Welcome to the Month of April and the first week of this month is a very serious time in the Philippines as it is Holy Week and being a Catholic country, is taken very seriously. In fact on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday many of the Clubs in the entertainment belt will adopt a very low key, quiet agenda. A few may even close as many of the entertainers will be heading home at this time. But, you know Angeles City so the day and night life is still ongoing but it is a time that tourists can bring out their cameras and catch the locals carrying their crosses and beating themselves for penance. Their backs become bloody and some of those crosses are a bit heavy, especially after carrying them for a few miles.  With the advent of April and May you will be entering the hottest days the Philippines can offer up and the school children will enjoy their two months of freedom from school work and head for the parks, swimming pools, air-conditioned malls, family outings, etc. It is also beach time for the tourists and welcome to the time of the year when all those beach resorts put their prices up. Normally there is no rain or very little of it during this time of the year but with the strange weather conditions witnesses in various parts of the world, who knows for sure anymore. Is it a good time to visit the Philippines, you betcha, just bring shorts, tank tops, flip flops and plenty of sunscreen protection. After Holy Week, it is pure fun and games and the beer is inexpensive and very cold. 

TIDBITS

The question for this month is how long will Tiger Airlines remain with the DMIA at Clark? Regretfully, this dynamic budget Airline that has helped bring a vast increase of visitors to Clark and Angeles City is being shit on by the Government, particularly the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). The CAB, to the dismay of DMIA officials and local businessmen issued a three month Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) instead of a six month or longer permit. It is rumored that someone very high up is under the the influence of one powerful Chinese Taipan with control of Philippines Airlines who only has his self interest at heart and could care less about DMIA and this gateway to Northern Luzon. Having to renew their license to land at the DMIA every three months is having a discouraging effect on the Tiger Airlines management staff. Will the full potential of the DMIA ever be realized? Maybe, if some year someone with a bit of backbone can stand up to those who wish to undermine this Airport because of greed, jealousy and the phony mask of Nationalism.  On Tuesday, 20 March, the President of the Philippines visited the Clark Special Economic Zone to sign bills declaring portions of the Zone as a freeport zone. This will effectively grant tax and duty-free privileges to locators and prevent the pull out of locators and leave about 40,000 workers in the CSEZ jobless. This was a very controversial subject after the Philippine Supreme Court  Good news for EZ Maps, and something we definitely want to share with our friends and business partners. Ariel Jersey, UTP Owner, was presented a prestigious award last month at the Mall of Asia, as one of the top Young Entrepreneurs, for EZ Maps. He was presented the award by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It has been a long, adventurous trip for EZ Maps to attain such an honor, and we anxiously look forward to the next ten years! Charlie Kemplin, President, EZ Maps. (This Horse has watched EZ Maps grow over the years and this award was truly deserved. The team of Ariel and Charlie Kemplin has been a great example of a successful business partnership which all too often is rare in the Philippines – well done Ariel Jersey, Charlie Kemplin and EZ Maps)

Levy Laus, CDC President, announced in the local Sun Star paper that he wants to add 7 more golf courses at Clark within the next two or three years. Many people will object to this as it could be an environmental disaster. Even I strongly object as not only could Clark's Water Shed dry up but also ground water levels in the surrounding communities. All we would need is a couple of dry rainy seasons and we would suffer but then who at CDC really cares as long as the Japanese and Korean visitors are catered to. When money is the main driving force environmental concerns are relegated to the bottom of the garbage heap.

The Knights of the Brown Ring (AH Club) did not meet last month as planned because the first Saturday happened to fall during Holy Week and it was felt that it would be a bit more respectful to forego the meeting. So, hopefully Saturday, 7 Apr will allow the Knights to meet once again. 

The following item is to be noted and the warning sent by Walt Wetherington is appreciated. 

Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:44:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: walt wetherington <walt1042@yahoo.com>
Subject: credit ripoff
To: american legion philam <philampost123@yahoo.com>

On my most recent visit to the PI I stayed at the HORIZONHILL HOTEL in Clarkview , yes thats the correct spelling. Please advise all travelers that this hotel's management REGULARLY and SYSTEMATICALLY  steals their customers credit card info and sends it in its entirety to Philippine cohorts all over the globe. They hit me for almost $4,000.00 in less than 3 days, luckily Navy Federal caught it right away and now all I have to do is wait for the fraud reports to fill out and send in. That's already bad enough, but i didn't catch it myself the bank did it for me and traced it all the way back so there's no mistake. Please advise all traveler's and expats. After I received this notice I went to visit HorizonHill Hotel (Previously known as the Marquis) and talked to the manager and some staff.  They indicate no knowledge of this incident and found it hard to believe that this incident took place.  I emailed Walter and asked a few more questions and received this reply from him which I will give to the HorizonHill manager:

"Thanks for your concern. It works like this, the card is glitched on check in or check-out. You are especially vulnerable if you pay in advance with the card. Plenty of time to produce fakes, upon checkout cohorts are notified by internet and they have a 2 to 3 day time frame to use the fake card since you'll be in transit. Navy Federal Credit Union is the outfit that traced the glitch back to the hotel. The management may well be unawares, but someone high up on staff is. Other than this i enjoyed my stay well enough. Just use cash and update your honor bar and daily charges daily in cash.i did use the card in Thailand, and once at Savers mall, but they're not suspect according to NFCU. Thanks for your concern."

Well, my goodness, in no time at all the above warning about this credit card incident was all over the internet.  I must have received at least 10 forwarded messages and then some one named "ticklewhat2" puts it on the message board.  It was hot news but I think I was the only one that took the time to visit the hotel in question and try to get an explanation.  Tomorrow, at 10 AM the owner, along with manager Ricardo will visit me at my stable and I will see what they have to say.  ------  The next day owner Michael Carreon, Manager Ricardo Granados and bookkeeper Elder did show up and I appreciated their willingness to do so and their sincere regret about this credit card report which could have a negative impact on their business.  Michael explained the credit card procedures and their interaction with their bank here and he was at a loss as to how this happened.  He explained that this is the first time such a report has been received and that they are going to implement even stricter credit card procedures at the Hotel.  I recommended that they communicate with Walter to find out as much information as they could and the next day I received a copy of the Email they sent to Walter.  I believe that the three people who visited me were sincere and honest and that even they were victims.  It is a mystery as to how this incident occurred but I would still recommend the HorizonHill Hotel as a decent place to stay but it certainly, thanks to Walter, has made us all a bit more conscious about how we handle our credit cards.  One thing is for sure, word of mouth sure does spread widely and quickly in this age of information technology and reputation repair work can be a slow painful process.

There are four lads floating about near Diego Garcia on the USNS Baladomero Lopez who read this column and miss the cultural wonders of Fields Ave.  May they save their money so they can buy many drinks at my stable because Priscilla is looking for some new horseshoes.  Seriously, regards to Bob Rush who calls AC his home base as well as Colt Rogers who lives in Timog Park.  Not to forget Greg Cygal who suffers in North East Thailand and Cris Frasier who plans to tour Asia some year but needs to check out Angeles City first.  Hope you guys are on a decent ship this trip and may you all make it home safely. 

A warning was received from my mate Ron Chesley, an Olongapo resident for one and all who might be visiting Subic that the pickpocket gangs are operating unabated there as well as here at the Clark SM.  So, travelers, beware especially those using jeepneys and walking around with wallets in those side pockets of your shorts. 

There appears to be an increase in robberies conducted within private residences and apartment complexes.  Even the apartment complex run by Mrs Horse suffered a robbery in one tenant's apartment while they were sleeping.  Of course the bastards come out like cockroaches between 0200 - 0400 every night and they are clever little shits.  Now, one of the contributing factors to this robbery is the fact that the damn security guard was sound asleep and had to be woken by the victim of the robbery.  This is one of the pleasures of living in the Philippines when one spends money on a Security Guard Agency for protection only to have their guards fall asleep.  Of course, try to get them to admit responsibility and you get some dumb smile or just a promise to change the guard.  In this case the guard was changed, I doubt that they fired him, but now I am wondering what time of the night this guy goes to sleep.  So, what is the solution?  More barbed wire, more iron grills, more lights, higher walls, a prison atmosphere and maybe, just maybe, one might go a year without another robbery. 

