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FEBRUARY 2003 Greetings folks and a happy February to one and all. CASH ADVANCES In line with the Filipino way of trying to make things easier for the tourist the Equitable PCI bank on Clark now requires a copy of your credit card and a couple of ID cards AND the bank managers/operations officer approval to get any cash advances on your credit cards. If the manager is not in, you are shit out of luck. To make things even easier, of course they do not have a Xerox machine on the premises for making copies and there are none nearby so if you did not know of these new requirements a trip off base would be necessary. See how anxious they are to take care of the tourists here!CABLE TV We continue to explore how the Filipino in his infinite wisdom continues to make life easier for us here. In this instance, it is the people that live here permanently and are serviced by the Angeles City Cable Television Network (ACCTN) that are thrilled to listen to the sweet words of owner Dennis Uy as he tells one and all that they should be happy to receive the latest innovation offered by ACCTN. The "Cable Box" is here to make the cable TV viewer happy by counting all the benefits that Mr. Uy is so graciously offering. It is so wonderful to have a "box" forced on the customer that allows you to use two to three remotes now instead of The Exotica has changed its name to the "Blueberry Hill Bar" and long hair Juhn has moved over there from the Blackjack. By the way the Blackjack has reopened. Don't know why the name change was necessary but lets see how it works. SWAGMAN SUPER RAFFLE
To my surprise I was one of the many winners of the Swagman's Friday night super raffle. I did not know about this event until on the spur of the moment I stopped by for a visit and was approached to buy some raffle tickets. The tickets are only P20 each or six for P100 and the prizes are food packages or choice of fresh meat packages prepared by Bretto's Meat Shop. I selected the meat package and had Priscilla cook up the chicken and pork chops when I got home, a great feast! The tickets go on sale as early as Thursday night and one does not have to be present to win. The chances of winning something are pretty good as there were more than 30 prizes given away the night I was there. Believe it or not, that is the first time this Horse has won a raffle prize in years. Something else to put on your calendar is the Seafood Night on the last Saturday night of each month. The cost is P600 each and tickets must be bought prior to the event, starting on the 15th of each month so they have an accurate count of how many will be attending. For that low price you get an "all you can eat" seafood fare consisting of lobster, crabs, prawns, cooked fish and calamaris. You can understand the need for advance purchase of tickets as exact planning must be accomplished considering the food being served. This sounds like a good deal for the many folks in town that love seafood.
TEARDROPS
Mongolian Bar-b-q is a popular offering at various eateries in town and it is certainly fun to experiment with the various ingredients available for the customer to add to the meat and vegetables as one never gets the same taste twice. I happened to see Charlie literally crying his eyes out as he feasted on Mongolian prepared by Chef Dallas at the Orchid Inn and I could not resist teasing him and also taking his picture. It appears that Charlie likes a bit of spice and on this occasion might have added a bit too much. Charles is from West Germany and likes to come here to get away from the cold German winters. He certainly got warmed up on this day as the tears and sweat poured from him but he loved every bite and so will you if you drop in to the Orchid Inn for their Mongolian bar-b-q.
JUMP IN WHILE YOU CAN
Originally this picture was taken to publicize a new, unique service offered by an American Expat that had a bright idea while he was in the States when he had the opportunity to buy and ship over here a Jacuzzi big enough for 10 people or 4 beer drinking Australians. It was going to be called the Blue Lagoon but now reality has set in and the project is under review for a new approach. I did not want to waste this picture but I told the 6 naked ladies that were in there with me to get out as Priscilla reviews this column after printing. Seriously, the owner is thinking that he might try a small bar using the Jacuzzi as a center piece with the ladies lounging amongst the bubbles. Will let you know if this ever gets off the ground. A SENIOR CITIZEN HUG It is not just the young ladies that need a hug as George Brown demonstrates here as he brings a smile to a wonderful senior citizen with a great personality (The senior citizen is the woman, just in case you are not sure).
