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BALIBAGO AUSTRALIA DAY FESTIVAL
MY MAN IN IRAQ
Many folks that have been coming to Angeles City over the years will be familiar with the name, Dave Donney as he has been around for many years and worked in various locations around town, especially at the Swagman. Earlier this year he decided to accept a job in Iraq that promises to keep him busy as he dodges bullets and mortar shells. Despite his busy work schedule and the frequent dashes to his assigned bomb shelter Dave manages to send me pictures and lots of words on events at his location. It is interesting to get a different view point than the ones we normally get from BBC, CNN and FOX News. He managed to get back to Angeles City for the Christmas Holidays but by now he is back on the job, wearing his flak jacket and helmet while he gets ready to send more Emails to his friends back here in Fantasy Land. Listed below are names of bars that used to exist in Angeles City according to Dave's memory and yes, many of these have been listed before in this column but any words from submitted from Iraq deserve a bit of recognition and I do remember many of the names myself. Take note that one of the bars named was "Doll House" and by golly, there are two lads right now spending a ton of cash to build another "Doll House" where Wet Seals used to be located. COPA CABANA, 8 BALL, JOLLY FROG, WALTZING MATILDA, MANDARIN, ANNIVERSARY, AMBASSADOR, THE VARIOUS FIRE EMPIRE AND FIRESTONE ANNEXES ETC.,HARD ROCK11, AMMO DUMP, JULIUS BAR, VILLAGE, STUDIO ONE, ORIGINAL STINGER,.HEAVY FOSTERS, CENTRAL AREA - DINGOS, SPEAKEASY, PORKYS, GREEN DOOR, BRASS KNOB,YELLOW SUB, WITCHES DEN, OAR HOUSE, MUSTANG RANCH, MURPHY'S, HEARTBREAK, AK, KBs, HAPPY MEDIUM, CLUB X, RED DOG, OCKER BAR, QUEEN OF HEARTS, GRAND PRIX, BJS, SMUT HUT, SHAMROCK, SWEET CHARITYS, FLYING MACHINE, LA CASA, CUM BAR, HOLY CITY ZOO, PERCYS,OLIVERS,J ENKOES. LITTLE WHEEL, MONROES, DMZ, DELI, CRUELS, PROVINCE, MUSTETEERS, DAFFODIL, HOLLYWOOD, SURFIN RABBIT, SLICE OF HEAVEN, YARD OF ALE, WILEYS CNR POST, RED FOX,VALHALLA, CLUB INTERNATIONAL, GALAXY, GENTLE BENS, ELECTRIC BLUE, CLUB PACIFIC, DOLL HOUSE,SUPER AND MEGA HEAD, EAGLES NEST, MANLY FREDS, LOVE BIRDS, MOONLIGHT TERRACE, RAFFLES, PLAYROOM, GOOD TIMES, PIT STOP. TAPS
By coincidence shortly after I wrote the above words regarding John and Horst a friend forwarded the comments below written by Harro (HTG). I thought it was an appropriate time to include it here: Legends, rogues and Memories of AC Having a drink with Gary (Stingers) the other night, in conversation he mentioned only him and Tick (DMZ) are original Owners still here post Volcano days, got me thinking of some great guys I met in my 9 years here and now either dead or gone, all mates I like to think and sadly missed, can you add to this list of very interesting people, these are just the tip of the Iceberg GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN or Where are they now These are just a few, all people loved by many and a million stories attached to all of them, if there is not a book here somewhere, writers aren't looking. Add the colorful current line up in town and it's a best seller in AC. If nothing else it's a very interesting place to live! HTG TIDBITS
Last month I wrote up Willie's Steak and Eggs Restaurant in that they would have their opening on 1 Dec. In fact, that opening was delayed until 7 Dec and a couple of days later I visited and took a couple of pictures. One feature was their "Steak Challenge" where for P750 a very large steak was served and if one ate the entire meal in one hour, there was no charge. Within a few days one individual accomplished the feat in 30 minutes and a few days later, another person consumed the meal in 20 minutes. The interior was nice and the food was OK but the biggest negative I heard from many customers was the prices were far too high. In less than no time Bill did away with the 24 hour opening hours and is now regrouping by closing for some renovations. The word is that he is adding a pool table and a Karaoke system and when I popped in the other day he was breaking down walls to make room for the changes. Right now I am not sure how the finished product will turn out and whether it will bring in the customers but at least they are trying to be innovative. The Karaoke is for the night time customers so for sure I will check out the place during the daylight hours as I do not feel like being present when the local Nationals try to sing at night when full of beer and can become hostile at the drop of a hat. Finally had the chance to see the hard working Barry, manager of the Dirty Duck, to wish him a Happy New Year. Barry has been around for a few years and has worked in various bars in town and then had a long stint doing office work for Blue Nile's Richard Agnew. Barry is a good host and has been a draw for the afternoon customers at the Dirty Duck, still one of the top little bars in town.
