Sabong international is a popular pastime in the Philippines. I spent the afternoon in Valencia to learn the ins and outs of betting on a cockfight and I leave with a few extra pesos in my pocket. Unlike many countries where cockfighting is illegal, in the Philippines the so-called “sport” is a national pastime.

In fact, going a day without hearing a rooster is very popular in the Philippines, whether you are in Manila or a small town. Fighting in the Philippines is a spectator sport that pits two roosters against each other in a fight to the death or victory. Easily accessible to tourists, comedy fights take place in many towns in the Philippines.

On a Sunday afternoon, when there is usually a online sabong, my friends and I would ride a scooter for 30 minutes through the hills from Dumaguete to Valencia, the best place in Negros to see a fight. The fresh mountain air, beautiful forests, and hills of Valencia make it a great place to spend an afternoon.