REST YOUR COCKS, IT’S HOLY WEEK

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (March 31, 2010)

REST YOUR COCKS, IT’S HOLY WEEK

Last March 29, Holy Monday, a P1.1M-entry-fee derby was held. Today, tomorrow and even on Good Friday, invitations to participate in derbies and conciertos are being distributed like campaign paraphernalia in and ouside the cockpit.

Question : Do we really have a shortage of days in a year to fight our roosters that even during the holiest of times, we have to stage a derby or see our cocks fight?

HAPPY TO BE RECOGNIZED

During our wingbanding sorties around Leyte and Samar wherein we intentionally seek backyard breeders, most of whom have never experienced or seen how a wingbanding or screening process is done.

For a backyard breeder, especially those who just produce 20 – 30 stags a year, wingbands on their birds is like having their roosters legitimized and upgraded. As one satisfied small-scale rooster raiser would put it, “Hindi na pirated ang manok ko”.

It was what the BGT CUP has done as of the moment…give cognizance of the small sabungero and make him know that he is part of the big circle in the community of gamefowl breeders and cockfighters in the Philippines.

BGT CUP means Backyard-breeders Gamefowl Testing  Competitiveness Upgrade Program and is aimed to inspire, teach and provide mass-based breeders a credible and worthy competition wherein they could test and showcase their stags.

With about 300 small and medium scale farms visited and more than 4,500 cockerels banded, BGT CUP is well on its way to achieving its goal of training new cockers about the more exciting world of derby fighting.

For more information about the BGT CUP, text or call 0917-3504333 or 0928-5500951 or 0909-3515219.

THUNDERBIRD WAS THERE FIRST

Nowadays, the gamefowl breeding industry is said to be a 20 billion peso industry although others say its 50B. And because of this attractive figures, many companies, local and multi-nationals, have gone out of their way to enter the gamefowl feeds and vetmed market.

The Philippine cockfighting tree has bear fruits…lots of fruits, so it is not surprising why so many entities has showed up to try to get a share of the harvest.

Yes, it’s already harvest time, but, who was there during the doubtful years when the seeds of progress for Philippine cockfighting and the industry of gamefowl breeding were just being sowed.

Proudly, it was Thunderbird who saw the glimmer of light at the end of the proverbial tunnel and believed on the bright future of the Sport and industry that is truly Filipino.

I remember because I was there with Thunderbird when they first ventured into uncharted waters. A gamefowl feed being promoted and advertised was something new that we found ourselves having hard times just to be able to enter a cockpit.

Thunderbird was the first gamefow feed to advertise on television. Thunderbird was the first to conduct gamefowl breeding seminars.

Thunderbird was the first to come out with a special calendar that featured the top sabungeros at that time that included the late Monching Mitra (whose son Monmon is now running for a Senate seat); Cito Alberto, Boy Primalion and American Richard Bates who passed away last year.

Thunderbird actually glamorized the Sport that helped a lot in luring more people to join the fray.

As the gamefowl industry grew by leaps and bounds into a multi-billion peso sector and as Philippine cockfighting moved to a dizzying pace, Thunderbird developed into an institution that has gained its own identity and distinction that no other company or group can claim.

Yes, sabong is now a multi-billion-peso industry. Yes, there are lots of players in the gamefowl feeds and vetmed business today…but Thunderbird was there first and it never left.

Thunderbird is truly the only company built by an industry that it helped nourish.

Watch Out for Anti-Sabong Politicians

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (March 19, 2010)

Watch Out for Anti-Sabong Politicians

Nowadays, we should not only be aware of narco-politics, but also of animal rights politics.

I was surprise to see on television the other day a tv reporter who has been at the forefront of several animal rights protests in the pasts.

He was there when foreign strip teasers scandalized Quiapo Church. He was there when the white-skinned infiltrators vandalized Manila Zoo and showed the children how malicious humans can be. He was there when two guys, one wearing a chicken suit, created a commotion in front of Araneta Coliseum red gate while the World Slasher Cup was being held.

Immediately, one began to think what this guy has done or if he has enough track record or if he really has the money to run a respectable senatorial campaign. Although, the obvious is that he should be financed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or the Humane Society, two U.S. based organizations which are responsible for the illegalization of sabong in America.

We hear of a mayoralty candidate arrested for pushing drugs. We read about drug enforcement officials warning us that bigtime pushers are now trying to get their own people in elective positions to protect their interests.

I am not calling the attention of sabong-lovers only. These warning also goes to poultry raisers; egg producers; livestock farmers and the likes because these animal rights groups are drumbeating the idea that animals should not be killed or eaten because they have the same rights as human beings.

In America today, after the animal terrorists have cause the outlawing of cockfighting through the dissemination of lies, PETA and HSUS are now staging pickets in front of McDonald’s and KFC restaurants to scare away customers. They now lead raids on gamefowl farms, animal-testing facilities, poultries, piggeries and cattle farms.