BLUE NILE EXECUTIVE CLUB
You've heard about it and now these pictures will give you a bit of an idea of what to expect in case you want to join. It is a private club with memberships costing either P8,300 (P2,700 consumable), gold card, or 13,500 pesos (P3,500 consumable) platinum card both of which are good for two years; one can also take advantage of the P1000 weekly membership privilege if in town temporarily. It had a slow start but patronage appears to be picking up. It certainly is a plush club with nightly entertainment offered and the private rooms are first class and can accommodate up to 6/7 patrons. I was able to see it before the opening and believeme; it is quite impressive as it should be after Richard spent more than 10 million pesos in building it. My low income prevents me from becoming a member so I have not been in it since its opening so can only give you updates based on member's comments so I will have to hang around the entrance/exit to see if I can get some ideas of how well it is going.
I MISS PRIVATE DANCER
Meet Maryann, a past employee of Private Dancer who has seen better days. She can be seen walking up and down Perimeter road each day in a different outfit, talking to herself. It is believed that she still misses Trevor and Des but it is not sure which one she misses most. It is apparent that leaving Private Dancer had a very traumatic effect and her daily mission is to just try to get a glimpse of Des each day since Trevor is out of town most of the time.
TAXES This is a freebie Taxman but you owe me a drink! NEED YOUR 2003 TAXES FILED FAST AND RIGHT? NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY. CONTACT THE TAXMAN AT 0917-4698253, 0918-5258215 OR JAFEN@DATELNET.NET/TAXACP@YAHOO.COM. (This is for American taxpayers). THANKSIn answer to my comments about Immigration problems when entering or leaving the Philippines I would like to thank Jerry Busch and "Coolan 400" for their E-mails regarding this subject. I try to answer all e-mails sent to me Received e-mail from "Dennis" who would like me to feature more "mature" ladies once in a while. I did that a few times Dennis but it is hard to find older ladies that are available and still look good. Have you seen some of the bow-wow Mamasans working in the clubs? Seriously, when I find a lady that meets my criteria I will feature her because I know there are some older readers that are not interested in finding some 18-20 year old to marry. (My e-mail: Lacasa@ag.triasia.net). MONTE CARLO BARA fire in a house at the rear of the Monte Carlo Bar was destroyed one night early in Jan causing customers in the Monte Carlo to decide it was getting a bit hot and time to head outside. The very quick reaction of various fire response teams avoided what could have been a catastrophic evening. The fire was contained with only minor damage of one room of the bar itself. Regretfully, the house used as a dormitory and dressing room for employees of the bar was completely razed because someone left a candle unattended. There were no injuries but damage was estimated at P200,000. When talking to owner Bill, he regretted the loss but indicated that it happened at the right time. The bar had not been experiencing the volume of business hoped for and there were plans to close and construct the bar/hotel rooms that were in the original plans. The fire forced an early shut down and rather than reopen the investors will keep it closed and proceed with plans to reopen with the bar and rooms. This will take anywhere from three to six months and will involve three phases. Phase one will see the bar/lobby and 10 rooms open for business. The next two building phases will result in the space behind the main building being used and the final result will see a total of 40 hotel rooms. Naturally, the girls employed at Monte Carlo have been moved to the Las Vegas Club and Bill was happy to report that business there has increased. So, despite a bit of bad luck it appears that it was not that bad and in fact has created a great opportunity for future success. Only a Vegas man like Bill could roll the dice and come out a winner despite the odds against him. TREASURE ISLANDTreasure Island Bar on Fields Ave, opposite Kokomo's has been sold to Mo of Kokomo's fame. Tom (Duck) let it go because of the slowdown in business and the books showed too much red ink; Mo bought it as he said "it was too good a deal to pass up". For over a year Mo had tried to convince Tom to let him take over management of the place so now he has a new challenge and Tom was able to get most of his money back and lose the headache of running a bar. Mo has indicated that by bringing in some new girls, adding a new Mamasan and instituting some improved management procedures the bar is already making