Every cockfighter has his own method of training his birds, some claiming to use secret formulas and special diets. Gamecocks are imported or bought from local breeders in Cavite, Negros and Iloilo. There are various cockfighting associations, the most exclusive of which is the Philippine Cockers Club and over one thousand cockpits, or galleras in the country. They vary in size and sophistication, but the basic design is the same consisting of the pit proper surrounded by a grill or fence where the game cocks fight, and around that the tiers of benches. Ringside seats are the most expensive.
Cockfights take place in Metro Manila almost every day.
In Cebu there are cockfights at least three tim es a week. Elsewhere, cockfights are held on Sunday and public holidays. You can tell there's a cockfight on when a small red flag is fluttering from a slim bamboo pole outside the sabungan or gallera . The roar of the fans is as unmistakable as that of a baseball stadium when a player clouts a homerun. Cockfighting, like horse racing, has specialist bookies and touts.