Here on the mountain in Barangay Roosevelt Bataan we have a full scale crime wave within out sleepy corner of paradise. Oh prey tell this is not the first time, as we all sadly remember a couple of years ago when Do-Dong was in love with Miss Peachy Pie, and he declared his un-dying love on every wall in our five purok’s. It ended badly when Peachy Pie ran off with Fito-Boy and Do-Dong stopped his reign of terror forever.
But the deep routed criminal element has been underground for some time now. Only to rear its ugly head once more. No it’s not Do-Dong in love again, it’s far and above more nefarious than a star struck lover steeped in puppy love.
Someone or a group of someone’s is stealing Roosters, not the barnyard variety used to raise forty five chickens, but the one’s worthy of taking a walk with, held proudly as they pass through the streets with their owners head held high and the rear end of the bird facing forward as they walk.
It has become the burning topic on everybody’s lips. The thefts have reached epidemic proportions, extra patrols have been mounted at night and yet the crime wave has not abated. My sister-in-law Clara is the latest victim, as two of her husband’s prized birds flew the coop (with help) just a couple of nights ago. Oh the humanity of it all.
There is much speculation as to who could be the cause, and very little evidence. Some feel that it’s the squatters (Housing Challenged) who live on the other side of the mountain. I’m not so sure about, as I feel it could be the person with all the extra Fighting Cocks in their yard, now that’s just a wild guess. Or Saturday at the Cock Fight Arena up the street, one might also find one’s missing champion. Again that’s just a guess on my part.
I also posed that it could be a rogue group of PETA members, trying to impose their liberal beliefs on people who are not interested. People who have held their traditions for hundreds of years and find no fault with them. While being judged by the kind of person who burnt their finger on a match once and now want matches banned worldwide, or who ignore rampant poverty corruption and pollution, but will fight to ban second hand smoke on a Jeepney. Yes I’m talking about those unsung heroes of the world, the do-gooders!
My neighbor, who has added extra brick to his wall to aid in Rooster safety, but has yet not fixed his leaky roof. Steps are being taken Barangay wide to stem this newest on slot of lawlessness, but to no avail. This is serious my friends and no laughing matter, just the extra economic strain on this area is becoming a burden on us all. I told my neighbor that since my house looks down (in a good way) on his land that I would be extra vigilant to help catch this band of marauding Rooster Thieves.
Until this group is caught and brought to Barangay justice no one is safe, well I’m okay as I own no Fighting Cocks. But until that day comes, we will keep a sharp lookout and harken back to those days of yesteryear when Do-Dong was in love with Peach Pie. It was a far simpler time!
Those of you who wish to help either by volunteering to patrol nightly or just send a donation, we thank you, but it’s a Roosevelt Pride thing, and we’ll struggle through.
Paul, I suspect Rooster Cogburn might be the culprit,
but I think John Wayne may disagree…
Dan;
Oh younger brother Dan, What could I say to top that? I;m humbled!
LOL, Pilgrim!
Dan;
You spend way to much time at Plymouth Rock, I know it’s just down the road from you, but next time, give it a pass. (lol)
My use of “Pilgrim” was, an admittedly weak,
reference to John Wayne, not Plymouth Rock.
Or the refugees 1620. lol
Dan;
On Thanksgiving do you still eat a Turkey sandwich over in Plymouth dressed like a pilgrim?
Hi Paul,
Cock fighting was once alive and kicking in the UK.
Outlawed many years ago, we as kids used to play cowboys and indians in an abandonded cockpit in my hometown, it was our Teepee, lol.
It became one of the last standing in the country. During the 80s it was dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt in a museum, complete with straw roof.
Hope they find the Cock rustlers, lol.
Chas;
As well in the US until that pantywaists decided they weren’t making any money off it, as believe me if the money were flowing into their pockets it would still be legal.
Paul:
Like you, I also don’t have a problem with cock fighting for the same reason that bull fighting doesn’t bother me in Spain or Mexico… It is part of the tradition and culture here.
So many of the groups overseas try and impose their will and mores on other people, yet they are often the first to scream when their rights and beliefs are the ones being ridiculed or marginalized. That’s why my usual response to them is, “Sit down. Put your feet up. Have a nice, steaming hot cup of STFU.”
