Of Cockfighting and Friends

PHOTO CREDIT: VISTAR

I have been a cocker since I was 3 years old. My love affair with chickens began when I was a chubby boy growing up in war-ravaged Mindanao. I distinctly remember the day I pocketed a chick who was basking in the sun while I accompanied my mother in the river as she did the laundry (yes, washing machines were unheard of back then). I never told my mother about it. An old suitcase became the "home" my precious little Butchoy. When Butchoy would chirp, I would put a blanket over it to muffle the noise. Of course, my parents eventually found out and thankfully, they allowed me to keep my bird. From then on, the chick and I became inseparable and I would bring it to the table during meal times. Unfortunately, that was not such a good idea as it was also where Butchoy met his end. One morning, while we were having breakfast, Butchoy excitedly ran and went straight to my father's scalding hot coffee. My poor chick died that day but my love for chickens has never waned from that day on.

In my journey as a cocker, I have met many people who also share the same passion. Young and old alike, my circle of friends who are also fascinated with these feathered warriors come from all walks of life. Some are very rich, others have enough to live decently while still others have to work hard to eke out a living. But when we meet, the stature in life or in society takes a backseat. During these times, the talk simply centers on chickens, bloodlines, and the performance in last Sunday's hackfight or the score in a recently-concluded derby. Hours seem like minutes when cocker friends gather and if we had it our way, we would spend the whole day holding the roosters, sparring them, and discussing their attributes.

Indeed, cockfighting is a social sport. We need to surround ourselves with friends who also share the same degree of interest in the sport. With them, you can actually voice out concerns you had about your birds that you can't even share with your wife. With fellow cockfighting aficionados, it's perfectly normal to compare the attributes of an Asil to that of the Sweater. You can talk about station preference, conditioning methods, and supplements used without worrying that you'll get an eyebrow raised in confusion. In this circle, the world revolves around chickens, roosters, hens, chicks, and cockfighting and everyone is happier because of it.

It would be a lonely endeavor to engage in cockfighting by yourself. If you close yourself off from the rest of the breeders and cockers in this world, there would be no chicken talk over beer and chips. There would be no one to brag to after winning a fight. There would be no chicken jokes to share. While going around your yard full of chickens can be relaxing and gratifying, having fellow cockers to talk to completes the whole experience. As a breeder and cocker, your fellow cockers are your better halfs. In your birds, you have crowing connection that binds you to each other for life.

Chicken talk, anyone?