HarryTheHorse - Angeles City Expat Newsletter for June 2002

Finally, during the last two weeks of May the rains have arrived. It had been a bit dry and extremely hot but now it has cooled off but one must remember to carry that umbrella around as a day might start out sunny but by afternoon the rain drops will get you. From now until end of Oct it will be a bit soggy buy don't worry, it is dry, cool, and lots of fun in the entertainment district so if you are not already here, book your flights and get on board. Fields Ave might be in a bit of a mess with all the construction going on, but it has cut down on the traffic and walking can be a bit of a challenge. Not to worry, it will be finished, eventually, and the flooding along Fields should be reduced dramatically.

A few weeks ago I had to stop by the American Legion, Post 123 and discovered that recently deceased Mr. Savoy (Retired U.S. Serviceman) was in residence for respectful mourning prior to burial. The folks from Pangilinan Memorial Chapels transported the body to the Post at 10 AM and were able to deliver the correct coffin, correct clothes on the deceased, but, regretfully, the wrong body. Needless to say the widow was a bit upset and the Funeral Parlor Director was extremely embarrassed but those of us living here are used to things being not quite right. I would expect the Pangilinan folks to offer a bit of compensation for this very serious mistake on their part. A simple "sorry" should not suffice!

KILLER THIEF STALKS AUFMC

It is worrisome enough to have to be admitted to a hospital for treatment but at least, once settled in the room your only concern should be getting better, not having to worry about your safety. Regretfully, one John M. a retired US Air Force veteran found out the hard way that a hospital stay could turn out to be rather scary. According to John, after being admitted to Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUFMC) after a visit to the emergency room, John's wife (E) left her husband to buy some food. While she was out of the room, a man posing as a doctor (using the name "Dr. Gomez) entered the room, attacked John, gagged him with tape, tied his hands behind his back and stabbed him twice in the chest area. When his wife returned the culprit was still in the room and E saw John lying on the bed with blood all over him. E yelled, "What are you doing to my husband" and during a scuffle with the intruder was cut repeatedly on her arms. This "doctor" then ran out of the room with E running after him yelling "stop, thief, killer" but he was able to run down the stairs, then told the guards at the entrance that there was a problem upstairs and then exited the building while the guards were rushing upstairs. This is a horrifying story, in that a patient was attacked, stabbed, and robbed while in what should have been a safe location, but ended up fearing for his life and that of his wife. He remembers people standing at the door looking in but no immediate help rendered. With blood pumping out of this chest the head nurse took action in getting him to the emergency room where medical assistance stemmed the flow of blood. A sad fact is that this individual had been seen in the hospital by staff but not questioned, additionally; he has been identified in connection with other robberies at other locations. It is fortunate that John and E were not killed but it was a close call. No doubt this incident has caused embarrassment for AUFMC management but hopefully it will also be a wake up call for them. No doubt they have to take a closer look at their security procedures that undoubtedly require extensive improvement. It is true that the culprit has been identified and an arrest warrant has been issued but as of now, he has not been apprehended. The police have his address but until someone actually fills out a complaint he remains free. If one cannot feel safe in a hospital when can a person feel completely safe? - I guess only on the day one draws that final breath - hopefully not at AUF - "I'll drink to that!"