money. Plans are underway to make renovations (includes the addition of the shower set up first popularized by the Cleopatra and G-Spot - two places closed and up for sale) that will increase seating capacity and take advantage of previous dead spaces. There are no plans to change the name. THE PICK-UPThe Gerard owned Pick-Up Club is experiencing an increase in customer support. Now that the Boss In addition to the Condos Gerard is planning to build at the site close to the Caddy Shack I have recently found out that he has also bought the plot of land directly behind the Caddy Shack and plans are being drawn up to build a six or seven story hotel with the possibility of a rooftop swimming pool. LOLLIPOPThe building that housed the Lollipop bar will be rebuilt and opened as a top class Steak House Restaurant. The plans are to build an large open grill in the center of the restaurant where the steaks will be cooked to the customers preference. A large exhaust cover reaching directly to the roof will remove any smoke from the grill. A feature that I have not seen since eating in a hotel restaurant in Bangkok many years ago is that the beef will be in large slabs and the customer will indicate how thick a piece he wants and the price will be based on the weight of the portion. The price will be inclusive of the salad bar, bottomless soup, ice tea and soft drinks. This is an early "heads up" so plans might change as time goes by but this is one project that I will be looking forward to seeing its completion. I WOULD IF I COULD
It had been a long time since I visited the Byrd Cage and did not know what to expect when I walked in but after only a few minutes I discovered my "I Would If I Could" lady. I guess it was her tallness and nice smile that caught my eye as I was talking to talented manager John and I told him that I needed to get a picture. Her name is Marylou and what a charmer she is. She is 25 and has two young children, a 2 yr old boy and a 4 yr old girl and originates from Bicol. Being 25 she displayed a maturity that most men would like and was able to participate in a two-way conversation with ease. I thought her age was a pleasant change from the 18-19 year old dancers I usually run into but then I am getting a bit long in the tooth myself. Won't be too long before the 40 year old dancers look good to me as well. If you want to communicate with MaryLou, drop into the Byrd Cage or send an e-mail to: misspigirl2002@yahoo.com.
NEW BAR OPENING On 1 Feb the Amore bar is scheduled to open. It was previously known as the Golden Gate but should have been known as the Golden Shower for it was a bit of a piss hole of a place that never did well. It is still under Korean ownership and after spending five million pesos in renovations you can be sure that the new appearance is a vast improvement over the old. I think, this time, that the bar will be a success as goes along with the trend of more upscale clubs opening on Real Street.
COMMENTS FROM A READER Early last month I received e-mail from a John Baldruchi that I thought I should share with the readers of this column. His comments and my replies follow: Dear Harry, Enjoy your monthly article, especially the photos of the pretty lasses. I don't see why you don't list price disparities. I usually drink wine when barhopping. However, club prices vary from 35 Peso a glass during Happy Hour to 40-55 Pesos normal times to 75 Peso at Blue Fox, 80 at The Jungle and 100 Peso at the 'no Happy Hour ever' Blue Nile (per the Mama-san), Misty's, Angels Club, etc.). Why is wine a local drink at most bars and 'imported' at others? It's the same wine! Try tasting it. (The Horse says - There are too many disparities in prices to cover. Depending on your income and budget the prices are important to some folks and not important to others. Where is that 35 peso wine as there are some winos in town might be interested?) Why aren't there more tourists in Angeles? Try the web. Used to be folks could view sites like Bakhithindi.com for free. Now they have to pay. The free part is the riots in Manila. That's great to show free on the site instead of pretty girls What about Pinatubo blowing up? Should show that to draw more tourists! Ha! Also many sites are never updated anymore, like Kokomos and the infamous Sons Of Bacchus. Their last entry is about 8 months ago! The Ville's email box is always full and won't accept more. No one able to open and read email there? These things make those who may want to come here wonder what's happening. (The Horse says - Forget the other sites, just read "Harry the Horse" and then come over for the Mt. Pinatubo tour or take bets on when Mt. Arayat may blow its top). Check out the Nite Owl column in the Bangkok Post. It lists the negatives too but in a positive way