The Annual Australia Day Festival will once again be held in the Balibago Entertainment area of Angeles City. The Festival kicks off on January 26 (Australia Day) with the "Miss Australia/Philippines Beauty Pageant" at the Orchid Inn Resort. Tickets should be purchased early as a sellout is expected. On Friday the 28th The world famous "Bell Ring" will take place at Voodoo Bar. For the Sports minded Saturday the 29th will see Lawn Bowls at Hidden Vale Sports Club, pool at Mo's Place (Kokomo's) and a big turn out of Dart players is expected at the Blue Boar Inn. The festival culminates with "Curry Cook-Off" and Street Party in Fields Avenue on Sunday the 30th. Entertainment commences early and lasts till late. See You There! The Orchid Inn Resort will be presenting the Miss Orchid Contest on Sunday, 9 Jan, at 1100 hrs. The events include the Miss Orchid - Evening wear, water sports (Bar vs Bar), banana eating contest, best legs, best chest, best dancer and great cash prizes fo winners and Mamasan. There will be a total of P50,000 in prize money and sorry, no cameras of any kind allowed (except for Harry the Horse, of course). Do not confuse this with the 26 Jan Miss Australia/Philippines Beauty Pageant just be present to appreciate the line-up of beauties that will be featured on these two different dates. Be advised that Orchid Inn's Shano will be heading up the soon to open Shano's Blue Oyster Bar where "dirty scanties will be sold by the shitload". That's what Ron W. told me but I was never able to understand if they were saying "skivvies or scanties", guess you will just have to ask Shanno about that.
The Last Drop Bar and Grill is a great new outdoor drinking establishment located at 282 Friendship Hi-Way. It is a bit off the beaten track but the local expats are filling up all the chairs from 4 PM onwards as the outdoor atmosphere is cozy and the ladies on hand to entertain are indeed, quite charming. I have heard that there are around four investors in this endeavor, a couple of them being silent but like any venture here that includes multiple partners there are always some stumbling blocks to overcome. There are some interesting plans for the inside building as well, to include a couple of apartments below ground and bed spaces for quite a few ladies seeking inexpensive, dorm style sleeping quarters. I think that as long as the partners can work together that this will be a very successful, popular watering hole. I will provide more details next month as I mentioned earlier, my notes were lost and some of the future plans have slipped from my memory banks. The retirement of Wolf, Illusions, was extremely short as after so many years of running a bar, he could not stay away from the action. This time he has moved away from Fields Ave to take over what used to be "The Other Bar" and has managed to use the famous name of "Illusions" which is so closely connected with Wolf's history in town. I have not had the time to visit there yet but will do so in January. It is good to see that Wolf is still with us and part of the action once again. The question is, is John Hollis, finally finished with the bar scene or is he getting ready to swallow up yet another bar somewhere? SEAIR is currently upgrading its fleet , with the first 2 of 9 pressurized, air-conditioned 35 seat Dornier 328 very fast twin turboprops having arrived and will have them flying various routes including Caticlan in the new year with a pressurized cabins, so flights with them should be a bit more comfortable now. THE BLUE BOAR GIRLS NO MEETING THIS MONTH Sorry gang, for the first time in over four years the Knights of the Brown Ring (AH Club) did not meet because the first Saturday fell on New Year's Day. The next meeting will be on 5 Feb when the Stampede ladies will be on hand to wish you a happy new year and also provide a Valentine's kiss. See you then. HAPPY NEW YEAR
Maj Miranda and the men of the PNP Police Station located at the main gate of Clark wish all the expats and tourists located in Angeles City a very Happy New Year and wish to assure one and all that they are here to look after your safety. Capt Tan is seen greeting Eugene, a member of the recently formed Angeles City Tourism Police formed under the leadership of the Angeles City Tourism Association, Inc. (ACTA) with Peace and Order Director Richard Agnew supervising their activities. The ACTA has been formed to improve conditions on Fields Ave and to take a giant step in improving the safety of all foreigners visiting Fields Ave entertainment zone. Some people have suggested to me that the uniforms of the Tourist Police are a bit harsh and makes them apprehensive but the idea was to make the uniforms distinctive and apart from the local police and with time you will welcome the sight of these personnel as they are there to look after you, the foreigner. There will be more publicity forthcoming, it is all new but a lot of work and training is continuously ongoing. A better and safer Fields Ave will develop for one and all to enjoy. THE VIPER CLUB A FUND RAISER
