec receiving the application, Alyansa ng Sabungero bragged that among their members is boxing icon Manny Pacquaio.

“We are not supposed to accept their accreditation because they lack documents but they are forcing it,” the clerk of the Comelec said.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said he would definitely purge the lists of the party-list groups that would be accredited in the polls next year upon learning that cockfighting aficionados filed for accreditation.

“A group of cock fighters why are they marginalized when they hold the money?” Melo said.

Similarly, Melo vowed to screen thoroughly the applications for party lists adding that he would definitely want only marginalized and underrepresented to be accredited.

“Seventy party-lists to be accredited would be manageable but 50 would be right,” Melo said.

Asked what could be the reason why many groups wanted to join the party-list elections next year, Melo said it’s either because of the “pork barrel” and second is the “typical Filipino mentality” of instead supporting a group he or she would rather form his or her own group.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said with the numbers of party-list groups now nearing reaching over 200, they would really have to double time in resolving all the petitions for accreditation to beat the November 20 to 30 filing of certificate of candidacy.

“If there will be no opposition that would be the problem and we will have difficulty in resolving the petition…but by end of October hopefully we will finish this,” he said.

Aside from Alyansa ng Sabungero, other party-lists groups that filed accreditation with the Comelec are United Filipino Seafarers, Aabot, All Rainbow Party, Alab ng Lahi, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Citizen Call for Action, One Nation Empowered with Technology, Liwanag sa Bilangguan, OFWs, Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan, Grand Bohol, Balikatan, and the group transgenders Ang Ladlad.

As of 5 p.m. the total number of party-list applicants reached 264 with more still in line and waiting to file their accreditation. (MSN/Sunnex)

Mga sabungero, taga-showbiz at media, nagpatala din bilang partylist sa Comelec

Mga sabungero, taga-showbiz at media, nagpatala din bilang partylist sa Comelec http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=103477

8/17/2009 5:25:34 PM

Hanggang sa huling mga minuto bago nagtapos ang filing ng petisyon ngayong hapon para mga political parties at mga organisasyon para makalahok sa ilalim ng party-list system of representation sa 2010 elections, marami pa rin ang humabol para magpatala sa tanggapan ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Intramuros, Manila. Sa panayam ng Bombo Radyo kay Rossie Palacio ng Office of the Clerk of the Commission, sinabi nitong inasahan na nila ang "last minute attitude" ng mga registrants. Kabilang naman sa naghain na kanilang petisyon ay ang sektor ng mga mamamahayag at taga-showbiz, sa ilalaim ng grupong AMAS o Alyansa ng mga Media At Showbiz. Hindi rin nagpahuli ang mga sabungero at mga nagtatrabaho sa sabungan, sa ilalim ng grupong Alyansa Sabungero. Kakaibang gimik din ang ginawa ng grupong Katribo, na kumakatawan sa mga indegenous peoples, na nagsuot pa ng mga katutubong kasuutan ang kanilang mga miyembro nang magtungo sa Comelec. "Inaasahan na namin na dadagsa sila at the last minute ng filing. Kasi ganoon naman talaga kalimitan nangyayari. Pero mahigpit po ang Comelec sa deadline. Wala pong extension ito," ayon kay Palacio. Bago nagsara ang filing kaninang alas-singko ng hapon, nasa 242 party-list groups at political parties ang nakapaghain ng kanilang petisyon. Batay sa Comelec Resolution No. 3307-A, kabilang sa mga requirements para sa party-list registration ay ang kanilang constitution and by-laws, party platform and program, at listahan ng kanilang mga opisyal at mga miyembro. "Dadaan pa ito sa proseso. Aalamin pa ng Comelec kung totoo nga na nationwide ang kanilang nirere-present na sektor at kung marginalized ba talaga, " dagdag ng opisyal. Sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 7941, ang batas na nagtatakda ng party-list system sa bansa, magiging kinatawan ang nasabing mga grupo sa Kongreso para sa mga “marginalized sectors." Nitong Abril lamang, dinagdagan ng Supreme Court ang bilang ng party-list representatives sa Kamara, mula sa dating 23 ay ginawa itong 55.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/170042/Cockfighting-aficionados-eye-congressional-seat

Cockfighting aficionados eye congressional seat

08/17/2009 | 08:55 PM

| | More

A group of cockfighting aficionados is seeking a representation at the House of Representatives through the party-list system, which provides representation to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors of the society.