that attracts readers to want to try a trip there. All we read about the Philippines is, "Yes, there's a lot of riots, volcanic eruptions, kidnappings, bombings and folks getting their heads lobbed off in the Philippines but its relatively safe in Angeles." Do tourists need a military escort to GET to Angeles? (The Horse says - How can a negative be positive? Tourists being shot in Bangkok, no problem, come on over, sometimes they miss! No military escort needed, just arrange to be picked up by the Margarita Station transportation system, but don't forget to e-mail them first) It's somewhat normal here to get a drink from the manager/owner if you frequent a bar or buy a ladies drink. This is not the case in Thailand. Bar fines are 1,000 Peso here and in Thailand the bar gets 500 Baht and the girl 2 or 3 thousand! About 4 times more to screw there than here. You never see this info on the web either. Food is cheap here as well as hotel accommodations, and not in Thailand. (The Horse says - I agree with you, all tourists in Thailand should immediately come to AC but honestly, we don't have bar fines here, what is that?) I've passed the Gecko (old DMZ) bar dozens of times but never stopped in even though it's often praised in your column. The reason? There is ALWAYS some female employee sitting in a chair at a make-shift desk blocking the narrow sidewalk that forces me and other pedestrians to walk in the road! She, or perhaps the bar itself, has absolutely no consideration for passers-by. Get rid of her/change their philosophy and I will stop in. (The Horse says - I went there, kicked her off the stool and broke the chair. She got up, kicked my ass along with 12 tricycle drivers and after 2 weeks in the hospital I now walk in the street instead of the sidewalk). I used to frequent Wet Seals and since the new owners took over, I have never had a free drink. Mo said they need time as they never ran a bar before but what does it take? I was spending 300 or 400 Pesos there three times a week. If things continue the same, I will write it completely off my bar hopping route. (The Horse says - Please don't do that, from what I hear, they need that 1200 pesos a week so just think of it as your contribution in keeping a bar on Fields Ave open. By the way, did Mo ever buy you a free drink in Kokomos?). IN THE NEWS AGAINThat eyesore of a building on Perimeter Road leased for many years by Robert Sullivan might see some new life as CyberCare Inc., led by Rosanto (Rosie) Labauog has signed a ten year renewable lease with Oliverio G. Laperal, owner, effective 15 Jan 2003 to develop the building. Even though Mr. Sullivan, since after suffering a serious setback in development plans after the tragedy of Mt. Pinatubo has tried various investment ideas to attract investors that might
have the money to allow him to develop the property; after 12 years he is still trying but regretfully, documentation sent to Mr. Sullivan indicates that he is in arrears on the property rental to the tune of P850,809.57 which along with possible violations of other terms and conditions of the Contract of Lease may be grounds for termination of said lease. On 15 Jan the Acsay Pascual & Associates Law Office, on behalf of the Laperal family notified Mr. Sullivan, in writing that " Mr. Labayog, is authorized to occupy and take possession of all said properties pursuant to the lease agreement, executed and signed by the parties on Jan 15, 03. It is certified, further that Mr. Labayog has covenanted to promptly eject any and all illegal occupants of squatters of the properties leased, hence, he has the permission and authority granted by our clients to exercise general control and supervision over the building premises and other properties leased and to initiate judicial actions, if necessary". Reliable sources have reported that Mr. Sullivan is in disagreement with this action as he feels he has a lease that allows him to stay. It appears that, last year there were some investors from Las Vegas that had shown interest in this building and Mr. Sullivan was hopeful that development would take place. Regretfully, this did not pan out and the investors backed off on putting large sums of money into this project. Naturally, Mr. Sullivan is unhappy with this latest development and may decide to pursue legal action. The banners displayed on the front of the building and in the back clearly indicate that CyberCare representatives consider their actions to be quite legal and are well prepared for any legal actions that Mr. Sullivan might be considering. One day last month, as the banners were being put in place it
