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Cockfighting is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. It existed before Spanish times and persisted throughout the centuries despite all attempts to ban it. Sabong, as it is known in Tagalog, is a national pastime that knows no social distinctions. Not a sport for the faint-hearted, it pits two roosters of comparable weight that fight each other until one is killed or turns tail and flees. The bout is usually brief and bloody. Razor-sharp spurs are attached to the birdsI legs. With neck feathers ruffled, the birds dance around each other, testing each otherIs strength. There is a swish of blades and swirl of feathers, roars rise from the gallery, and in a few minutes itIs all over. If both birds are still alive after ten minutes of skirmishing, the bout is declared a draw. Sometimes special matches called carambolas are also held, where five or more birds are placed in the arena at the same time to fight it out until only one remains. Special fights called derbies, have purses ranging from US$10,000 to $170,000. Tourists who wish to see a cockfight can go to the Araneta Coliseum. It costs around US$10 for front row seats. It is advisable to go with a guide or someone knowledgeable about the game who can explain the intricacies of betting. Bets are indicated by a series of hand signals such as the wiggling of a thumb or the wagging of a hand. The man who calls the bets, without the use of a computer or written slips, is the kristo, so called because his posture of extended arms resembles Christ nailed to the cross. You can either bet on the cock that is favored to win (llamado) or the less popular one (dejado).