John;
If a body doesn’t agree with cock fighting or bull fighting then don’t attend, as I think they really won’t be miss. Leaving the country is also a good option. As I said many times in the past; “You can visit my house, you may sit where you want, but don’t try to rearrange my furniture.” That applies to countries also.
Speaking of PETA, I heard they were against Mario games having “fur”…after 20 years of Mario fur existence.
I admire their advocacy; however they many a times have crossed the line for the sake of their own vanity.
Katrina:
PETA is just another pretend group of do gooders, who sell their expensive t-shirts which are made in third world countries and pay almost slave wages to have them made. Green Peace does the same thing, check the label and note where they are made. It’s good to know that those two groups are concerned with animal rights with no regard to human rights, it all about the profits.
I’ll put my soap box away for now!
Paul,
PETA and Green Peace are just another form of terrorist!
Papa Duck;
But they do sell a lot of t-shirts.
What a comeback! Sex, violence, suspense, this story has it all! Good thing I caught a bad cold & delayed departure for a day or I would have been missing this! Now, let me see… any new foreigners move into the neighbourhood? Last time I was there I thought about knocking off a few neighbourhood roosters. No? Well, Manny Pacquiao’s thinking of going into the boat building business, near Cebu, with a friend of mine who lives in L.A., maybe he needed some extra alarm clocks for the yard. No? Terrorists? Kidnap-for-ransom gang? Wait a minute, what did you have for dinner last night, Paul?
Mike;
Note that I also left out Rock “N Roll, I gave you the cure for colds on Facebook; “Rum and Hammocks” BTW there are two new Kano’s in the area, I’d not thought about that! Have a safe sail south.
Paul,
Maybe they need to contact the show “Unsolved Mysteries”. It shoud be filed under missing fowl or lost loves. Open a tip line with a reward of a truck load of SMB and see the tips come rolling in lol. If only that was the worst crime where i live. Hopefully soon the person/persons will be brought to justice so there will be peace in all the coops. Take care.
Papa Duck;
For that much beer the guy (or guys) would turn themselves in for the reward.
They’ll be caught soon, as no one can keep a secret here.
Maybe the local KFC franchise found a new source?
Hudson;
It’s funny you mentioned KFC, as in my area the Kano’s prefer the Fried Chicken from Jollibee. The only problem is Jollibee doesn’t have the mashed potatoes. But they do chicken right!
What a great mystery Paul !
For me, I don’t think the cockfights are something that I would enjoy watching but knowing it is a tradition there and part of the culture to the enjoyment of many, no use trying to change or complain about it. I am sure things like this take place in parts of the world where it may be outlawed.
Bob;
John M and I agree that it is no ones business to complain about cock fights in a country that they are a guest of. I never could figure out the betting signals either in Puerto Rico or here, so I don’t go. But if they ever open a window and sell betting slips, I’m there!
Having animals attack each other so that people can bet on the outcome isn’t cultural. Just greed.
They just arrested a bunch of Korean’s south of Manila for organizing online betting of dog fights. Dogs fight in a pit in Philippines and streamed via internet and the betting is in Korea so no gambling laws broken. They arrested the men on animal abuse, so how is cock fighting allowed?
Cockfighting is accepted in the Philippines…not dog fighting. If they want to continue doing it, go back to Korea and play it there. Plain and simple.
Gerad;
Great answer!
Don;
As you pointed out dog fighting is a not allowed here. Cock Fighting is. The reasons why cock fighting is legal here is because they want it to be and democracies work along that order. It’s part of their natural culture and it belongs to them.
Paul,
WOW!! Stealing a Filipino’s cock (Rooster) is like stealing his pride. When they catch them and they will Pay. It reminds me of my time in Subic when they would steal dogs around the holidays. I really don’t get into cock fighting but who am I to mess with tradition. So Paul keep a keen eye out for those cock theives and if you catch them you’ll be a hero and have your 15 mins of fame. 🙂
Bruce;
It was shameful, and we know their days are numbered. I agree with you about not messing with another man’s traditions. You just don’t have the right.
My brother-in-law in San Narciso, Zambalas had his goats stolen a few weeks ago. The world wide economic downturn is hurting the people who live in relative comfort. I can imagine what it is doing to the people who live on the edge at the start. I bet it will turn out to be someone or group stealing roosters in Bataan and selling them somewhere else. I wouldn’t want to be those guys when they get caught. There is a good chance they wouldn’t make it to the police station alive.
