Could cockfighting then be a very old sport that possibly entered the Philippines from its southern neighbors? Pigafetta in his First Voyage Around the World wrote many moons and seas later, that in 1521 he witnessed cockfights in Palawan.
Then and now cockbreeders in the Philippines raised their birds in the house, crossbred them with wild ones, imported some cocks from Jolo with a reputation for bravery like their owners, and assessed their abilities by the color of their feathers.
For example, black ones fought best in the afternoon. White ones, in the morning.
Cockfights during the Spanish period were held on Thursdays and Sundays. Historians Colins and Huertas claim the Spaniards introduced betting during cockfights although it is assumed that the number of spectators and their betting may have been a large number before the Spanish advent. Betting at cockfights even greatly increased with the introduction of the colonizers coinage and tax collection. The colonizers seeing their tax revenues increasing, established cockpits in every town and municipality and placed them under their direct control.
It was joked about then that, in case of fire, the rooster was the first rescued and laid securely in a place of safety because babies were common luxuries in the Philippines, who could be more easily duplicated than this feathered money-making friend. No way. Women would argue about that. Journalist Chit Lijauco decided, "If I cant beat those roosters for attention, Im going to participate in this mans sport." She did, in the best way she knew and published a book entitled Tahor. It was displayed in my den for five years, catching gentlemens attention. Leafing through it I remembered the 60s and 70s in Luisita.
The Chiongbians, Aranetas, Lacsons, Riveros came yearly. Monching Mitra, the Asistios, Louie Beltran, Eddie Araneta, Ben Rodriguez, Joe Aldeguer and Kip Moore. Everyone never forgot that special date. By lunchtime cars drove by the lane lined with very old acacia trees and bougainvillas. By 7 p.m. each owner picked from his case the knives he needed for the fight. He tied the roosters blade slowly and carefully at an angle knowing that his rooster jumped high or low while hitting his opponent with his legs.
The gloves are easy to attach as they have a socket in the middle where the roosters spur is inserted. The glove has an elastic band so that it is attached firmly but not too tight.
Heres how to tie the knives: In the Philippines, it is considered an art to tie the knife or the tari. Gaffers or mananaris take great pains in making sure that the tari is aimed or pointed at the right angle. First, they wrap a tape around the leg beside the spur. This taped area becomes the base where the tari is placed, which is why placing the tape requires skill and knowledge of the roosters flights and kicks. The tape determines the angle and point of the tari on the spur. With the tari on top of the tape on the leg, the tari is now tied with a long waxed string which is looped around the leg to secure the knife. On top of the string, another plastic tape covers the entire area. The knife is covered with a leather shield which is only taken off just before releasing the cock to fight.
In the US and other countries, they use what is called socket knives. The string cannot be too tight or the cock will limp. Like the gloves, the spur is inserted into the socket and tied with a long string.
Blood is splattered on the glass dividers. Blooded birds at the ring shuffle their wings in pain or walk away, limping. What a horrible sight. The judgment comes after the roosters are made to peck at each other if they seem to be just lying around half dead. Then the referee announces the winner above the jeers, shouts, hard breaths.
The manggagamot rushes into the ring to rescue the birds. The janitor with his broom walks into the ring and levels the ground to clean it up. In a corner the injured birds are being stitched up.
Abruptly, the next fight is announced, while the winners are being congratulated and the losers huddle knowing what went wrong. "Malas, malas lang." Another fight begins. "Sa pula, sa puti, " the kristos begin their number like a misguided choir but not to the cockers ears.