looked light there might be a reenactment of the "gunfight at the OK Corral" as numerous security guards with shotguns hired by CyberCare were at one end of the building while Robert's entourage and a policeman were at the other end. Mr. Sullivan, along with his faithful shadow, Club Rio/Nifty's Neville was seen entering the building. Peace prevailed though and all we can do is to see how this drama plays out. It is hoped that all parties are, somehow, pacified and that this Galleon building will finally, one year, be developed to where it could be an asset to the community rather than continuing as an empty shell. A reliable source at CyberCare has indicated that they plan a complete upgrade using a Corporate America design that when completed will be like walking into a facility in the US, but offering care only CyberCare can provide. This development is planned to take two years, maybe less if all goes well. FUN AT THE DRAG RACES
For those living or visiting Angeles City that are looking for something other than a daily dose of barhopping then they should have taken the opportunity to watch the Angeles Hot Rod Association hold their January meeting at the OMNI Aviation Centre inside Clark where Drag Racing was featured as well as a great display of privately owned motorcycles. Soft drinks, ice cream, beer and barbecue was available at reasonable cost and it was a wonderful family outing. The hot rod warm ups took place earlier in the afternoon and the drag races started at 6 PM. It was exciting to watch the races but to me, one of the highlights of the day was to see a Ducati Motorcycle take off like an airplane down the runway, it was very impressive. Many people were impressed by Don-Don's newly purchased Harley Davidson machine pictured here but I am sad to report that it is now under repair after Don-Don tried to go under a school bus just a few days after this picture was taken. Maybe the young boy can give him a few safety tips?? Anyone wishing to join the AHRA as a participating or non-participating member is welcome to sign-up, just stop by the Hang-Out on Perimeter Road for details.
A NICE PLACE TO RELAX
taking off or just relax, enjoy the view and watch as dusk settles in. My son enjoys looking at the planes that are parked there and now, with the opening of the El Supremo Sizzling Station at that location, I can also enjoy a nice lunch or late afternoon snack. Their sizzling specialties are served with rice, mixed vegetable and soup from P75 to P109. Snacks, beer and soft drinks are also available and Jean and Gene Tuazon own it. Husband Gene also has an air-conditioning maintenance business and maintains the cooling systems at the VFW. His cell phone numbers are 0979 7753814 or 0918 942-7338. THAT ANNOYING SOUND In case residents in the Clarkview area are wondering who is responsible for the annoying little airplane that sounds like a giant mosquito that all too often flies for a week at a time in the late night hours practicing "touch and go" landings at the OMNI airfield at Clark, the blame rests with the Philippine Air Force. They are training PAF Cadets using 3 to 4 Cessna 172 (T41 military version) planes in touch and go, as well as instrument procedures in the hopes that they will become proficient pilots trained well enough not to crash land in any more schools in the Mabalacat area.
HEEEEER'S JERRY
Yes folks, Jerry's Café is now open! The big event took place on 11 Jan and as usual, when there are free eats available the place was packed. After a few days the crowd dwindled down to the old familiar faces that were regular customers at the old Jerry's. Business is brisk and the prices are great for those budget minded folks. Seeing Jerry's Café situated right next to the Stampede make me think of my international travels when I opted for economy class seating. For those wanting business class seating, choose the Stampede, for those choosing economy class, well, old snaggle tooth has a seat waiting for you. While sitting at Jerry's (ok, I admit I have economy class tastes) I overheard one very conservative spender state "why pay 35 pesos for a beer at Stampede when I can pay 23 pesos here!" For air-conditioned comfort I think I could afford a drink costing less than a dollar but then I like the best of both worlds so will frequent both locations. Too bad I can't afford that business class seat on Northwest but that seat at Stampede, fortunately, is much more affordable. A VERY NICE LADY
For those of you that would like to communicate with an older lady (in her 30's) let me recommend Cheryl R. Soliven. She has a son, 15 years old and lives in La Union and used to work in the VFW there. I have known this young lady for a number of years as she used to be with a friend of mine that has moved to Thailand and found other interests. Cheryl is a sweet lass that has had a few bad breaks but has never worked in a bar. If interested, Email address is: chey2k2001@yahoo.com.