Like any organization, to run properly and to accomplish objectives, money has to be raised and the Angeles City Tourism Association (ACTA) is no exception. The money that paid to have Real Street and A. Santos Street paved came from bar owners passing around the hat to raise over P600,000 but to gain SEC approval and to develop a fund it was decided to have a fund raiser and to call on the great organizer, Big Bill Williams from the Winchester Club to set it all up. Bill called on others to assist him and the evening turned out to be a success with many people in attendance and a good time was had by all. I managed to take a few pictures and would like to share them with you here. No titles necessary, just a big thanks for all those that attended and participated in the auction as well as buying raffle tickets. I even won a couple of prizes and that is unusual for me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETTO
The most significant event of December had to be the 60th birthday bash for the big man himself, the famous Perimeter Road butcher, Bretto. The event was held at the Blue Nile and the place was packed, standing room only. Richard Agnew and Wee George had everything organized and Richard added a few touches of his own to the festivities. I took a couple of pictures that Bretto told me he would bash me if I printed them and I saw him in action at the Thi-hi recently so I take his warnings quite seriously. But I took a lot of pictures that are acceptable to one and all and I will just post them here as they depict how much fun it is to be partying in Angeles City. Congrats on hitting the big 60 Bretto and it is certainly a pleasure to know you and to count you as a friend. THE WILD ORCHID HOTEL It is time for me to put this baby to bed. I have a few more items but the deadline is upon me and I will just insert them in my February column. I hope everyone had a very happy New Year and that you will be visiting us here in Angeles City soon. In parting, I would like to quote an item from the 29 November 04 issue of time magazine that reflects the direction the US is headed in the immediate future, I can't help but wonder whether this is good or ridiculous. "Sheriff-Elect of Dallas County. Deep in the heart of Bush-Cheny country Lupe Valdez bested a heavily funded Republican to become not only the County's first female sheriff but also the first Hispanic-Lesbian Democrat to hold the office". Wow, that should make all Democrats proud! Anyway, after reading that it definitely is time for me to get out of here, oh yes, remember, be kind to horses. |
I hate to start my column off with such bad news and it is rather serious but for the last two months events have been leading up to this result. Many question as to why TRICARE is not reimbursing the providers in the Philippines and what does the immediate future look like. Whenever I have a question regarding situations like this I go to our local "mother hen" that does his best to look after the interests of the US Retirees here, Mr. Jim Boyd. I called him and he told me that there is light at the end of the tunnel but it will take a bit of time to resolve. Representatives from Cyber Care, PIH and other providers met at the American Embassy to discuss the problem with the American Services Chief and the VA Chief who indicated that if the problem could not be resolved they would turn it over to the American Ambassador. Meanwhile, Jim continues to work with the top echelon of TRICARE and the Inspector General (IG) to seek a solution. Only recently, because of Jim's advice is Cyber Care beginning to have successful results in submitting claims. Jim has advised Cybercare/others to submit their claims on-line and if anything was submitted incorrectly, it could be corrected immediately on-line and once corrections have been made, a check is sent to the provider. The key is to follow, exactly the guidelines of the CMAC and the Per Diem rate for hospitals. These guidelines dictate fees that can be charged for outpatient care and those that are hospitalized. The bottom line is submit on-line and do not try to overcharge as has been the case in the past with some providers. Jim was told that, for sure, the Philippines has a very bad reputation for irregularities and they are on a very close watch list. If Providers will follow the rules and guidelines when submitting their claims then it appears that they will be receiving reimbursements from TRICARE. It will take a while though for each of these organizations to get back to normal in regards to dispensing prescriptions or general medicines because of a lack of funds. For those retirees with VA service connected disabilities you can take your prescriptions to the VA Clinic in Manila (call for an appointment) and they will normally honor that prescription. Jim Boyd recommends Providers use on-line filing for outpatient claims and follow instructions for inpatient filing. After talking to Jim I felt much better about the future of the health care program for US military retirees here, it is just one of those glitches we will have to live with for a while. For those reading this column who are not US Military Retirees forgive me for taking up so much space with this explanation but there is a rather large number of folks living in Angeles City and surrounding areas that are affected by these medical decisions as well as many more who are thinking of moving to the Philippines for retirement and would have to reexamine their plans if medical care was not available. So, right now Providers need to get on the ball and straighten out their billing procedures and if they are confused, Jim Boyd is more is more than willing to assist any Provider with on/off line filing..