	Rev. Msgr Bustos, Jennifer, Abbey, Jalmaanl

For the last few months I have had favorable reports about the new Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Medical Center located on Mc Arthur Highway, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. This facility is Champus and Tri-Care accredited and is a super addition to the medical services provided to the local community. One can never have too many hospitals especially if they offer high quality medical care. So now, in addition to AUF we have Mt. Carmel Medical Center to choose from as well as smaller hospitals such as Angeles Medical Center (AMC) and Armando Garcia Hospital. It will not be too long before the Health Visions Medical Center will be completed and that is conveniently located near Hensonville. I had the privilege of meeting Mt. Carmel Hospital Administrator, Dra. Monet M. Bustos-Briones and Spiritual Director Rev. Msgr. Antonio M. Bustos last month and in the company of Father Bustos had a tour of the hospital. Appearance wise I was impressed and according to reports reaching me from patients using the facility they have no complaints and were quite pleased with the care provided. Full services are offered and the vision is to become a multi-specialty medical center equipped with modern and state of the art facilities manned by the best medical specialist who are guided by the highest ethical standard in the field of medicine; to provide quality health care to all patients regardless of their socio-economic status; to be a one-stop medical center that provides all of the patients medical needs; and finally to build a charity institution within the medical center for the care of the disadvantaged population in the local community. It appears that these visions are well on the way to being met but hopefully, I will not have to verify the effectiveness by personally being a patient and will just have to rely on word of mouth. The prices of rooms range from a high of P1800 a day for the Presidential Suite to a low of P350 a day for the ward with ceiling fan. In the middle range one can have a 2-bed suite for P850 a day. There are six operating rooms and four delivery rooms. The bottom line is that anyone living in this area or planning to visit Angeles City need not fear going without adequate medical care if the need arises.

Some things just happen and you can't control the situation. One incident involved an Ex-pat. Staying at Woodland Park, Dau. As told to me by a reliable source this individual was entering his room when a Filipino came up behind him, put a gun to his back and forced him into the room where he removed P2,000 and a camera. This could cause a person to squeeze the cheeks of his butt and hope that nothing smelly filled his pants. This time the thief was caught as, earlier, he had checked into the hotel just a few doors down from the victim.

On two occasions the Prudential Bank on Santo Rosario St. found a customer being robbed after withdrawing a large amount of money inside the bank and then accosted when exiting the facility. A source also reported that three individuals who escaped via motorcycle robbed an individual, after withdrawing P300, 000 from the Dau PNB bank and exiting the bank to go to the Land Bank nearby to pay for a car purchase. These incidents took place in broad daylight, of course, and in sight of bank security guards who were not able to render assistance because of the quickness of the robberies. The warning here is to be extra careful when withdrawing large amounts of cash at the bank window, it would be better to perform the transaction privately at the managers desk. Obviously there are spotters that are in the bank watching window transactions who are able to signal thieves outside, possibly by cell phone. It would be wise when withdrawing large amounts to have a companion with you as it appears the crooks are targeting lone individuals.

The Edelweiss Restaurant and Deli Shop has been around for many years but now they have added a small bar within the premises that is cozy and comfortable. They advertise beautiful waitresses but I did not see them, no doubt they were in the bathroom putting on their makeup. No dancers featured here but there are GRO's with ladies drinks from 80 to 100 pesos and a beer will only cost you P35, operating hours are from 4 PM to Midnight. This is one bar I will have to revisit, as my initial impression was not all that good. Possibly waiting until later at night will help.

By the time you read this the construction of the pedestrian overpass connecting the two buildings will be just about completed. This will enable those staying in the new extension to get to the main building without having to cross the street or get wet during the rainy season. A good reason to visit the dining/pool area is to enjoy the new 53" TV featuring live programs via satellite dish. Right now, the big draw is the Aussie Rugby League football every Friday at 6 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. You can also pop into the Flamingo and greet Hans (formerly with the Clarkton's Mirrors bar) and Michael (formerly with Brown Sugar). One feature you do not want to forget is the roast buffet offered every Wed. and Sat. afternoon from 12 to 2 PM and again from 5 to 9 PM. Roast beef, lamb and pork along with salads and deserts are offered for only P210.

Since Hans left Clarkton's Mirrors Bar for the Orchid Inn's Flamingo Bar many folks have been wondering what would happen to Mirrors. Owner Ziggy was never very happy with the adult atmosphere of Mirrors and with new manager, Ingo, are in the process of transforming the bar into a family oriented entertainment venue. The pool table will remain but the dancers have taken a hike. Next month I will provide a few more details as by then Ingo will have had time to work on the transformation. Another new addition to the Clarkton is the hiring of a new Chef and hopefully, the wonderful daily buffets that were offered will remain or maybe even be better than ever. This Chef has to be a good guy as he enjoys a game of darts, so much so that Ingo is considering putting up a couple of dart boards. During the month of June I will make a follow-up visit to the Clarkton to check out the buffet, Mirrors and have a few more words of wisdom from Ingo to pass on.

