Beaks and blades attack in Philippine Sunday ritual

By Carmel Crimmins

MANILA (Reuters Life!) - Sunday is a day of devotion in the Philippines. Devotion, that is, to cockfighting.

In Manila's Araneta Coliseum, where the final day of the World Slasher Cup is in full swing, a man gently touches the wooden statue of a crucified Christ at the stadium's entrance and afterwards pats the rooster cradled in his arm.

Billed as the world's biggest cockfighting event, the biannual 4-day derby attracts entries from the United States, Germany, Japan and Australia among others.

In the centre ring where boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier pounded each other in the 1975 movie "Thrilla In Manila", cocks armed with 3-inch razors attached to their left legs attack each other in a frenzy of swoops and feathers.

"Come on, kill him," roared one spectator, clutching a fistful of 1,000 peso ($25) bills.

Before each fight, bookies known as "Cristos" because they take bets with their arms wide open like Jesus on the cross, holler and gesticulate as if they were traders facing a stock market crash.

Millions of pesos change hands in the tournament, which stretches into the early hours of the morning.

Some of the bouts are over in seconds and none last more than 10 minutes. Grim-faced handlers carry off losing birds with blood dripping from their blades. Often the winners don't make it either.