Are we ready to counter the onslaught of these groups in the Philippines or are we just playing stubborn, over confident or simply does not care. Scrutinize who you will vote for now rather than curse them later when they are already making laws for us.

***

How about a joke to beat the summer heat. This one was sent to me by email by my friend Kelly Everly of Kentucky.

OLD BROODCOCK

A farmer goes out one day and buys a brand new stud rooster for his chicken coop.

The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, "OK old guy time for you to retire."

The old rooster replies, "Come on, surely you cannot handle all of

these hens. Look what it has done to me. Can't you just let me have the two old hens over in the corner?"

The young rooster says, "Beat it. You are washed up and I am taking over."

The old rooster says, "I tell you what, young stag. I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive domain over the entire chicken coop."

The young rooster laughs. "You know you don't stand a chance old man. So, just to be fair I will give you a head start."

The old rooster takes off running. About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster has closed the gap. He is already about 5 inches behind the old rooster and gaining fast.

The farmer, meanwhile, is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch when he sees the roosters running by. He grabs his shotgun and - BOOM - He blows the young rooster to bits.

The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, "Dammit... third gay rooster I bought this month."

Watch Out for Anti-Sabong Politicians

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (March 19, 2010)

Watch Out for Anti-Sabong Politicians

Nowadays, we should not only be aware of narco-politics, but also of animal rights politics.

I was surprise to see on television the other day a tv reporter who has been at the forefront of several animal rights protests in the pasts.

He was there when foreign strip teasers scandalized Quiapo Church. He was there when the white-skinned infiltrators vandalized Manila Zoo and showed the children how malicious humans can be. He was there when two guys, one wearing a chicken suit, created a commotion in front of Araneta Coliseum red gate while the World Slasher Cup was being held.

Immediately, one began to think what this guy has done or if he has enough track record or if he really has the money to run a respectable senatorial campaign. Although, the obvious is that he should be financed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or the Humane Society, two U.S. based organizations which are responsible for the illegalization of sabong in America.

We hear of a mayoralty candidate arrested for pushing drugs. We read about drug enforcement officials warning us that bigtime pushers are now trying to get their own people in elective positions to protect their interests.

I am not calling the attention of sabong-lovers only. These warning also goes to poultry raisers; egg producers; livestock farmers and the likes because these animal rights groups are drumbeating the idea that animals should not be killed or eaten because they have the same rights as human beings.

In America today, after the animal terrorists have cause the outlawing of cockfighting through the dissemination of lies, PETA and HSUS are now staging pickets in front of McDonald’s and KFC restaurants to scare away customers. They now lead raids on gamefowl farms, animal-testing facilities, poultries, piggeries and cattle farms.

Are we ready to counter the onslaught of these groups in the Philippines or are we just playing stubborn, over confident or simply does not care. Scrutinize who you will vote for now rather than curse them later when they are already making laws for us.

***

How about a joke to beat the summer heat. This one was sent to me by email by my friend Kelly Everly of Kentucky.

OLD BROODCOCK

A farmer goes out one day and buys a brand new stud rooster for his chicken coop.

The new rooster struts over to the old rooster and says, "OK old guy time for you to retire."

The old rooster replies, "Come on, surely you cannot handle all of

these hens. Look what it has done to me. Can't you just let me have the two old hens over in the corner?"

The young rooster says, "Beat it. You are washed up and I am taking over."

The old rooster says, "I tell you what, young stag. I will race you around the farmhouse. Whoever wins gets the exclusive domain over the entire chicken coop."

The young rooster laughs. "You know you don't stand a chance old man. So, just to be fair I will give you a head start."

The old rooster takes off running. About 15 seconds later the young rooster takes off running after him. They round the front porch of the farmhouse and the young rooster has closed the gap. He is already about 5 inches behind the old rooster and gaining fast.

The farmer, meanwhile, is sitting in his usual spot on the front porch when he sees the roosters running by. He grabs his shotgun and - BOOM - He blows the young rooster to bits.

The farmer sadly shakes his head and says, "Dammit... third gay rooster I bought this month."

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.

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

Pago for Your Fellowmen

CARREO by Rolando S. Luzong

Peoples Tonight (December 26, 2008)

Pago for Your Fellowmen

In sabong, the word pago means the act of agreeing or consenting to or accepting a request or an offer by the llamador or casador to bet on one of two roosters about to fight each other in the rueda.

Through the years, we’ve seen all kinds of mamamago or tahor who have been coming to the pits since as far as we can remember, while there are also a lot of those who turned out to be just flashes in the pan.

To make a pago is helping the promoter, the cockpit owner, the derby host and also the aficionados, because a pago would mean that the fight will push through in an ulutan or the fight will begin immediately in case of derbies.

There are also some who make pago to flaunt their wealth or to get noticed thinking he will be admired as a big bettor. There are those bulalakaw mamamago who like a falling star or bulalakaw suddenly gets so bright in a dark sky, but is gone in a second or two.

Instead of making pago to be popular on earth, why don’t we start doing pago to improve our credentials in heaven.

