Lawmaker wants cockfighting part of RP heritage

Cockfighting may soon be officially part of the country’s national cultural heritage, if a proposed measure in the House of Representatives is passed. Rep. Rodolfo Plaza urged the National Commission for Culture and Arts and the National Historical Institute to declare cockfighting as part of the “intangible Philippine cultural heritage." "Intangible cultural heritage includes practices, representations expressions and skills, as well as the objects, instruments and artifacts that communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage," Plaza said in an article posted Sunday on the House of Representatives Web site. He noted cockfighting is a popular, traditional and customary form of recreation and entertainment among Filipinos. He said this can be seen especially during holidays, fiestas, fairs and other events. Even Presidential Decree No. 449, or the Cockfighting Law, recognizes that cockfighting is a vehicle for the preservation and perpetuation of native Filipino heritage that enhances national identity, he said. "Cockfighting should neither be exploited as an object of commercialism or business enterprise nor made a tool of uncontrolled gambling," the lawmaker stressed. This is the reason why cockfighting must be "recognized and institutionalized as part of the national cultural heritage and must be promoted, protected and enhanced," Plaza said. In August last year, a group of cockfighting aficionados called the Alyansa ng Sabungero (Alliance of Cockfighters) filed a petition for accreditation before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be allowed to run in the May 10 elections as a party-list group. In its petition, the group claimed that their purpose in seeking representation in Congress is to help poor workers in the cockfighting business. The Comelec, however, rejected the petition. - KBK, GMANews.TV