Could darts make a bit of a come back in town? Right now, the Blue Boar Inn has two dart boards with Jimmy D available to shoot some social arrows over a beer or two;, the Blue K has one dart board and Hidden Vale has two boards. If the Clarkton returns to the dart scene with a couple of boards there may be a possibility that we can put together a small ex-pat fun league or a floating dart night at the previously mentioned venues. Most of the bars lost interest in darts because of the space required and the lack of revenue. A few of the players would play in the bar for three hours and consume only one drink or in some instances, none at all; another reason was that the fun kind of went out of it as more and more semi-professional local lads entered the league, and these lads seldom had the money to spend. Lastly, the increase in nighttime pool leagues diminished the availability of dart players. There are a few die-hard darters left in the area and interest seems to be building up again. Anyone interested in playing darts should get in touch with Jimmy D at the Blue Boar Inn, Tel. 322-7984 or E-mail at Lacasa@ag.triasia.net or better still, drop by for a drink and a game. Changing the subject a bit, the Blue Boar Inn is in need of ex-pat pool players for their Mon-Wed and Fri afternoon pool teams. Play commences at 2 PM at various venues in town. Skill is not a factor to become a member, just be physically capable of standing up long enough to complete a few games and of course, be able to consume large quantities of grog at the same time.

I happened to be in Domino's Pizza, Checkpoint, chomping on a big family size pizza compliment of Mr. Haggerty when I discovered that they were celebrating Domino's Philippines 8th Anniversary and the sales staff were made happier when they discovered that their store was number one in sales for the Philippines. This is not surprising considering the large ex-pat community in Balibago and the many locals that enjoy this delicious treat. Of course, being #1 could be attributed to outstanding management and dedicated service performed by the sales staff. Congrats Domino's Pizza, Checkpoint on a job well done.

NOTE: On a bit of a sad note for me personally I must draw your attention to the fact that Domino's Pizza, Checkpoint was forced to withdraw their advertisement from this column. It seems that the big boss at Domino's Philippines, Mr. Germin Espino, felt that their ad indicated they were supporting a pornographic site (Go2Phil.Com). I guess this would upset pizza lovers all over the world. I wonder which Domino's executive is a member of Go2Phil? The ad was intended to support the Harry the Horse column and I do not think I get into Porn though I must admit that at times I do insert a very "R" rated picture. In any case, the Domino's management at Checkpoint was very apologetic but had no say in the matter. I shall now have to eat one less Domino's Pizza every month to make up for the loss of that very large sum of P750 they used to pay for the ad. Maybe I can find a few less sensitive business folks willing to replace Domino's - if so, just contact this old Horse, you may find me eating a pizza at Salvatore's, next to the Roadhouse!

Overheard at that popular watering hole: (1) Is Robert Sullivan Ken McDonald's love child? Folks are wondering why he keeps him under his wing. (2) Where was Ace eating when he could not reach the high table and Damien had to assist him by lifting his legs? (3) Is it true that Thommo is trying to sell out his shares in the Dirty Duck? (4) George Brown, while having a drink at the Dirty Duck saw a cell phone covered with protective plastic. He asked the owner what that was and the reply was "a condom". George shrugged, said "no problem, and dropped it in a glass of rhum and coke; oops, he forgot about that little opening for the charging unit, the cell phone became a DEAD DUCK!

Hard Working Officials


Opening Remarks - Mayor Lazatin	HV Men's Team - They did try hard!

