NFGB SET TO BREAK RECORD AGAIN WITH 2009 BAKBAKAN

With 2,210 farms visited across the country wherein a total of 202,708 cockerels were wingbanded, the National Federation of Gamefowl Breeders expresses confidence that the 2,000-entry target for this year’s Bakbakan 10-Stag national Derby will be easily realized. A guaranteed cash prize of P30 million is at stake for the 2009 Bakbakan with the entry fee pegged at P15,000.

“That is just assuming that each farm will field one entry for a 100 percent turn-out” says NFGB President Ricoy Palmares, as he noted that in 2008, a total of 2,203 entries saw action out of 1,972 farms registered for an almost 120% turn-out.

“We are looking forward to a new record”, Palmares added.

Among the 29 member-associations under the NFGB, Panay Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n has the biggest number of farms registered at 210 and the most cockerels banded at 19,719. Based on farms which were submitted for banding in second position is the fast growing Batangas Breeders Club headed by NFGB Vice President for Luzon Fred Katigbak with 146 farms and 14,616 cockerels banded. Third is the just three-year old Rizal Gamefowl Breeders Ass’n with 144 farms and 13,473 birds marked.

The country’s first gamefowl breeders group – the Negros Gamefowl Breeders Association headed by former La Carlota City Mayor Juancho Aguirre is 4^th with 132 farms, but 14,048 young stags banded, while the Al Garcia – led Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros is 5^th with 127 and 14,000.

The 2009 Bakbakan will be held from October 10 with several separate elimination events nationwide up to December 3 when undefeated entries take on each other for the crown in the finals set at Araneta Coliseum.