HarryTheHorse - Angeles City Expat Newsletter for October 2004

Surprise folks, I was able, thanks to help from my friends Chuck Guinn, John Bee and of course webmaster Tom, get a brief Oct column published. I will return to Angeles City on 3 Oct and I will miss the absolutely fantastic weather I enjoyed during the three weeks I was here. I have spent my time visiting doctors, spending my time with my son and friends as well as, of course, shopping. For sure, I have added to my hot sauce collection and now look forward to someone visiting the bar, ordering a bowl of chili and telling me, "you can't make it hot enough for me". I have to thank Art Becker, a reader of this column who e-mailed me and told me where to go to get a good choice of sauces. Art, I got carried away and spent $75 and would have bought more but was worried about having enough space in my suitcases. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Tony Iamuref (sp?), a bar tender at "The Bar @ Time Square" located in the New York New York Hotel and Casino. He also sent me an e-mail prior to my leaving Angeles City. One last honorable mention is a reader from Orange County, Los Angeles, Calif who drove all the way to Vegas to buy me a dinner and drove back to Calif. the next day. It was the first time I was able to ride in a Mercedes 400 sedan and you can be sure this "no class" horse enjoyed the ride, the dinner and the great conversations we had. All three of these people are folks that have been to Angeles City and are trying to figure out when they can return and enjoy the unique entertainment they all miss. One of my memorable days while here was the time I spent with long time friend Nick Teta and his family. I met Nick when he was a teenager back in New York and I was dating his Mom, a very fine single mother that overcame many obstacles to raise two fine young men. I am lucky to have been able to keep in touch with them all these years and Nick surprised me by telling me that his mother, Rita was living just around the corner from him now. Needless to say, she was surprised to see me and all of us spent the day reliving old memories. As you can tell, it has been a very nice trip for me. Will relate more in my November issue. For sure I will be happy to return to Angeles City, my home and reunite with all my friends there. Oh yes, Priscilla the Horse will reach the great age of 50 years on 12 Oct and we are organizing one hell of a big party for her on 23 Oct at the Marlin Mansion Function Room and I must thank manager, Joey, for his assistance and considerations. Oh yes, I was happy with EVA air travel and will give details in November.

Jimmy D and wife Vina (Hotel La Casa owners) are in the process of completing construction on an 8 unit apartment unit in Clarkview near the Lacasa Hotel. This is a two story building with four units on the first floor and four units on the second floor. A nice feature is the roof deck with shower that allows tenants to sunbathe or bar-b-q while enjoying a nice view. Each unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom with an extra toilet at the back dirty kitchen that visitors can use. The location is within walking distance of the VFW and a few local bars. This will be an adult only, no pets compound with parking available. Deposits of first and last month's rent is required as well as an additional P10,000 deposit for electricity and water. Three units have been reserved already and estimated completion date is mid-November. This is an ideal rental for personnel that travel a lot or work on oil rigs/ships and will be away for extended periods of time. For further information contact Vina or Jimmy D at +63(45)322-7984 or e-mail us at Lacasa Hotel.

Domino's Pizza Angeles City is the most successful store in the Philippines. Asking price is P7.8 million. Price is based on current monthly sales and forecasting a ROI in 3 1/2 years. Great opportunity for someone serious about getting into a highly profitable, turn key operation in Angeles City. Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza, the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, operates a network of more than 7,500 Company-owned and franchised stores in the United States and more than 50 countries. Domino's Pizza, named a Mega brand by Advertising Age, had corporate and franchise store sales of more than $4 billion in 2003. Domino's Pizza was named "2003 Chain of the Year by Pizza Today magazine, the leading publication of the pizza industry. In 2003 Domino's became the "Official Pizza of NASCAR." More information on the Company, in English and Spanish, can be found on the web at www.Dominos.com.

Contact information: United Tourist Promotions (UTP) / EZ Maps
Mobile: 63 918-926-8291
Telephone/Fax
Manila: 63 (02) 551-0196 / 551-0927 / 832-8439
Angeles: 63 (045) 322-8767 / 892-0143
Email: Domino's Pizza Purchase

I have no idea where John Bee and my friend Chuck will place these pictures but they were taken before the removal of the establishment on Fields Ave and also during the removal. Work is continuing on clearing the properties and also putting up fencing. The police post on Fields Ave, in front of Sub-Delicious should have been removed by the time this article is published. It was scheduled to do down while I was in Las Vegas.

