007JL Soltada: What One Fight Means in a Cockpit
A soltada is one fight in a cockpit: the release of two birds into the ring.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| 007JL Cockfighting in the Philippines | Cockfighting in the Philippines is lawful in licensed cockpits on Sundays, legal holidays and local fiestas of up to three days, under PD 449, with local licensing under the Local Government Code. |
| 007JL Gaffer | A gaffer, or taga tari, is the person who arms fighting cocks with a gaff on either or both legs. |
| 007JL Games and Amusements Board and Its Cockfighting Role | The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) regulates professional sports and allied activities. |
| 007JL Sabong Logro | Logro is the called odds in a cockpit: the ratio the bet taker announces when the two sides are not equal, so the favoured side stakes more to win less. |
| 007JL Ruweda | The ruweda is the ring in a cockpit where a fight is held. |
E-sabong (online cockfighting) operations have been suspended nationwide since 2022, under Executive Order No. 9 signed on 28 December 2022 by President Marcos Jr. The words of a licensed cockpit survive the suspension, and soltada is one of the most common. Below are 7 terms around one fight, defined in plain words, with the wider sabong law section as the legal anchor.
What a soltada is
A soltada is a single fight: the moment the two armed birds are released to each other, and everything that follows until the referee announces the result. The word comes from the Spanish for release. Presidential Decree No. 449 does not use it, so the meaning here is customary and the length of a soltada is set by the cockpit, not by the decree.
| Feature | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| The word soltada | Customary usage |
| Length of one fight | The cockpit and its ordinance |
| Days a cockpit may open | PD 449, Section 5(d) |
Seven words around one fight
- Soltada. One fight, from release to result.
- Ruweda. The ring in which the soltada happens.
- Gaffer, or taga tari. The licensed person who arms each bird, defined in PD 449, Section 4(d), and covered on the page about the gaffer role.
- Sentensyador. The referee, Sentenciador in Section 4(e), who announces the winner or declares a tie or no contest.
- Kristo. The caller of bets, the bet taker or promoter of Section 4(c).
- Llamado and dehado. The favoured bird and the underdog.
- Meron and wala. The two sides’ labels, set by cockpit custom.
How one fight fits into a cockpit’s day
| Stage | Who is involved | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cockpit open on a lawful day | Licensed cockpit | PD 449, Section 5(d) |
| Birds armed | Gaffer | Section 4(d) |
| Sides called | Bet taker or promoter | Section 4(c) |
| Fight and result | Referee | Section 4(e) |
A cockpit’s day is a run of soltadas on days the decree permits, such as Sundays, legal holidays and local fiestas of up to three days. The number of fights, their order and any breaks are the cockpit’s own, so ask its management or read its local ordinance.
Who oversees it
Cockpit licences come from the city or municipality under Section 6 of PD 449 and Sections 447 and 458 of the Local Government Code. Three bodies share the oversight:
- The mayor and the sangguniang, for the cockpit licence.
- The city or municipality, for the officials’ licences under Section 7.
- The Games and Amusements Board, which accredits cockpit officiating personnel and permits international derbies, as its own page on the Games and Amusements Board sets out.
FAQ
What does soltada mean?
Soltada is the customary word for one cockpit fight, from the Spanish for a release. PD 449 does not define it, so cockpit usage and the local ordinance carry the meaning.
How many soltadas happen in a day?
The law sets no figure. A cockpit's schedule is set by the cockpit within the days PD 449, Section 5(d), allows, and by its local ordinance.
Are soltada results part of e-sabong?
No. E-sabong means live-streaming and off-cockpit wagering, suspended by EO 9. A soltada in a licensed cockpit is covered by PD 449.
Related guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 007JL Cockfighting in the Philippines | cockfighting in the philippines |
| 007JL Gaffer | gaffer |
| 007JL Games and Amusements Board and Its Cockfighting Role | games and amusements board |
| 007JL Sabong Logro | sabong logro |
| 007JL Ruweda | ruweda |