Would you believe that the Angeles City Council members moved to declare Roselle Breckenridge persona non grata because of her remarks that allegedly cast doubts on the integrity and reputation of the City Councilors.  For more details read last months HTH column.  Councilor Jay Sangil was one of the main proponents of this proposal.  It certainly does not take much to be declared persona non grata in this City, ask Mark Smith.  Fortunately, most of the time negotiations take place, feathers are soothed and the proposed action is allowed to die. By the way this is public knowledge as it was reported by the local paper, Sun Star Clark.  So, we have had round one, two and three and all parties are still standing. 

Many visitors have asked me about tours to Mt. Pinatubo and who to contact.  I can recommend the 4WD Service Tour that takes you from Angeles City to Pinatubo.  When in town you can contact Wendell Mercado at 0919 609 4313 or 0921 587 629. 

Now, one more recommendation.  This one is called P.D.C Spa Town which features different outing packages.  For detailed information visit www.mfpinatubofour.com or wowpinatubo@yahoo.com.ph. 

Another one of those unique Angeles City stories - Is there a Korean Vampire lurking about?  A 19 year old entertainer from the Dollhouse had a "date" with a certain Korean billeted at the Maharajah Hotel.  The Korean was not happy with the performance offered and wanted his money back without going back to the Dollhouse.  Deal-no deal?  The lady says "no deal."  The Korean bites the lady on her back and leaves a bruise.  Dollhouse lass goes to the PNP Tourist Assistance Center for assistance and, of course, goes to hospital for examination.  The Korean is invited to the office to explain.  After consultation the wounded lady and the Korean settle the problem and everyone is happy, the "severely wounded" lady can return to work at Doll House again but vows to check the teeth of all future Korean customers in the future.  It turns out she is superstitious about vampires and is worried about the next full moon.  Meanwhile, be aware, that Korean is still floating about the City, maybe looking for his next "bite". 

Robert Sullivan, in Thailand, has a handle on flogging the three wheel Trident Tricar.  Sounds and looks good!  I read something about these vehicles before but can't remember where.  They run on 40% methanol/ethanol and even have automatic models.  They are not cars, they are 3 wheel bikes encased in a great looking body that can seat 4.  You can get up to 250 Klms on one tank of gas.  I am not sure when or if they will be available in the PI.  If I had the money I'd invest in a hundred of them to replace the lousy, noisy, dirty, polluting tricycles we put up with here.  For more info I guess you can reach Sullivan (Sullo) through Asiandragon.com.  By the way, this website was designed by the talented "Detroit Al" who can be found on night duty at Mo's place 6 nights a week.  Believe me, this guy is good at what he does. 

A good quote - "The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration."

Her name is Dalyn Rosel and she used to be a waitress at the Viper Club and I ran into her and husband, Alan Bolstad, on the day their 3 month old baby, Isabel was being baptized.  I am including their picture for all her friends at the Viper Club who can be proud that one of their own has found love and happiness and that happiness is so evident when you see and talk to her.  Alan courted this lady for quite some time and overwhelmed her with dinners at the "C" Italian Restaurant.  I believe that they told me they will be heading to Hawaii in the near future to take up residence and Dalyn indicated she is a bit nervous about that.  This is the lady I wrote about once who, when young, lived in the Manila Cemetery and through hard work was able to assist her family to get a small apartment.  Even while working at the Viper Club she attended school to learn how to be a manicurist.  Hard working, great personality, honest, and a wonderful mother, Alan has struck it rich in winning Dalyn's heart.  Good luck to both of you, but Alan, save your energy, Dalyn once told me she would like to have at least six kids.

Many books have been written about the true Hillary Clinton, here are a few:  Inside the White House, Ronald Kessler; Inside, Joseph Califano; American Evita, Christopher Anderson; Crossfire; Hillary's Scheme; The First Partner; Unlimited Access; The Survivor, John Harris; The Truth About Hillary, Edward Klien; The Case Against Hillary Clinton, Peggy Noonan; The Agenda, Bob Woodward; I've Always Been A Yankee Fan, Thomas Kuiper.  By reading any of these books you will discover a lying, evil, foul mouthed woman who is drunk on power and hates anyone in uniform, especially the military.  Do not be as stupid as the New Yorkers who voted for her as State Senator, take the time to get past her phony facade.  