SO LONG KEN
It is time to say "so long mate" to popular bar manager Ken Hopwood as he prepares to depart for a job in Australia. After closing the doors to the Top End bar Ken was seen taking some relaxation time at Honey Ko's bar with his mate Glenn. Needless to say, what Ken was looking at will not be readily available in Australia.
MEET THE TOURIST
It wasn't that easy finding a tourist out and about in the afternoon early last month but fortunately Tim Miller (Exkorling), from Grafton, W. VA., was up and about. Tim's choice of bars included Voodoo as it was always good for him, and the new bars like the Brown Sugar.
OVERHEARD AT THE HANG OUTWhich young lady left the Hang Out in a Mercedes and returned in a tricycle? Who is known as the "Brownnose"? Why is Ken McDonald nicknamed the "cockout"? Why is Barry B. known as "Salty Dick"? Why is (Crash) Don-Don walking now? Who is the "Glass Cleaner"? Heard that the master nut runner is still getting his nuts off at Honey Ko's. Is it true that master farter, Bobby Baker is seeking the title of "Fart King"?
Heard that by the end of March there will be a new Meat shop owned and run by Australian professional butcher Peter. The store will be named Peter's Quality Meat and will feature imported meats from Australia and large quantities of lamb are promised. It is too early to provide more details but the store will be located in the Friendship area, opposite the Tru-Blue restaurant. Bobby Rutledge is the new owner, publisher of the Red Book. It appears that pioneering owner Tim gave up this successful endeavor to concentrate his efforts on the Silver Bullet Bar which is rapidly becoming a popular watering hole, so much so that Tim decided to expand into the space previously occupied by Red Book. Kevin, from Glasgow, Scotland was making the rounds with his tour guide Larry (Melbourne, Australia), when, drunk, Larry decided to explore a side street off of Fields Ave. Upon entering a promising bar they soon discovered that the all male clientele appeared to be very interested in meeting them up close. They were not too drunk to make a very hasty exit. Des, from Honey Ko's wanted one and all to know that he had the privilege of experiencing a very rare happening for an Expat - he was paid off for an accident where a Filipino ran into the rear of his car that was parked nearly all the way on the sidewalk. The driver was drunk, driving a gov't. vehicle and believe it or not, the POLICE pursued the case. This has to be a first! AFTER THE MOVIEPriscilla and I enjoy a night out at the movies and quite often head for the Cinemas located at either the Jenra or Nepo shopping centers. The one problem is that when exiting the movie we are hungry and it was always a problem finding a decent place to eat. We were elated to discover the "Dainty Tea House and Coffee Shop" located directly across the street from the new Nepo Mall. Do not let the name fool you; this establishment serves a large selection of Chinese food that is delicious and reasonably priced. Priscilla and I ordered the small portion of hot and sour soup (enough for 4 people), small portions of beef and onions and chicken with cashews (more than enough for two), plain rice (enough for six), plus ice tea all for less than P500. This restaurant has a modern motif that is comfortable and exudes cleanliness and the operating hours are from 0800 to 2300 hours. The staff are friendly and the "busty" cashier/hostess is nice to look at. I give this establishment a five-horseshoe salute not only for the great food but for being there to make my night out at the movies with Mrs. Horse not only a visual delight but also a gastronomic pleasure. MEETING AT CITY HALL
Last 14 Jan there was a meeting at City Hall for all bar owners, managers and Mamasans at the City Hall conference room conducted by the Vice Mayor, and other City Officials. The main thrust of the meeting was to present to the gathering the objectives of the Mayor's program to eliminate the violations committed by establishments in hiring underage girls, working without licenses and various other offenses. The meeting was overloaded with the Mamasans and various other female supervisors with a very small attendance of actual bar owners or "legal" Expat managers. The meeting was informative though often, quite boisterous, but what can you expect with a room full of women. It appeared that the bottom line was that critical "inspections" would continue and bars that violate licensing requirements would be closed down. When the Doctora Health Officer announced that the bar owners, as well as the Mamasans would be held accountable the women attendees erupted in cheers and hand clapping. Seems strange since they would not have a job if not for the owners who are the ones being held accountable anyway, for whom else can afford the "fines"