The 2nd Asian Bowls Championships hosted by Hidden Vale Sports Club is over and the women's and Men's teams from Malaysia showed no mercy on their way to number one. They won so many gold medals that Yamashita himself would be envious. How did the Philippine National Team do? The men tried hard but failed to get those little lopsided balls to cooperate but the women, my goodness, they did well and took bronze medals for 3rd overall. Sonya Bruce and Ronalyn Greenlees took a silver medal in ladies pairs and Maila Witheridge took silver in ladies single. But lets not talk about who won what for that is not what excited me. I am not a lawn bowler and kind of felt that it was not a spectator sport. Admittedly, it takes a great deal of skill to get that funny ball to do what you want but after observing the participants from nine different countries competing together I began to feel, not just a bit excited, but proud of what Greg McDougall and his staff accomplished. They not only overcame monumental obstacles to get the greens and facilities finished in time but their efforts have put the Philippines in the spotlight in such a way that every Filipino in the country can have something to be proud of. I realize that outside of Angeles City not many folks are aware of what took place but in the future, I predict an Olympic Lawn Bowl champion will emerge and that Champion will be a Filipina from Pampanga. A dream, yes, maybe at this time, but if Greg McDougall and the Philippine Lawn Bowls Association continues as they have started, believe me, it will be a reality.

I don't want to get too carried away here but, my goodness, I am finding it hard to describe what I felt as I attended the opening ceremonies on 6 May, observed play during the day and once at night, and then the wonderful closing ceremony with medal presentations and farewell dinner. Often during ceremonies like this one tends to get a bit bored, but not this time. MC Ray Bruce did a masterful job, especially displaying a talent for pronouncing correctly some rather difficult names; the inspiring words from World Bowls observer Kerry Clark had everyone cheering, even this reporter, as he heaped praise on the participants, the venue, and the overall very successful competition. The accomplishments of Rob Frizzell, tournament director and organizing committee, Ronalyn Greenlees, Damien Allison, Peter O'Donnell and Heather Frizzell were made special note of. Believe me folks, it was not an easy task but the end results speak for themselves. Special words went out to first time participants, Korea and China and it is expected that for the 3rd Championships, to be hosted by Malaysia, that a few more Asian countries will field a team. As President of the Philippine Lawn Bowls Association Ronalyn Greenlees was a familiar personality on the podium during the evening but received a thunderous ovation when it was announced that she was promoted to the position of Deputy President of the Asia Bowls Federation. A well deserved position and a fine representative of the PLBA - congrats Ronalyn!

Now, you all know this old horse likes to eat and the food served was plentiful and delicious, the waiters and waitresses were running around like busy bees and performing just as efficiently. The venue was fantastic and provided a wonderful preview of just how spectacular the driving range observation deck, bar and dining area will be when 100% complete. If I had to summarize the reactions of the participants to the venue, one word "WOW" would be sufficient. OK, enough already, I hated to see the evening end but it did and Priscilla the Horse was texting me as to where I was so late at night so I reluctantly left. I did so physically, but as I walked away my thoughts were filled of what I had witnessed and as I passed the splendid greens, lit up like diamonds under the lights I realized that history had been made during the last seven days and those three greens were yelling out to me, as I walked into the darkness, "Hey Mate, you ain't seen nothing yet, this is just the beginning!"

Lately I have had members of Hidden Vale Sports Club (Greenlands) ask me what is the status of the Club and what is the latest on memberships. On 26 May I was able to have an interview with Greg and he provided the following information:

NEW MEMBERS: Will pay P150,000 for membership with monthly dues of P2,500 (100% consumable) and will have to pay for golf. Corporate memberships will be available for P350, 000.

REMARKS: These options are for full memberships but must be held for five years before being able to transfer to other interested parties. The monthly dues that are 100% consumable are for food and drink only. This is not cumulative, as it must be used during the current month. An exception will be made for foreign members who will enjoy a 6-month window while out of country. The new fees will take effect on 1 July. There are 220 old members that have not responded to the appeals for them to come in and update/confirm their record at the office. Staff is doing their best to track them down by letter and phone calls.