Alyansa ng Sabungero on Monday joined more than 200 party-list organizations in filing for accreditation before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for next year’s national elections.

In its four-page petition, the group claimed that their purpose in seeking representation in Congress is to help poor workers in the cockfighting business.

Alyansa ng Sabungero is represented by its president, Nid Anima, and holding office at Camella Townhouse in Sucat, Parañaque.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo questioned the application for accreditation by Alyansa ng Sabungero.

“A group of cockfighters. Why are they marginalized when they hold the money?" Melo said as he vowed to screen thoroughly the list of party-list groups seeking Comelec accreditation.

Melo cited “pork barrel" – or the multimillion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) given to congressmen every year – as the reason why many groups wanted to join the party-list elections.

He also added that it is typical for Filipinos to form their own group rather than support an organization.

Aside from Alyansa ng Sabungero, among the other party-lists groups that filed accreditation were United Filipino Seafarers, Aabot, All Rainbow Party, Alab ng Lahi, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Citizen Call for Action, One Nation Empowered with Technology, Liwanag sa Bilangguan, OFWs, Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan, Grand Bohol, Balikatan and Ang Ladlad. - GMANews.TV

COCKERS CARE - Peoples Tonight

Welcome to my new column in Peoples Tonight which will be coming out twice a week every Wednesday & Saturday

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong
Saturday - August 15, 2009

COCKERS CARE

First, allow me to salute our Editor-in-Chief Gus Villanueva for reviving this column; my long-time friend Managing Editor Ninoy Sofranes for his assistance and of course Sports Editor Ed Andaya for giving cockfighting the space.

Hot topic today within the cockfighting community is the announcement of the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders that they will be building classrooms from the proceeds of the forthcoming 2009 Bakbakan 10-Stag National Derby. Cockers are proud of it and non-cockers were surprised by it.

Although the NFGB decision serves as a good example of the sabungero’s social involvement, I want you to know that the cockers’ generosity and charity have been practiced by individual cockers, associations or cockpits, in so many ways.

The internet-based Cyberfriends, since its founding almost ten years ago, have brought smiles, hope and good memories to the orphans, abandoned and special children and elderly people under the care of Hospicio de San Jose. The Cavite Cybercockers Club or C4 have been supporting an orphanage ran by nuns in the province. And the Del Monte Cockpit Arena with the help of their regular derby promoters has helped hundreds of students finish high school or college.

After the Pinatubo eruption which rendered countless of families homeless and with no means of livelihood, the Philippine Cockpit Association hosted a special 2-day 4-cock derby. It was at the Casa Marcos Restaurant in San Juan were the turnover of the check to then Olongapo Mayor Richard Gordon took place. The old San Juan Coliseum, operated by Atong Ang at the time, also staged a derby for the Pinatubo victims. Four truckloads of relief goods were delivered to Porac, Pampanga and other areas accompanied by a busload of kristo or bet-takers and cockpit vendors who assisted in the distribution.

The Filipino cockers have done so many good things other than just breeding and fighting roosters. It’s just unfortunate that rather than these highly commendable actions, it’s the five million peso bet of a government official or the three million pago of a boxing champ that gets printed or broadcasted.

This early, we congratulate the NFGB and we encouraged all those who will be fighting in the 2009 Bakbakan to put in a second, third or more entries. The more entries will mean more income for Bakbakan 2009 and of course more classrooms for our children.


BACOOR’S GAMEFOWL OFFICE

I was at Bacoor Municipal Hall in Cavite last Thursday and while waiting for the Public Information Officer to meet us, I noticed a sign that says GAMEFOWL OFFICE. Curios, I went to see what it meant and my guess was right, it was the office that oversees cockfighting operations in the municipality.

