Gentleman’s Sport

Honesty thrives in this archipelago. Where? In an arena where millions changes hands, with no need for the modern conveniences of computers or contracts to track who bet what or who owes whom. The arenas are the cockpits found in every town for sabong, the Philippines’ pasttime.

There are no tickets, written agreements, chips, tokens or cards to record your bet. It’s all in one’s integrity, honesty and good memory.

“Sabong is considered a gentleman’s sport,” comments Regorosa. There is very little room for cheating, and those caught could get badly beaten up or jailed. Once you make a wager or place a bet, there is no turning back because sabungeros (cockfight aficionados) will take your word for it and expect you to do the same. Don’t, and you draw the ire of a stadiumful of sabungeros, risk being mobbed, and lose your good community standing.