The Parable of the Sabungero

By: Juan Flavier
From: Parables of the Barrio

THE farmer had one obsessive vice. Every Sunday, he just had to go to the sabungan (cockpit) and bet in the sabung. He was willing to forego eating. He even agreed to stop smoking. But going to the sabungan was something else. It was a severe case of gambling addiction. 

His wife pleaded because their meager income from the farm could barely support the family. Every Sunday, the farmer wound up on the losing end. After a dozen or so pairings of roosters, all his money was gone. 

"How can I stop?" he rationalized. "Sabung is in my blood. I will die if I do not go to the sabungan." 

True enough, in a quirk of coincidence, the farmer got severely ill. He was unable to go to the sabungan that Sunday. By nightfall, he was dead. 

The whole village concluded that he died, not of any illness, but because of his first-ever absence from the sabungan. 

In the life beyond, the sabungero faced Saint Peter. The farmer was nervous but he recalled that the good Saint had a rooster. That made him a sabungero. 

"I see here you were an avid sabungero," Saint Peter muttered as he reviewed the Book of Records. "What can you say?" 

"Well, that is true," the farmer answered meekly. "But if you read on, you will find I really loved my family. I worked hard in the fields. I never stole from anyone. I had no other vices. I even stopped smoking." 

"That counts," declared Saint Peter. "But still, you were an incorrigible sabungero." 

The farmer froze with fear as a chill crept down his spine. It was as though he heard a clear condemnation. 

"Still, I will let you enter heaven," continued the good Saint. "In fact, I will even assign you to Cloud Nine where there is a sabungan." 

"Wow! This is unbelievable!" exclaimed the farmer. "I wish my wife and children were here to witness my great and final vindication. Honestly, I knew you were a sabungero yourself and would definitely understand." And in he ran. 

The man next in line could not help overhearing. "That was not fair," the kibitzer complained. 

Saint Peter smiled and replied simply, "Don't worry, there are no roosters in our sabungan." 

"So?" inquired the man. 

"Well, that is the hell of it!" assured Saint Peter.