The Horse comments: An official announcement from Hidden Vale management will be forthcoming in June that will contain more details but the above should not change. At this time members may have more questions and I suggest that you contact Greg or Joy Pena. I realize that you are asking about SEC approval and when I asked about this, I was told that, barring unforeseen delays, it should be in place sometime in June. The 100% consumable on the dues is a good business approach with the objective of getting the members to use the club facilities and this should work. By 1 July a lot of the construction will be completed and the facilities that will be available will certainly be appealing to the members If any reader finds it difficult to contact Greg or Joy, please pass on your questions/comments to me and I will get them to Greg. Reply to Lacasa@ag.triasia.net.

A memorandum from the President/CEO of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Emmanuel Y. Angeles dated 18 Apr directed that structures and signages along the Perimeter fence be removed. The memo read as follows: " With the objective of smoothly facilitating the developmental efforts of CDC, you are all hereby notified to clear/vacate the perimeter fence with of corresponding unauthorized structures and signages with 7 days upon receipt of this notice. This action was properly coordinated with your barangay officials. Thank you for your cooperation and strict compliance. "

Isn't this interesting. The President of the CDC is worried about signs along the Perimeter fence. These signs are not unsightly (Well, maybe some of them) and do not interfere with pedestrian or traffic flow at all. No doubt Mr. Angeles feels that he can pick on folks with businesses along Don Juico Ave a lot easier than he can in dealing with the persons who build, occupy or rent out the illegal structures along Fields Ave, from the Checkpoint, Eastward. These buildings are unsightly, cause congestion to traffic, cause a danger to pedestrians and are a gathering place for criminal elements. The owners of some of these structures have political connections so they go untouched with Dr. Angeles looking the other way. Many of the business establishment owners along Perimeter feel that what is good for one is good for everyone. Get rid of the illegal structures along Fields Ave first, thereby showing a sincere effort to improve the community image and not be afraid to step on the toes of the politically connected individuals who are not interested in improving the security, or safety of individuals. Once that is done, then the small time business owners along Perimeter road who struggle just to exist would be more than willing to cooperate with any beautification efforts.


Ken Perfume - Nice Gift Set	Meet Ken Brown

When one lives in Angeles City the opportunity to meet many interesting people crops up on a daily basis. This City is a crossroads for visitors with varied nationalities, each with a different story to tell, some interesting, some sad and some just absolutely ridiculous but this is what contributes to the personality of our small Ex-pat enclave. This month I would like to take the time to introduce the readers to Ken Brown, one of those lads with an interesting story and a very good product to sell. Those of us living in the Philippines are very familiar with the Sampaguita flower and its wonderful fraquance and the Leis that vendors are always selling in Manila to the tourists. Ken told me that way back in 1932 it was Col George Murphy, the last US Military Governor of the Philippines who declared the Sampaguita the Philippine National Flower! Ken became interested in the Sampaguita fragrance and because he had an extensive background in the perfume business he was convinced that this flower could be used in developing a wonderful perfume that was affordable and would be sought after by female customers worldwide. In 1985 Ken made the investment of bringing to the Philippines a chief perfumer to develop the fragrance he had in mind. From this humble beginning we skip to the present where this perfume is now being sold in stores and hotels locally such as Johnny's, Oasis Hotel, Las Vegas Hotel, Europhil Hotel and other locations. Now, I have just summarized Ken's story but for further details visit his website at www.sampaquita.com. The perfume retails for P975 in retail outlets or you can contact Ken via E-mail, motia@digitelone.com or give a call to 887-0870. This perfume is a great gift for your favorite lady, or ladies and if you want to spend a bit more, Ken also offers a special gift package ranging in price from P1,000 - P2,000. Ken has promised me that if you mention Harry the Horse he will give you a discounted price.