Same story, I wrote about this great event last month but, alas, the pictures did not make it to the final printing. You see, we tried a different procedure, we, mainly being my computer guru, Chuck Guinn, and things just did not work out. It had something to do with thumb nails and hyper-links, all stuff I do not understand. We are working on it though and maybe with John Bee’s assistance we can learn a few new tricks.

In all the years I have been in the Philippines I never ran into a crazier, more fun loving, hard drinking, sportsmen quite like the Pot Bellied Pigs in rolled into town for the Inaugural International Invitational Fat Boys 10’s. Believe it or not these slightly overweight lads, 160 of them, came to play some rather semi-serious rugby with the mission of raising money to benefit the Angeles Bahay Bata Centre and the PRFU Development Fund. When it was all over the Street Children’s Center benefited by being the recipients of at least P250,000 of the monies collected and that was fantastic. But, I am getting too serious here as one of the funniest spectacles I have witnessed lately came about when I went to see the “weigh-in” at Sub-Delicious where all the participants had to be weighed wearing only a G-String. The only one who did not have to go through this process was the jolly President, Brian Jenkins but the lads that lined up for the scales were a sight to behold. It made me remember the words that I read in their program magazine, “The Pot Bellied Pigs are to Asian rugby what the Harlem Globetrotters are to American Football….but perhaps without their physique, agility and skill levels.” To demonstrate how true this observation is I will just refer you to the pictures shown here and let you form your own opinions. I have also included a few pictures of the young boys from the Bahay Bata Center who were recruited as ball boys on the day of the games, held at Challenger Field, Clark Field. The “Pigs” (no reference to our own “Pig”, manager of the Phoenix who did not opt to play even though he had the poundage to qualify) donated shirts, shorts and new sneakers to all the boys at the Center and they were overjoyed and looked darn good on the field. Oh yes, if you look close you will see a certain lady from Roy’s Pub who could not stop laughing during the “weigh-in”.

SUPER CLEAN UP DAY Last month I wrote about the formation of the Angeles Tourism Association (ATA) created to bring together the Fields Ave Businessmen and the Mayor’s office in a cooperative effort to improve security, create projects/events to bring in more tourists and to bring in a spirit of cooperation between all establishments on Fields Ave and the City Government. The first visible cooperative effort between the ATA and the Mayor’s office took place last Sep 4 when ATA members and volunteers gathered at the end of Fields Ave at the early hour of 0800 to begin the super clean-up of Fields Ave to include Real Street, Abad Santos Street and the street fronting Sucker’s bar. A few of the ATA members were not used to seeing the sun so early in the morning but everyone stuck it out until noon and then gathered at Kokomo's for some sandwiches and soft drinks provided by the Pepsi Company. The next projects on tap are the paving of Real Street and the installation of around 47 street lights. This is just the beginning, I will try to keep you posted each month but I hope that all you folks reading this will take the time to visit us and see for yourself what is happening.

KEITH GRAY FAMILY FUND COMMITTEEI realize that there will be many of you that will have no idea who Keith Gray is, but at the same time, there are many who do know him and not just those residing in the Philippines. I am not going into his life story but it is more important that he serves as an example to how this small expat community in Angeles City can come together to help a friend in need. Keith has had his medical problems and some long term readers of this column will remember the pictures of "the foot" that I published in jest last year. This time there is no humor in what has happened to Keith. One day he woke up to find out that he could not move his body out of his bed. He was taken to hospital and they found that he was paralyzed from the waist down and Keith was in a bit of a shock. He did not get better and eventually he was evacuated back to Australia where he is a patient at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, still in bad shape (He contracted the Golden Staph infection which is a hospital infection that survives in a clean environment). He will remain at North Shore until there is improvement enough for him to be moved to a rehabilitation Center where he will remain for at least 8 months. You must realize that this was all unexpected and that the cost for all this is quite high but the big problem is that Keith's family is stranded here without funds or the means to be returned to Australia to join Keith. But, help is on the way and already, the management of the Orchid Inn is assisting the family by providing P20,000 a month to meet their basic needs. Of course this is not enough and others have donated to assist them but more importantly a committee has been formed to organize a Keith Gray Family Fund Raiser. The committee consists of Peter Bellemy (President), Harley (Fiesta Garden) - Secretary, Chris and Bill from the Winchester Club, Kevin and Peter O'Donnell and they are organizing a Keith Gray Family benefit night at the Winchester on Wednesday, 13 Oct starting at 1500 hrs until they close. There will be an auction with two great offerings, one, a seven day holiday in Thailand to include accommodation, air fare and free escort service for the entire stay; secondly, pay attention golfers, how about a full set of brand new Calloway Golf Clubs with bag. In addition to the auction there will be many items available for raffle and tickets will be on sale at P50 each. For further information contact Peter Bellemy (0918 900 7613), Peter O'Donnell (0919 834 2457) or Kevin (0920 487 9621) MEET THE TOURIST

