Let's put up a fight
Let’s put up a good fight. Let’s protect the Sabong that is part of our tradition. Not the Sabong that is made instrument for big-time gambling and money-making schemes. They are not the same Sabong.
Sabong is under attack from many fronts. Let’s consolidate, unite and put up a good fight. But we will choose the battlefield without fear of being blocked —our own site.
Sabungeros are never united. They never will be. This is the observation of the forces that are out to destroy cockfighting worldwide, including here in the Philippines.
They are banking on the fact that the fate of cockfighting anywhere depends on the stand of the politicians or the powers that be in a particular country. If the politicians or rulers of a country feel they will gain more in terms of votes or popularity by siding with the anti-cockfighting forces, they will do it.
There are Filipino lawmakers, mayors, governors who go to the cockpits or keep some roosters. But, except for a handful, they are politicians more than sabungeros.
Now the question is will the anti-sabong forces succeed in making our politicians believe that illegalizing cockfighting will do them good?
On this issue alone, sabungeros are divided. Many would say never! Never will anybody succeed in stopping cockfighting here. Other said, there would be a revolution if cockfighting will be illegalized.
On the other hand, there are a sober few who take the threat seriously. I belong to this group. My heart keeps on hoping that I am wrong. But my mind thinks otherwise.
It was not too long ago when our American brothers also dismissed as downright stupid the move to illegalize cockfighting in US. Yet, look now, what happened. Because, they put up a fight too late. And, this I also see happening here.
I am just hoping that even if we are not together in many issues, time will come that we all work together in protecting sabong and promoting the interest of the common sabungeros— the true backbone of sabong industry.
But, let’s protect the Sabong that is part of our tradition. Not the Sabong that is made instrument for big-time gambling and money-making schemes. They are not the same Sabong.
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