Last month Swagman's Rodney Hegerty contacted me with the news that he was ready to semi-retire and enjoy life. It seems that the cool waters of Subic call out to Rodney and the only way to answer that call is to sell a few holdings that presently, kind of tie him down. He plans to open a ships Chandelery (Ship's stores - supplies) at Subic but to do so means that he must cut down on his present work load. Up for grabs are the Balibago Swagman, Aussie Hotel (Baguio City) and Domino's Checkpoint. For details access the below listed sites and if interested, get in touch with Rodney at the Swagman, Balibago. This could be a good investment opportunity for some folks with some bucks to spare and can take advantage of being able to take over a business that is established, has a good reputation and is a money maker. Think about it!

The 24 May edition of the Sun Star Pampanga paper featured on its front page the story that John Martin, former owner of Greenlands, now Hidden Vale Sports Club has returned to Angeles City and has filed perjury charges against his three policemen/accusers. As we all know, John was cleared of these charges but not after being incarcerated for six months (most of the time confined at AUF Hospital) and being forced to spend hundreds of thousands of pesos to clear his name. Since being cleared of the charges John has stayed out of sight in Cebu while he spent his time figuring out a game plan that appears to be one of making those who were part of the plot to ruin him, pay for their actions. I have not had the opportunity to communicate with John but through past conversations I know that this is not easy for him, as he does worry about safety for his family as well as himself. It is realized that this action takes a hell of a lot of guts and I for one hope that he is able to have these dastardly liars, who wear police uniforms pay for their actions. A few months ago I wrote that the John Martin story was not over until the person behind the set-up is revealed and made to suffer. Maybe this is the first step in discovering who that person is - let us hope so. Meanwhile John, go for it - and good luck for you have chosen an action that could be a bit risky to your well being.

It was Mother's Day and I was trying to figure out where to take Priscilla the Horse for a feed. I had already provided the customary card and a bit of a gift but tradition dictates a new pasture to graze on for an hour or so. As Priscilla was pressing me for my choice of location I suddenly had a bright idea; why not check out this new De Paolo's restaurant in Guadalupe Village, Circumferential Road, Angeles City. We could enjoy the drive, expect it to not be crowded, be inexpensive and I could write it up in this column. Now, Wallpaper Bill would say that the "inexpensive" part was the big draw and Priscilla would agree! Putting that aside, I did have good intentions and it turned out to be not so bad, well, not so good either. We did go for lunch and that turned out to be a mistake - NO AIRCONDITIONING! We sat at a very small table and had to ask for some electric fans to be placed near us. Don't get me wrong, the place is very nice, geared to the Filipino trade and the food was OK, not great, but good enough for a return trip. My return will be at NIGHT when it is cooler or during the rainy season, the most ideal time for daytime dining would be Dec through Feb. My objectives were met, it was not crowded, service was good, inexpensive and the building itself was unique. They had display cases of hundreds of key chains that reminded me of Roy's Bar. They feature a large hall suitable for large dinners/special events and take reservations. Lunch is from 10:30 AM - 2 PM, dinner 5 PM to 10 PM. To get there you take the Friendship Road, drive by the two Sunset subdivisions to the main intersection, cross over and just past the gas station you will see it on the left hand side. Tourists will not be going there but it should appeal to those ex-pats living here with Filipino relatives who are seeking a nice local eatery that will appeal to the Filipino taste. I think they will like it, you will get points with the Mrs, or girlfriend, and the price is right. I think Priscilla enjoyed the afternoon even though she has not mentioned it at all since that day - don't understand why!

I find it hard to believe but there is, in Angeles City, an anti-littering law. The City Council recently passed City Ordinance No. 50, series of 1999 anti-littering law. The Public is prohibited to litter and throw their waste on public places; the implementing officer will give those caught a citation. The minimum fine is P500 up to P2, 000 and imprison of 5 days to one year. This law covers spitting and urinating in public places as well. Wow, if this law was really implemented 75% of the men in Angeles City would suddenly learn how to use a bathroom when necessary and we would see less garbage along the road and in vacant lots. Can it work? Yes, just take a trip to Bangkok and notice how much cleaner it looks since they became strict about litter a year ago. But then, that is Thailand, a place where they do not know what a "brown-out" is.