imposed? The Doctora explained that the licensing procedures would be improved with applicants being subjected to in-depth interviews. My question is, if the female reports to the bar with a license issued by City Health Officials and it turns out, later, that she is underage, then why isn't the Doctora held accountable for the violation? The Mayor's task force will continue to visit entertainment establishments in an effort to eliminate the presence of underage workers and therefore, keep the NBI and various NGO groups out of the picture as this is a local problem and should be resolved by City Officials without any outside interference. The message is clear to bar owners, the temptation to hire those ladies 17 and under is not worth the risk and the punishment can cost you a hell of a lot of money. Ask those owners who have already suffered shut downs and some jail time how much it hurt financially. TAPS It is time to bid farewell to another old soldier, Bob Gilbert, whose heart gave out on him last month and was buried on 28 Jan. A long time resident of Angeles City, Bob was a driving force in forming the Disabled Veterans Association (DAV) in this area and his fellow comrades will miss him. MANAGER'S CHOICE
Her name is Neth, 18 years old, no children yet and no steady boyfriend and was the very happy choice of Harrow for this month and I would have to agree that it is, indeed, a very nice decision. She is employed as a dancer at HTGEES and if you would like to drop this lovely lass a line jump on your computer and send an Email to HTGEES@hotmail.com. She has been working for only one month so you better hurry up before she meets that "special guy".
HTGEES BAR
Even though I live nearby, for some unknown reason it has been a very long time since I visited this bar, I guess because I usually head in the opposite direction when seeking material for this column. My visit was prompted by the comments on one of the message boards that HTGEES had the worse line-up of dancers in town. My goodness, I thought this was a bit harsh so I had to check it out for myself; and I was glad that I did for it reminded me that there was a very nice, friendly bar nearby that I was missing out on. But case in point, what about the "line-up"? I would disagree with the comment about the ladies there, they are not the worse, and they are not the best, but that leaves a lot of room in-between and believe me you are missing out on a good thing if you don't see for yourself. It is also a good meeting place for those seeking a pool game as the table location allows ample room for undisturbed playing and a friendly management team
more than willing to take up the cue for a game. I had forgotten about the room set aside for customers to view some movies and share some time with a lady of his choice. Who wants to watch a movie alone when very nice companionship is so close? Harrow has spent a bit of money to set up a computer system that allows him to download music, transfer it to another computer next to the bar and then be able to play songs on request. Like me, he doesn't understand it all and had a technician set it up for him but it works except when I asked him to download a song by Aaron Neville. I have to return and see if he figured out how to do it and also, to enjoy a "line-up" of ladies that try their best to make your visit a pleasure. Nothing wrong with that, is there! BLUE K DART TOURNAMENT
It was nice to see a dart tournament in town once again. The Blue K hosted a tournament as part of the Australian Day Fiesta that saw 16 participants, with 15 coming from Olongapo. This reflects the lack of interest for darts in this town, which is sad for a few years ago there used to be a very active league. Dart leagues are very popular in Barrio Barreto but in Angeles the bars make room for pool tables only, with no room for darts. One of the few, if not the only establishment left on the Fields Ave side of town that an Expat can find a place to play darts is at the Blue Boar Inn, along Perimeter Road, Clarkview. Hidden Vale has two boards up but there is no one available to give you a game. Every Thursday night there is pick-up games to be played at the Blue Boar but so far only two Expats, Tony and Dan have shown any interest. The Blue K tournament went well but next year the prize fund has to be increased to justify players traveling all the way from Olongapo to play, drink and eat for five hours. It is true that the folks play for the fun of it and winner's bragging rights but the prize fund should be increased to allow, at least, the second place finisher to receive something. I am sure that an increase in the entry fee will not be objected to if the players know the extra cash will go towards a pay-out to the top three. This should also be considered for the pool players who participate in the pool tournament held at the same time as darts. The pool tournament drew 16 entries, 10 men and six ladies. Dart results - 1st, Eddy (Germany), 2nd, Peter (Sweden), both players from the Olongapo group. Pool results - Women, 1st - Jasmin. Men, 1st - Kngle Ostenso, 2nd - Bobby De Leon PHILIPPINE INTERNATION HOSPITAL (PIH) The new Health Visions Hospital in Angeles City is well on the way to completion. The following information was forwarded to me from Jack McDonald: "Gents, we expect the hospital to be turned over by the construction engineer I'm guilty of not taking the pictures I promised for this issue but will get my butt down there before I leave for the States and get enough to use for the March column. The services offered are impressive and the building itself is a beauty.  I'M OUT OF HERE