The Annual Australia Day Festival will once again be held in the Balibago Entertainment area of Angeles City. The Festival kicks off on January 26 (Australia Day) with the "Miss Australia/Philippines Beauty Pageant" at the Orchid Inn Resort. Tickets should be purchased early as a sellout is expected. On Friday the 28th The world famous "Bell Ring" will take place at Voodoo Bar. For the Sports minded Saturday the 29th will see Lawn Bowls at Hidden Vale Sports Club, pool at Mo's Place (Kokomo's) and a big turn out of Dart players is expected at the Blue Boar Inn. The festival culminates with "Curry Cook-Off" and Street Party in Fields Avenue on Sunday the 30th. Entertainment commences early and lasts till late. 
It is particularly hard for me to mention the passing of two well known individuals, one of whom was a kind of pioneer in town and the other, a man who loved this town enough to invest a great deal of money to bring a few upscale clubs to Fields Ave. The first, John Robinson who was the originator of the Dog House membership group and the owner of the Duke of York Bar that used to be located on Real Street but moved to A. Santos Street a few years ago. John suffered from a variety of illnesses but liver failure was the main cause of his demise. I enjoyed sitting at the bar of Molly Malone's and exchanging information with John and listening to his complaints about his wife, AKA the "Dragon Lady". I spoke with Marina a week ago and she told me that John went to four hospitals here but finally flew to England for help. John would have been 70 years old in April 05 and had been living in Angeles City for the last 27 years. The tradition of the Dog House weekly meetings will continue (temporarily with the help of the robust Mark from La Bamba) but for me, without John, it just won't be the same. 
Peter (Horst), the owner of the Champagne Group, particularly the Sir Lancelot Club, left Angeles City for Germany earlier last year to seek treatment for cancer. Many AC residents were saddened to learn of his passing in December for Horst had been a driving force in the quest to upgrade the image of Fields Ave in order to bring more tourists to this area. His son, Rolf, will carry on the family business and continue with the worthy causes that Horst supported. Horst was the type of man that would not want a lot of sentimental words spoken on his behalf so I will just say that I liked the man, was proud to have known him and will miss his presence. With the passing of these two men a little bit of Fields Ave history and tradition has been chipped away. 
I have to chastise myself this month. No doubt this column will be late and it is all my fault. December was too busy for me as I had many Santa Claus appearances that kept me busy including three full days at NEPO Mall where my knees nearly caved in from so many kids and parents sitting on my legs for pictures. But, it was all worthwhile as it earned donations for my private charity project that I have been running since 1986 where I visit two hospitals on Christmas Eve and give out food packages, candy and money to the indigent patients. Additionally, thanks to some great individuals that contributed money to our fund we included a day for 23 indigent families and a total of 68 children at our farm where each child received a present (new outfit) from Santa and enjoyed a day of games, prizes and food. In addition to all this I had meetings to attend and tons of paperwork to accomplish. But, stupid is that stupid does and I sure fell into the getting too old, forgetful stage of my life when I lost my Canon G2 camera, notes and another bag containing around one thousand pesos at the farm. How did I do this? By leaving those items on the fender of Priscilla's car while I waited for her to unlock the car one late night when it was quite dark. While waiting I had to take a leak behind a tree and when they arrived I played with my son, got in the car and completely forgot about the items on the fender. They were not remembered until we got home and Priscilla asked me where my camera, etc. were. OOPS! A quick trip back to the farm with flashlights in hand assured me that someone, not me, would have a very Merry Christmas. Now, what does this mean? Well, I had to buy another camera, real quick, because Harry the Horse without a camera is at a loss but losing my notes was the real disaster. Now I have to rely on my memory and that is not good. Additionally, a few pictures I had taken are no longer available. This is a long explanation to explain why this month's article will be short and also contain a lot of pictures that I had already downloaded to my computer. I will try to do better in January! 