Mike Tatham, from Tampa, Florida is glad that he chose to visit Angeles City this time of the year with all the hurricanes threatening Florida this year. Mike is 37 years old and is no stranger to Asia. He arrived at Clark AB in 1989 assigned to the 1^st SOS and the 353^rd SOMS until Pinatubo forced them to relocate to Okinawa. He tries to make it back every year. Once was not enough his year as he was just here in March and just could not wait to get back for a couple more weeks. When in town he enjoys staying at the Lacasa Hotel/Blue Boar Inn. The friendly staff and the good food allow him to feel like he is staying at his home away from home. Of course he likes to get out in the town and mentioned to me that his favorite bars are Honey Ko’s and Champagne. I WOULD IF I COULD

I was running short of time when I visited my great pool team playing at the Stampede Club and I told a couple of the players that I needed a girl for October (to write about) and they all recommended Nanette, one of the dancers. I wanted some women to show this month, especially after showing you all that flesh from the Pot Bellied Pigs so feast your eyes on Nanette and a couple of her fellow dancers. Nanette (Net) is 19 years old, from Tacloban, single and hungry for a boyfriend but she is not a cherry, but still a little shy as she has only been working 9 days. Oh yes, some Filipino must have been slow as she does not have any kids, he must have been a hit and run cherry picker. So, dear tourists, get here fast before some old 70 year old guy with money comes to town and grabs her off the stage.

SALVATORE'SEver since the owner of Salvatore's Italian Restaurant passed away a few years ago and the operation of the place was left to the Filipino employees the quality of the food has steadily diminished to the point that customer satisfaction was a thing of the past. Now, it has closed and I have heard that there is an American owner that will be doing the usual thing, embarking on a renovation. I have no idea who it is but will try to find out this month and see if a new eatery is in the making. Speaking of a new eatery the building right next to the Goldilocks Money Changer is being gutted and there is a sign outside announcing the future opening of "Big Willie's 24 hour Restaurant". Nobody has seen "Big Willie" yet so that is another research project for me this month. Roger Forseth, owner of Zapata's is pulling up stakes and heading for a permanent change of location, to Laughlin, Nevada. The restaurant will remain under the management of some relatives so who knows how long it will take for the quality to follow the same route of Salvatore's. Roger will be missed but he has promised to make trips back here to make sure that Zapata's maintains the degree of professionalism that was apparent during his hands on operation.

Another Mexican restaurant will be open soon. The owner was, finally, able to get approval for the name which will be "Coyote's". It is located next to the Cheetah's Club.

The new Robinson’s mall opened on the 17^th of September with the usual hoopla and festivities that only the Filipinos know how to do. The local politicians can never pass up a chance to be seen and heard so this opening was graced by the presence of the father and son team of Senator Lito Lapid and Governor Mark Lapid and other local dignitaries. The last week the traffic has been building already as the delivery vehicles have been coming and going day and night unloading all the goodies that Angelinos will need. There is plenty of fast food with places like KFC, and Jollibee. There is nothing new here, if you visit any of the other Robinson’s stores you will find pretty much the same stores in every one of them. I hope this one does better than the one if San Fernando, the last time I was there at least 25 to 30% of the store space was boarded up.

This new place opened up on the 17^th of September just around the corner from the Blue Boar Inn. The place is small but cozy and the offering on the menu looked good. The doors are open from 10 am until 10 pm daily. So if you are looking for a place without all the LD pressure and just want to talk to someone stop by and see Tim of Silver Bullet and his staff. I would have added a better picture of the staff but regretfully had to put up with the "I don't want my picture taken" attitude. I had to do a lot of talking to get the picture shown here.

TRUE STORYA customer asked a local entertainer working in a bar on Fields Ave what she thought of the Korean customers. She replied "oh, you mean 3 by 3". The customer, puzzled, asked what she meant by that. She smiled and said "three inches for three minutes for three thousand!"

I am definitely out of here as it is after midnight and I have to get up at 0530 to leave the house at 0630 for my 1220 flight. My good friend Chuck will try to add a few more items before sending it off to John Bee. I hope you enjoyed this short work of art and you better believe I will want to be back in the PI 10 minutes after I get to Vegas. Please keep the girls in AC warm during my absence (only kidding Priscilla). Why read this column? Because a wise man once said that you should always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." Oh yes, remember to be kind to horses.