That's all for this month folks. It was nice to meet up with George Thompson again and to learn that he remains a fan of this column. Poor George, he is still hoping to get back some of the $75,000 he invested in the Swagman Hotel (under the previous owner's tenure) without going to court. Feb 25th will be my 65th b'day and I will have my celebration on the 22nd. I used to have it every 10 years, but after reaching 60 I decided to have it every five years. If I make it to 70, I will have a party every two years thereafter. On 26 Feb I will be flying to Las Vegas and will not return until 24 March so am not sure how much information will be in the April column. Feb is a short month and if you want to take your honey to something special on Valentine's day escort her to Hidden Vale on 14 Feb for their Valentines Dinner at the Poolside and a Valentines Concert with one of the top bands in the country; don't forget the candy, flowers and Viagara. Oh yes, don't forget to be kind to horses! |
just one; it is wonderful to lose some of the features you use to have access to when you bought that expensive TV at Saver's Mart (owned by the Uy's); it is wonderful to watch a TV picture that is not as clear as it once was before the "Box"; it is wonderful to have to pay rent on those wonderful little "boxes"; it is wonderful to have to pay P200 for each Box remote control unit that makes you wish you had three hands instead of two; it is wonderful to have to pay an insurance fee for each Box when in fact you would like to take a sledge hammer to it instead; It is wonderful to be told how beneficial it is to the customer when anyone with an ounce of sense realizes that the only people reaping any benefits are the Uy's. The "Box" has only ONE true purpose - to cut down on the amount of unauthorized users of the ACCTN cable system. This is an understandable objective for any Cable owner but, please, do not try to insult the intelligence of the average customer by telling them how great it is for them. So far, everyone this Horse has spoken to HATES the Box and if there was an alternative service in town they would immediately switch, but ACCTN enjoys a monopoly and can do as they please, whether the customer likes it or not. If one does not like it - hey no problem, do without and lose access to cable TV. Many of the boxes initially installed had to be taken out for adjustments with a majority not being returned yet. Now they are announcing that if subscribers do not pick up the boxes before 31 Jan they will be charged P300 pesos for installation, now isn't that customer friendly! Let us hope that someday the Uy brothers discover the latest technology used in the States and elsewhere and we can look forward to the removal of these boxes that have not been in use in more developed countries for many years. Until then, no amount of cursing, complaining or frustration will help, as those sounds will fall on deaf ears. \
and enjoy comments from you folks out there. Jerry wanted to know what the code "Note NCS/NES" meant as it was stamped on his passport when entering the country. Boy, I have no idea but will try to find out. "Coolan" reported that he was accused of working when he was exiting the country. I am booked to leave for Las Vegas on 26 Dec so will be curious to see how I am treated. My status as a permanent resident puts me in a different category so I have never experienced the same hassles as many tourists have. Please folks, let me know of any problems you have encountered, I am serious about keeping a file so I can mention the incidents at the next meeting I attend where tourism officials are present. 
has returned from his trip to Spain he is able to be on hand to make the adjustments necessary to get the place off the ground. Reports reaching me indicate that around the 9 PM time frame is when the club starts to fill up. A little bird also whispered in my ear that Gerard is open to offers to buy the place but whoever does buy it will need to accept it as a full time endeavor as the maintenance alone will require a lot of attention. This is one big building!
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