{"id":72,"date":"2008-02-13T15:12:07","date_gmt":"2008-02-13T14:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southeastasia.fr\/blog-de-voyage\/2008\/02\/13\/les-coqs-se-battent-le-dimanche\/"},"modified":"2021-02-25T01:56:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T00:56:31","slug":"coqs-de-combat-philippines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/en\/coqs-de-combat-philippines-20080213\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting cocks die on Sundays..."},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Philippines, Sunday is often the day of cockfighting. Neal, our dive guide in Siquijor<\/strong>and Raul, who manages the Kiwi Resort, suggested that we go and see these bloody avian duels at the nearest cockfighting arena, the cockpit arena<\/em> of the village ofEnrique Villanueva<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Cockpit arena, the arena of the fighting cocks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Marika, Shareef and I have gladly accepted this unprecedented Sunday release. To the cockpit arena<\/em> of the village, the fights follow one another all afternoon. Entrance fee: 10 pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the small dirt road that leads to the arena, a lot of motorcycles are already parked. It is to say if the show is popular... <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Welcome<\/a>
Welcome to Enrique Villanueva's village cockfighting arena (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well, \"show\" is a way of speaking. This is obviously not a place for the faint of heart or animal lovers. People come here mostly to bet and\/or to have their fighting roosters fight. Some people bet huge sums of money and as in all games of chance, one can lose some feathers (it is the case to say it)...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of guys are there, around a small square arena, surrounded by wooden bars. Few women, the audience is overwhelmingly male. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People are crowding around the fence and getting excited about the betting and fighting. A guy harangues the crowd on the microphone. Everyone gives their voices and crumpled bills are passed from one hand to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Behind<\/a>
Behind the arena, an almost exclusively male audience... (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Between<\/a>
Between the fights, a \"master of ceremonies\" sets the mood with a microphone (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"When<\/a>
When the bets are made, everyone gets excited. (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A sharp blade like a razor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fight itself is very short. Each rooster has, fixed to his leg, a long curved and pointed blade, like a small sword. One guesses it is razor sharp and carefully sharpened for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two roosters are presented one to the other, held at arm's length or by the feathers of the tail by their respective owner. It is a question of exciting the animals a little by approaching them beak against beak. They are released for good in the arena when the bets are balanced on both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterwards, it goes very fast. A whirlwind of feathers, everyone screams and shakes behind the wooden bars. In a few minutes, it's over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Before<\/a>
Before the actual fight, the roosters are presented to each other, to excite them and make them aggressive. (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The roosters are armed with a curved blade attached to the leg, protected by a mini-sheath that is removed at the last moment for the fight (Siquijor, Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the two bugs remains wallowed in the sand. It bleeds. If ever the cock on the ground moves again, we lift it up and put it back in front of the other one, just to see if it is still a bit fighting. If the other animal pushes the other one three more times, we consider that he won, if I understood Neal's explanations well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time, the fallen rooster is already dead. It is picked up to make room for the next fight. A guy goes behind with his broom and shovel to pick up the feathers and blood. The air is a bit sticky inside the arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPDATE (May 13, 2008).<\/strong><\/span> I've posted the video I edited afterwards here \u2192 Fighting cocks in the Philippines: the video<\/a>...I'm handing it to you below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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