Cockfighting - commonly known as sabong - is the traditional gambling sport of Filipinos. It is, in fact, the second most popular sport in the country. So deeply rooted is it in tradition that the early Filipinos were fighting their cocks even before Magellan arrived.

That was a good number of years before the Spaniards finally colonized the country. By the late I70Is (1770Is that is), cockfighting had spread to virtually every province that the colonial government decided to discourage the activity. They failed, of course, and to such an extent that the saying during that period was: when a FilipinoIs home caught fire, he rescued first his rooster, then his wife, and then his kids.

These days, the regular Sunday cockfight is still pretty much like the Spanish-era sabong. The common sabungan, or cockpit, is a large square arena with a dirt floor and metal or glass railings on its four sides, resembling a boxing ring. This is the center of the building, and is surrounded by rows of benches that reach up and out to the walls. Amenities are spartan, because sabungeros do not go to the cockpit to eat, and calls of nature are often ignored, lest they miss the action inside the pit. The big time arenas, though, offer more refined luxuries for the discerning cocker.

Gone is the era of the tobacco chewing, smoke blowing old men. Modern day cockers come from all walks of life, be they politicians, movie stars, or the driver next door. Filipinos are absolute enthusiasts for this sport. In the province it is not even uncommon to see people sparring their roosters by the roadside.

Sunday, as we all know by now, is sabong day. Itay takes his rooster - the one which he has spent months training, feeding, and priming for battle - and heads for the cockpit. Taking care of a fighting cock is no easy task. Hundreds of pesos are spent for vitamins and additives to shape the bird into fighting form. The rooster is then pampered and given lots of rest a few days before the match.

The sabungan opens at around eleven, during which our sabungero heads for the ulutan. This is the matching section, located outside the bleachers. The cocker who intends to match his rooster looks for a worthy opponent in this area. After a suitable foe is found, the two gamblers agree to set the match and the bet. The birds are fitted with taris - thin, nasty, two-inch-long blades whose sole purpose is to inflict damage to chicken flesh. The cocks are then brought out into the cockpit.