I am still out there looking for those nice ladies and I struck gold with this one, she is an intelligent, charming lady by the name of Marivic Gomez. Only 21 years old, and from Dau, Pampanga she is a recent Holy Angel University graduate with a major in Hotel, Restaurant Management (HRM). Presently working as a waitress at Hidden Vale Sports Club Marivic has a goal to be a manager in two or three years, but not necessarily at Hidden Vale. Believe me, this lady will succeed and any doubts about that will be erased in three minutes of conversation. What a confident young lady she is! She is computer literate, loves reading, TV and movies. The good news is at this time she does not have a boyfriend and is not particularly looking for one but if the right one comes along, why not! Now, you YOUNGER single lads coming to this area might find the attraction of Marivic a good reason to pop over to Hidden Vale but I suspect that you will have to do some serious courting to attract this ambitious lady with a vision for her future.

A new Fire Chief, Capt. Policarpio is on board and maintaining office in the Angeles City Hall building. A new procedure has been implemented for fire inspections in that after the inspection, and the inspection form indicating compliance has been delivered, the owner or representative of the business is required to go to Capt. Policarpio's office to obtain the Certification Certificate. This will give the Captain the opportunity to meet with the people concerned to ascertain that there are no complaints about harassment, or undue charges. It was announced that fire inspections are conducted from 9 Jan to 15 Dec, any inspections between these dates are not authorized. These procedures have been implemented to protect business establishments and to enhance the honest reputation of fire department officials. Seems like a step in the right direction to me.

When the land was purchased last year the tenant had 6 years remaining on his lease. The rent was quite low and it included several apartments in the rear. Naturally, he was not interested in relinquishing them - without some compensation. The negotiations started and, after a couple of months, a settlement was reached and they closed the operation. Rumor is that Mo's hired their lead cook so look for some interesting items to be added to Kokomo's menu. It is good that the deal was closed as when I went in there last month it was not a very pleasing place to visit. It was obvious that a lack of interest prevailed. The new owner was interested in finding a tenant, but nobody seemed interested. The rent is a hefty P50, 000/month. This on top of the extensive renovations needed to make it a viable operation seemed out of the range of most prospective renters. But, seeming to have an endless supply of energy (and cash) the Tropicana/Misty/Blue Nile/Nero's Forum - and soon to be open - Cambodia Bar stepped in and have signed a long term lease. Rumor has it that a three story building will rise on this site featuring a first class bar and luxury apartments. Stand by for news!

The old Wontok/Duke of York space between Splash and King of Diamonds on Real St. is turning out to be a very interesting building. Three stories! Word is that it will be an upscale bar complex consisting of as many as 30 small bars (Pattaya Beer Bar style) rented to girls (or guys) who supply a small cadre of staff. This should be interesting. The owners are talking to Mo about managing it and it is confirmed that there will be an entrance into King of Diamonds and probably into Splash.

Construction just started on the vacant lot on Santos Street. It's located between Heaven Bar and Black Pearl. Word is that it will be a bar complex of 4 or 5 bars. All will be upscale. Completion should be in December.

Kokomo's held their 4th annual Memorial Day Wet T-Shirt contest. By all accounts it was the best one yet. He seems to be getting more support from the Perimeter Road bars. Honey-Ko's had a first time entry and she ended up winning the event; another newcomer was the Dirty Duck. The spectators were impressed with the smoothness of the operation and that it ended by just a bit after 4 PM. The price of admission included all you can drink until 7 so nobody was complaining and the other bars extended their happy hour until 10.