The clerk Ms. Lags Tortona let me in and the first thing I noticed were the Thunderbird Warbreed posters pasted on the wall which obviously were placed there to give the office a ‘sabong ambience’. Lags was apologetic that her boss Ms. Lazaro was out attending to official business, but she proudly informed me that their humble office have collected and have remitted to the municipal coffers around P700,000 in just four months from the two cockpits operating in Bacoor, namely Cavite Colseum and Talaba Cockpit.

“Naku Sir, ang laking tulong ng sabong. Kung alam lang ng mga tao, magpapasalamat sila sa mga sabunngero”, Lags told me.

In the book Cockfights : A Case Sudy, Scott Guggenheim, wrote about the income derived from cockfighting by the Spanish government during their reign of the country : “At a time when the net profit from the tobacco monopoly, the single most profitable enterprise in the entire Colony, set a record of 620,000 pesos, the annual profit from the Manila cockpit alone was between P20,000-P30,000…”

If sabong was bringing that much to the government during that time, how much more today when cockfighting is at its utmost popularity and acceptance.

Let’s just hope that other municipalities, cities and provinces will be as open as Bacoor and its good chief executive Mayor Strike Revilla in reporting how much cockfighting has helped the community.

CONGRATULATIONS to Rey Magbuhos (Buhangin entry) of Quezon for winning the championship of the P15.5 Rambulan 9-Cock Nationwide Deby. Rey a graduate of the TJT Cocking Academy and a certified Thundebird loyalist.

NFGB WELCOMES THUNDERBIRD AS BAKBAKAN 2009 CO-PRESENTOR

Gamefowl industry leader Thunderbird, upon the invitation of the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders, have agreed to be the co-presentor for the 2009 Bakbakan 10-Stag National Derby – the biggest and most ambitious cockfighting event ever in the country with a guaranteed cash prize of P30 million, the richest in the history of Philippine cockfighting.

In a meeting held last Monday with Thunderbird’s Product Manager Francis Martinez, Brand Managers Albert Uy & Dr. Erwin Sera and Regional Promotions Coordinator Dr. Beng Dalisay & Jun Regala and Consultant Rolando Luzong, NFGB representatives Joey Sy (Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Association President & Bakbakan 2009 Marketing Committee Chariman) and Nitoy Nasser (Mindanao Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n President & Bakbakan 2009 Sponsorship Committee Chairman) welcome the “more than expected” support of Thunderbird.

The prestigious event which will kick-off on October 10 and close with the grand finals on December 3 is the 9^th edition of the Bakbakan series which started in 2001.

NFGB which has grown to be the umbrella of 29 member-associations of gamefowl breeders across the archipelago and Thunderbird have partnered through the years to pursue the objectives of the Bakbakan which has become a phenomenon that contributed to the monumental growth of Philippine cockfighting and the rooster-raising industry.

“It is an honor for Thunderbird to be always a part of Bakbakan” Francis Martinez stated.

NFGB WINELCOME ANG THUNDERBIRD BILANG BAKBAKAN 2009 CO-PRESENTOR

Ang gamefowl industry leader na Thunderbird, sa pag-anyaya ng National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders, ay nagpahayag ng pagsang-ayon upang muli ay maging co-presentor ng 2009 Bakbakan 10-Stag National Derby – ang pinakamalaki at pinak-ambisyosong pasabong kailanman sa bansa na may garantisadong gantimpala na P30 milyon, pinakamayaman sa kasaysayan ng Philippine cockfighting.

Sa isang pulong na ginanap noong nakaraang Lunes kasama sina Thunderbird Product Manager Francis Martinez, Brand Managers Albert Uy & Dr. Erwin Sera; Regional Promotions Coordinators Dr. Beng Dalisay & Jun Regala at Consultant Rolando Luzong, ang mga NFGB representatives na sina Joey Sy (Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Association President & Bakbakan 2009 Marketing Committee Chariman) at Nitoy Nasser (Mindanao Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n President & Bakbakan 2009 Sponsorship Committee Chairman) ay nagpahayag ng kasiyahan sa “higit pa sa inaasahan” na suporta ng Thunderbird.