As for PETA, can you see one of them making it from the airport in Manila to Bataan without shooting their mouths off and pissing off enough people to get deported? Then again, maybe the roosters are being recruited by Al-Queda. Roosters of the world unite!
Allan;
The Al-Qaeda angle escaped me, thanks for the heads up and I will mention it to my friends on the Barangay Police force. I smiled when you pointed out the short life span of any PETA group expounding their views here. That I would pay to watch. Oh, would that also be a blood sport?
Hi Paul – Cock fights are okay, I guess. I have relatives in the province who owns breed of rosters. they spend money for those and even has little chicken houses, whatever they’re called. What I don’t like…dog fight! Ugh! but there are Pinoys who’s into that sort of thing. I hope the ghost of their dogs haunt them! he he
Sugar;
I’ve never even heard a rumor of any dog fights here, I’m hearing my neighbors roosters right now, I’m so used to it now that I don’t hear it really much, Then that could also be chalked up to age.
It must be a little more quiet now. Chicken fights are quite popular, even though they are not legal. As I type this now, I hear chickens crowing.
Jay;
Not legal in Hawaii, which I knew that was where you were referring to. I was just telling sugar above I hear them now as I type this. It’s far better than the sound of a big city!
Cock fighting was legal in Kansas when I was a young man growing up and later working there. I watch it sometimes on TV but the fights sure don’t last long. Chickens don’t feel pain like people do so have at it. I feel sorry for the folks that are doing the stealing when they get caught.
Gary;
I saw cock fights in Hutchinson Kansas back in the early 80’s while visiting a girl I’d met in California. (Well worth the trip) They were well hidden in the middle of huge farms. Lots of beer and country music.
Gary, you may be interested to know that the Filipino pastime of cock-fighting, or “sabong” in the Philippine vernacular, predates the Spanish arrival in the Philippines. It was the traditional gambling sport so taken seriously that during the Spanish regime, cockfights were played out in public squares throughout the Philippines on Sundays immediately after Church. Cockfights were not only legal, but the revenue generated by licensed cockpits (resembling an arena theater) which charges a gate fee became a source of revenue for the Spanish colonial administration, which they used to build highways, bridges and schools.
An oft-repeated hyperbole in those days was that when a Filipino’s home caught fire, he rescued first his rooster, then his wife and children. 🙂
Ricardo,
So the cockfights then were in a arena like the modern day bullfights were held. I got to see a bullfight while on port stop in Valencia, Spain. You won’t see me out in the arena. Also always like to watch the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Since i work the midnight shift my co-workers and myself always watch it streamed live on the internet. It’s become a tradition. Just another blood sport. Have a nice day.
Papa Duck, Jose Rizal devoted an entire chapter on the subject of sabong in his 1887 novel, Noli Me Tangere. The cockpits resembled an arena theater. It had a ground area where the roosters dueled, bleacher seats around the ring for the spectators, a roof, and a minimum amount of wall enclosures to ensure ventilation. Cockfights in those days were the status neutralizer between the peasant and the wealthy landowner. It was a place where at least for a day (Sunday), the ordinary Indio was on an equal footing with the Don of the town, where they place their bets on their favorite roosters as equals.
Now I know how Sr. Pedro sells those tasty chickens so cheap !!!
Brian;
Cheap yes, but tough and stringy if a rooster.
Paul,
Sounds like someone is getting their Christmas gifts early this year! I would not be a good chicken thief! Each time I try to catch one the make to much noise and would wake up the whole neighborhood. Then I would be caught red handed!
Steve;
I would also fail as a chicken thief, but only because it’s so easy to buy them in the market. Like when they try to sell me the blow guns, I tell them that I don’t hunt wild pigs.
This sounds like a possible case of international cock (rooster) trafficking. So ensure your cock(s) are guarded at all times, put up security cameras, never let them out of your sight. Can never be to vigilant insuring the safety and security of one’s cock’s (rooster), otherwise it may be gone when you wake up the next day. 🙂
John D
A farmer is walking into town carrying a rooster in one hand and a chicken in his other, with the reins to a donkey in his teeth. The donkey broke loose, so he turns to a lady coming out of church and said; “Lady; hold my cock and pullet, because I’ve got to chase my ass!”