Mo usually invites the girls from the bars on Santos Street to enter his wet t-shirt event. For those of you who have not been here, Santos Street has 9 or 10 very casual but small bars. They don't have dancers and the staffs are friendly; Very friendly! One of the advantages of sending staff is exposure. There are around 100 guys there and a girl who does a good job usually attracts someone to visit her in their respective bar. One of the most successful Santos Street bars as far as results from the wet t-shirt contests is Shadow Bar. All of a sudden the mamasan got greedy and started demanding P250 for each girl who attends. Each bar sends a 'cheering section' that also gets food and drinks and she demanded the same for them. Go figure. Must be low season and old Mama is getting desperate!

As we previously reported, the 'owners' of Marine Bar just up and left. It seems they left a considerable electric bill and other debts behind; Mo's taking back the operation and looking at a new concept for the place with a much better connection to Voodoo and perhaps a terrace bar on the 2nd and 3rd floor. It should be operating sometime this month.

Ayres Rock. After what seems like delay after delay, the next scheduled opening for Ayers Rock is June 1st. They are having a Survivor party. P1, 500 all you can drink and eat with lots of 'drinking' games, shows and other events. The catering has been contracted to Beretto's Meats. All of us who enjoy a good steak are anxiously awaiting the opening. Let's hope they make it this time.

Every Sunday at 3 PM the Angeles City Hot Rod Association gathers at OMNI aviation, Clark Field, to test run their monster vehicles, fine tune them, find out what improvements are needed and what needs fixing. It is also a social gathering with Hang-Out's Dave White providing the cold beer and some snacks. It was during one of these gatherings that tragedy struck in that they started to run out of cold beer. A call was made to the Hang-out where the Horse happened to be sipping a cool one and understanding the seriousness of the situation, transported a few cases of cold grog out to the lads. As a reward I was treated to my first ever ride in a hot rod, compliments of Dave Baker and his "Blown Crazy" 67 Chevy Camaro with a 350 cu. in. engine. Dave is the driver and the owner of this awesome machine is John Rizya. Dave had me strapped in and drove to the starting point of the quarter mile Omni runway and the sound of the motor convinced me that this was not a car for a gentle Sunday drive. It rumbled, it lurched, it was like a horse straining to leap forward from the starting gate and I found myself looking for something to hang on to. Off we went, with a roar and I was pushed back against my seat but managed to look calm (I think) during the 12 seconds it took to go from 0 to 110 mph. It was a thrill, though brief, and I certainly have more respect for those professionals that drive those stock cars and racing cars for a living. I can't wait to be called on again to deliver some beer so I might catch another ride, once was not enough, the "high" was too short lived. Keep an ear open for I have heard that there will be, sometime in the future, some organized events for these cars but nothing definite yet. If you have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, stop by Omni and have a look at the cars on display, visitors are more than welcome.

SOB CLUB MEETINGS - 6 Jun - Silk Stockings; 13 Jun - Confetti's; 20 Jun - Cottontails; 27 Jun - Las Vegas Club

DOG HOUSE MEETINGS - 4 Jun - Bonanza; 11 Jun - Misty's; 18 Jun - Lollipop; 25 Jun - Blue Nile

Priscilla and I made it to Thailand! The trip was too short as we only had two full days to enjoy the food and shopping. This was Priscilla's first trip to Bangkok and she really enjoyed it, especially the food. Needless to say, our time was taken up with shopping but our next trip will be longer so a bit of sightseeing can be added. We stayed at the First House that was located on Soi 19, Petchburi Rd., only a short distance from Pon Tip Computer Shopping Center and in the heart of the wholesale garment/shoes district. We made it to China Town for a few gold purchases and Priscilla was happy that I remembered a lot of the Thai that I had picked up from my five year stay in Thailand. Regardless of how much fun we had, it was good to return to the Philippines but, we look forward to a return trip in a few years. There is a lot of construction taking place on Fields Ave and further details will be provided next month. Less tourists at this time of the year but still, new bars will be opening and new sights will greet you during your next visit. Make it soon - meanwhile, be kind to horses!