A lot of people needs your pago. There’s that beggar in the corner who needs your pago of loose change; the children who needs your pago of guidance; the elderly who needs your pago of assistance: those calamity victims who needs your pago of relief; those in jail who need your pago of understanding; the sick who needs your pago of encouragement; the young cocker who needs your pago of inspiration and the losers who need your pago of assurance that next time it will be better.

To pago for others is to pago for your self and your soul. Pago na…

A SHORTAGE OF AWARDEES?

Don’t know whether it was because they were just very much preoccupied with the staging of the Bakbakan 2009 and the many challenges it posted, or there’s just a shortage of deserving awardees already, that the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders did not honor any cocker this year, with their own style of a Nobel prize.

Through Bakbakan’s staging over the first eight years, a cocker or two is honored for their contribution to Philippine cockfighting. Some of these great cockers whose stars are already imprinted forever in Philippine cockfighting’s imaginary Walk of Fame includes Mamie Lacson, Don Ramon Lacson, Speaker Ramon V. Mitra, Richard Bates, Democrito O. Plaza and James Chiongbian among others. All were posthumous awards except the one bestowed on Hilarito “Boy” Primalion of Zamboanga, who gave us the phenomenal Zamboanga Whites.

This year, a considerable number of people have asked me, even before the grand finals of the Bakbakan when the awarding is customarily done, who will be this year’s awardees. I asked Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Association President Joey Sy – who is 2009 Bakbakan Marketing Committee Chariman, about it once, I did not get any answer, so I did not bother to inquire again thinking that maybe there was a consensus to keep the identity of the awardees secret until the Awards Night.

Bakbakan 2009 was a success in record-breaking fashion, the champions were decided and the cash prizes were released, but the Hall of Fame Award was missing.

Whatever the reasons were, the time to have the 2009 Awardees is already out of NFGB’s hands. To try to catch up by handing out the 2009 honors within the 2010 Bullang-Bullang national bullstag derby in May is inappropriate, so I guess we just have to wait for the 2010 Bakbakan.

This early, what if we take it upon ourselves to make our own recommendations to the NFGB for the next awardees? You can send me your suggestions with your reasons in recommending them. Send them via email at rluzong2000@gmail.com or thru mail at P.O. Box No. 103, Marikina Central Post Office, 1800 Marikina City.

I’ll start the ball rolling by recommending a recognition for the late Edmundo “Emoy” Gorgonia who pioneered with the first tele-magazine television program on sabong. His program Tukaan has helped so much in the dissemination of information in everything about sabong that enabled the education of mass-based cockers and the promotion of sabong as a unique Filipino sport and pastime and an alternative source of livelihood. He was killed two years ago in Cagayan de Oro and until now, the perpetrators of the crime and the motive behind it remains a mystery.

Merry Christmas to my favorite uncle Tiyo Waling Mijares who is just so proud to tell me that he has kept a copy of each issue of Peoples Tonight where Carreo appeared. Mabuhay ka Tiyo Waling, all my childhood memories of Christmas has you with it. I wish you live forever.

BAKBAKAN HIGHLIGHTS

Albert Uy, a model, Pao Malvar and Rolando Luzong
Bakc-to-back Heritage Cup Bullstag Derby champion Pao Malvar
MIGBA President Nitoy Nasser is flanked.

Bacolod-based American gamefowl breeder Calvin Randall of Paradise Game Farm with Thunderbird Consultant Rolando Luzong
Albert Uy, agency personnel, Doc Beng Dalisay and Doc Mau Tionloc

NFGB MEDICAL MISSION

BAKBAKAN FINALS CONTINUE AT ARANETA COLISEUM TODAY

BAKBAKAN FINALS CONTINUE

AT ARANETA COLISEUM TODAY

Pit competition is expected to be tougher and hotter today at the Araneta Coliseum when the finals of the 2,413-entry 2009 Bakbakan 10-Stag National Derby continues with more than 80 exciting matches starting at 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by the National Federation of Gamefowl Breders and Thunderbird Ganador Max, Bakbakan 2009’s champion will be decided on the December 3 grand finals wherein a total of 35 six-pointers and several entries with 5.5 points each will shoot for the P15 million champion’s prize purse, from the P35 million guaranteed cash prize.

Among the perfect pointers are, from the 2001 & 2002 Bakbakan champions Cagayan Valley Gamefowl Breeders Association, brothers Gerry & Omar Alivia.

Threatening to bagged its 4^th Bakbakan title is the United Ilocandia Gamefowl Breeders Association with its Presidnet Mayor Jess Nalupta sporting 6-0 win-loss card.

To challenge the Alivias are the Palmares brothers Ricoy & Jesry who both have undefeated entries.

The action shifts to Pasay Cockpit on Nov. 27 the finals for 4, 4.5 & 5 pointers from the Nov. 20 semis, while all 5 pointers Visayas & Mindanao will lock horns on Nov. 30 at makati Coliseum.

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