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September 16 2013
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/488567/napoles-3-senators-face-plunder-raps-over-pork-barrel-scam
September 16 2013
Chicken Talk
BRAVEHEART FARMS WELCOME
THE BEAUTIFUL ‘PARAWAKANS’
By Manny Pinol
The advocacy to preserve and perpetuate the beautiful but fierce Philippine Aseel or Parawakans is finally paying off.
Last Saturday, the team of “Aseel Explorers” led by Datu Jazim Mamintal of Pikit, son of my friend Datu Musim who is a member of the huge Matalam Clan, brought to my farm 10 beautiful “Parawakan” roosters.
They were able to gather the “Parawakan” cocks from old Muslim folks in the area who are raising and keeping them for the traditional naked heel fighting or “pauwak,” where Aseels are fought until one of them gives up or passes out.
The 10 new Parawakan roosters brought to 11 the number of new Aseel roosters gathered by Datu Jazim and his group as they combed the interior parts of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
The first rooster was named “Jurassic” because he looked really old in spite of the fact that he is only about 3 years old.
The latest batch included “Vicious,” a 9-month-old red Parawakan who immediately showed his warrior character by mauling to near death another rooster just as soon as we turned our back.
He is shown in the picture accompanying this article.
But the most remarkable among the new group of Parawakan roosters is a 6-month-old Grey stag which when weighed last Saturday tipped the digital scale at 3.34 kilos.
“Higante,” as he is now called, came with his two other brothers who were slightly smaller.
The new arrivals will now ensure that the program to breed and preserve the best “Parawakans” which could be found in the area for the benefit of the future poultry enthusiasts will be sustained.
“Parawakan” is an indigenous chicken breed in the Southern Philippines which is believed to have descended from the great Aseels (an Arabic word meaning pure) brought in by Arab traders and missionaries long before the Spaniards came.
They are huge and could sometimes weigh up to 5 kilos and stand as tall as 36 inches.
They are almost immune to local poultry diseases making them an ideal breed to be raised by farming families in the countryside who have no access to or knowledge of veterinary services.
Although possessing a lot of muscles, the “Parawakans” meat is tough but they are ideal for cross-breeding to the domesticated poultry breeds.
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