Ancient Lores of "Pintakasi"

Sabungero, 19th Century Print - BNP


On earth, as it is in heaven" — Could cockfighting transcend the earthly realm? Even President Duterte once questioned his own religious understanding: “: “Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ‘yang relihiyon ko. Si San Pedro, naka-guwardiya sa gate sa langit. Tapos ang gago nagdala pa ng manok. Wala namang sabong doon! Bakit? Hindi ko maintindihan itong bugok na itong San Pedro na ito"
(I really can't fathom my religion, Saint. Peter he's guarding the gates of heaven. Then the fool brings a rooster. There's no cockfighting there! why? I can't comprehend this stupid St. Peter.)
Did Duterte perhaps miss the essence? The art of manly Filipino bird combat is, in itself, a form of religion.
"Pintakasi" falls on a Sunday. Some men first pass by the church before heading to the cockpit. Are they praying to their Pintakasi (Patron Saint) or seeking blessings for the Pintakasi (the Cockfight), concepts lost in translation?
"Pintakasi"- The tagalog term which could either mean "patron saint-mediator" or "sabong"-cockfight. Now dealing with the roots and meaning of sabong and patron, one gets that common denominator of "Sunday" being the designated religious day and also the day when cock derbies are held. But on its deeper etymology, there is an old Malay term as "pinta" which means "to petition" or "to request", that brings us to the role of a patron saint to whom we ask for favors, mediation etc. From the Malay term "kasih" which means love, we have the old Tagalog cognate 'kasi" which also have the similar meaning as in Malay, thus we have the Tagalog term "Kasintahan" (girlfriend or boyfriend, literally means a love to hold).

Going to the south, to the Muslim region, the word "pintakasi" evolved with a slightly different meaning. It is the term use by clans to define mutual aid against perceived enemies. Either way, the etymology, however loosed in those terms I mentioned, still shows connections.
Embedded within this art and tradition are ancient beliefs, some claim to be proven winning formulas.
I recall the practice of "pungos," the removal of the bird's comb (palong) and wattle. This gives the cock a fierce appearance and prevents excessive bloodshed during the lethal bout. They say the comb and wattle should be tossed above the roof. Why? To enhance the cock's flight, making it deadly and agile.
Among sabungeros, it's said that one should leave the door of the bird's cage open when heading to the Sunday derby. It's a symbolic assurance that the champion will return to the cage victorious and alive.
The most potent talisman or "anting-anting," as they say, involves catching a two-tailed lizard. The tail is cut and placed in a small bottle with preservatives like formalin. This tail supposedly represents the "tari" or gaff, the spur-like blade attached to the bird's leg.
More recently, I heard about a sabungero who instructs his entire family not to bathe the night before a cockfight, it brings bad luck to the bird --Pintakasi is turning out to be a stinking business.
Could Pintakasi be a rather peculiar enterprise? Is it something we might find in heaven, with the Vicar of Christ himself leading the way? Who's to say?

Pungos - like a surgeon they remove the comb or the "palong" of the  fighting bird
                



 The lucky charm- two-tailed house lizard .That tail is said to be representing the "tari" or gaff the spur-like blade attached to the leg of the bird. 
                                      




                                         St. Peter and the cock (detail)   ca. 1670  by Pietro Rosa


  Cockfighting at Manila - detail Charles Wirgman (1832 - 1891) Illustrated London News. 1857


        How about this Manila street food delicacy:" Inihaw na palong" or grilled comb.(GMA)  

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