Ang prestihiyosong labanan ay sisipa sa Oktubre 10 at magtatapos sa pamamgitan ng grand finals sa Disyembre 3 ang pang-9 na edisyon ng Bakbakan series na nag-umpisa noong 2001.

Ang NFGB, na lumaki upang sa kasalukuyan ang binubuo na ng 29 member-associations na mga breeder na manok-panabong sa bansa, at ang Thunderbird ay patuloy na nagtambalam upang maabot ang mga layunin ng Bakbakan na naging isang malaking tulong sa paglaki at paglago ng larong sabong at ng rooster-raising industry.

“Karangalan ng Thunderbird na maging laging bahagi na bawat Bakbakan” pahayag ni Francis Martinez.

P30M Bakbakan 2009 10-Stag National Derby 52 Elims; 18 Semis & 11 Finals

“A bird-war of epic proportion”, Joey Sy said with a smile as he describes the magnitude of this year’s edition of the biggest annual stag (young cock) competition, not only in the Philippines, but in the world. Sy is Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Associations’ President and also the Martketing Committee Chairman for the 2009 Bakbakan.

With a historic guaranteed cash prize of P30 million, the 2009 Bakbakan starts on October 10 as the La Union Gamefowl Breeders Association (LUGBA) officially raises the curtain with its own 3-stag eliminations at the San Juan Gymnasium, La Union. A total of 51 preliminaries will be held across the country composed of exclusive events for each of the 29 member-associations under the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders. There are also joint undertakings, as well as national eliminations.

The 18 separate 3-stag semis will begin on November 7, 2009 with three simultaneous battles to be held in the R. Guanzon Sports Center in Bacolod City for the members of the Negros Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n (NGBA) and the Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n of Negros (GFBAN); in the Iloilo Coliseum for the Panay Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n (PAGBA) and in Batac Cockpit, Batac, Ilocos Norte for the United Ilocandia Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n (UNIGBA).

The 11-stage 4-stag finals commence on November 14, while the Grand Finals is set at the Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 3, wherein all entries with individual scores of 5.5 or 6 points will lock horns for title, the P15 million champion’s prize and the prestigious Bakbakan trophy.

For more details and schedule in your area, interested parties may visit http://bakbakan2009.blogspot.com or send email to bakbakan2009@gmail.com

Bakbakan 2009 Derby Stakes P30M Prize Purse

The 2009 Annual Bakbakan National 10-Stag Derby is back into its record-breaking way again as its host - the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders (NFGB) dangles a historic guaranteed cash prize of P30,000,000 – the biggest prize purse ever in Philippine cockfighting.

The champion’s prize is a whopping P15 million. All entries who will be able to score a 3 wins (3 points) in the elimination round will share in the “first-salvo blowout” of four million peso (P4,000,000) while those entries who have already scored the perfect 3 wins in the elims and continue to score another perfect 3 wins in the semi-final round, for an over-all score of 6 wins before entering the finals,will share in the “finalists prize” of two million-pesos(P2,000,000). Last year, only 15 entries were undefeated and have posted six points each going into the finals.

For “any 7 points” – P4 million; for “any 8 points” – P2.5 million; for “any 9 points” – P1.5 million; for the overall runner-up finisher, prize is P500,000, while the champion’s handler and champion’s gaffer prizes are P400,000 and P100,000, respectively. Entry fee is P15,000.

“Bakbakan is the Filipino breeders' derby and through the years we have made sure and have put in place a proven system that ensure fairness and equal winning chance for every participant”, stated Batac, Ilocos Norte Mayor Jess Nalupta who is NFGB’s Vice President for North Luzon.

“Wingband numbers and legitimacy of stags fielded are duly authenticated by double checking with our records and not just by the basis of the breeder’s screening receipt”, Freddie Yulo - one of NFGB’s founding director, proudly announced. "all derbies are computer-matched and supervised by our well trained working committees" he adds!