The innovative Mo has brought live bands to Mo's Place and I popped in one Sunday night at 8:30 PM to see what it was like. I could cuss Mo out for making me realize how old I am for as Scott told me, "Harry, this music is just not for you". It was just too damn loud for my taste and the vocalists were not all that great either. But, the bottom line, according to Scott is that the bands have been making money for them and that is what counts. When I was there most of the folks on hand in the band area were young Filipinos who, no doubt were drinking enough beer to justify their presence. I was told that around four bands are on tap to play and that they rotate with each band playing for two weeks at a time. It was different and oh, to be in my 20's again so I could enjoy the noise, but regretfully, I beat a hasty retreat into the Voodoo bar where the music was not so loud and the ladies tolerated my aging body and lack of appreciation for loud bands. Now, later in the evening I stopped by the Orchid Inn and lo and behold, they also had live music and my goodness, it was pleasant, it was geared to dining and also did not try to burst the eardrums of old folks like me. It was a very nice atmosphere and for sure I will have to take Priscilla there for a pleasant Sunday evening dinner. 
The Blue Boar Inn at the Hotel La Casa has a few ladies waiting to entertain you. From left to right are Ann, Reggie, Marlene, Diane, Tess, and Mylene and they all have the personalities to make your visit an enjoyable one. Drink prices are reasonable and ladies drinks are only P75 and additional entertainment fees are reasonable as well. The bar/restaurant opens at 0800 hrs for breakfast with a full breakfast menu that will not hurt your pocketbook. A 21 inch TV with cable is on hand and since the bar is not crowded in the mornings you can watch your favorite sports or newscasts with the sound loud enough to hear what is being said. A pool table and two dart boards are available for general use as well as music from the radio and CD's. The Hotel La Casa has six rooms for rent with prices ranging from P600 a day (A/C room) to P420 a day for fan only. Weekly and monthly rates are available as well. The hotel is located at 511 Tamarind St, Clarkview, close to the VFW and only one street away from Honey Ko's, Hang Out and Thi-Hi Bars. The prices are right, the rooms are large, clean and have individual safes for valuables. Reservations can be arranged via e-mail to 
It seems like months ago since I went to the opening of Viper but time flies when you are having fun or getting past 65. I attended the opening night and found that some subtle changes had been made that improved the seating and also allowed a better view of the stage. I have always liked this club even before it became the Viper as there is an intimacy about it that makes one feel quite comfortable and the music is not so loud that a conversation with a partner can be heard without shouting. I especially enjoyed the recent birthday party for Charles Hoffman (Garfields) held at that venue as it provided me with an excuse to visit the Viper once again and to enjoy the many very good looking ladies in attendance. I did not take her picture but one lady did have an interesting background. Her name is LaLane, attractive, in her 20's and has one child that she supports as well as her family. I must give this lady credit for her struggle to rise out of poverty as she was raised in Manila under difficult conditions. Would you believe that her family lived in the Cemetery grounds there and she had many stories to tell of her childhood. I have read about and seen families living in the cemetery grounds in Manila but this was the first time I actually met a past tenant. Lalane's first job was as a ball girl at a Manila golf course, then a waitress, and then made her way to Angeles City where she is now employed at the Viper. She has managed to move her family to an apartment in Manila and visits there whenever she can. Look her up when you visit the Viper, this is a lady you can respect for being able to work hard, save her money, and make something of herself. Additionally, she is not ashamed of having lived in a cemetery and I think it helped build her character and the strength to better herself. This is one lady you guys have to meet, she is a rarity. I wanted to include a picture but never managed to get back to the Viper to do so. Just remember the name Lalane and for sure, buy her a ladies drink and listen to her stories, you will be well entertained. 
It is going up fast, the newest venture for the Orchid Inn lads, the Wild Orchid Hotel being built on A. Santos Street. Pictured here is Ron Wakely and Shano as they stand on the balcony of one of the great rooms featuring a great view, also overlooking what will be a beautiful pool below. I will feature more pictures next month and try to fill in the details that were in the notebook that I lost. Some times, life is a bitch. This hotel promises to be right up there in the high end category as a place to stay. The prices for the rooms will be reasonable and the attention being given to convenience and comfort is commendable. It certainly will change the image of A. Santos Street.  |