Here we go again, Philippine elections in May.  The big question that all the folks in the entertainment area are asking is "who will be the next Angeles City Mayor"?  Before, we all figured it would be "Blue Boy" Nepomoceuno but then Jon-Jon Lazatin threw his hat in the ring and now we have an interesting local election.  Jon-Jon is the son of the present Mayor, Carmelo Lazatin who is hoping to carry on the family tradition of political leadership in Angeles City.  All we foreigners can do is sit on the sidelines and wait to see who gets to the finish line first and then adjust to the new head guy whoever it might be.  I know who I will be rooting for but won't state here because who knows, the City Councilors might want to declare me "persona non grata" too. 

According to Manila businessman, Tonyboy Ongsiako, there is so much wit in the Philippines because ". . .we are a country where a good sense of  humour is needed to survive. We have a 24-hour comedy  show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and retiring actors. (this quote came from an article written by Nury Vittache for the Far Eastern Economic Review)

T-Times Kevin was able to sell his bar after trying for so long but somehow he forgot to pay back Mo the P60 thousand he put up for him when he needed it.  When someone has few friends it ain't nice to stiff the ones you do have.

For those folks suffering some aches and pains and have visited Physical Therapy clinics to be hooked up to those electrical devices that send electrical current to the muscles affected can now avail of a small portable device that you can use in the comfort of your home.  It is called the MEDIC 2000 and can be purchased from Sales Manager Analyn Tapao right here in Angeles City.  I have been using one for over a year now and it sure is convenient.  Analyn can be reached at cell phone 0918-219-4270. Email address is medic2000@acenet.net.au or cookie_shame@yahoo.com.

Mrs Horse and I were happy when, a few months ago, a sign was posted opposite our residence that our street was going to be paved by the City.  The budget was approved in 2006 and was a Mayor Lazatin program.  Wow, after so many years of dirt, mud and dust, finally the powers that be remembered our Tamarind St.  But, alas, a couple of weeks ago a truck came by and removed the sign along with many others that had been posted in different areas.  Maybe it was a conflict with the election rules or something but somehow I have the gut feeling that our street will remain unpaved for many more years.  You see, street paving here in the Philippines has nothing to do with safety, convenience, cleanliness or other mundane motives, it has everything to do with politics.  That is why each time election season arrives I hope that our street will be blessed by those seeking votes but it looks like we will have to wait, once again, for another election two or four years from now.  I should have grabbed one of those signs for a souvenir or a symbol of lost hope. 

As policies toward foreigners in Thailand change and prices increase I hear that more and more travelers are checking out various locations in Cambodia and providing some very positive reports.  I know that I will never get the chance to visit there but would love to have someone that has visited and checked out the tourist scene to send me a few lines of information.  I am sure that some of my readers would be interested in some accurate reports about the entertainment scene there and also prices of food and accommodations.  Now, I don't want the family scenario, just the nitty gritty of what the lads here and Bangkok are normally looking for.

I always enjoy running into Barry Bracewell since I have known him for about 14 years or so and he does a great job as one of the managers at the Dirty Duck.  When I happened to have shared a table with him at the Emerico's Restaurant opening last month I was not particularly overjoyed to be in his company.  It was one of those "old people" things where the last time I saw his daughter was as a small baby and now, sitting next to me was his daughter, Charmyn, at the age of 13.  My goodness, sometimes I hate to be reminded how fast the years are passing but what the hell, she was charming and Barry was so proud to show her off.  Of course she gets her good looks from her Mom, Nieves and the brains from Dad. 

The following was in response to a query to the TRICARE Mgt Activity from a Mr. Scott in Negros.  The one that puzzles me is that the Divine Shepard is on the list and this is a hospital that has no desire to be associated with TRICARE since they replaced the Philippine International Hospital.  This Hospital does not take TRICARE but it is rapidly becoming the hospital to go to in Angeles City for excellent care and quality of equipment.  It just means that the cost of care will come out of your own pocket and for many retirees that cost is prohibitive. 

Mr Scott, Hopefully this will answer your request:
Your information is incorrect.  In-patient and specialized care for military retirees in the Philippines has not been eliminated.  An indictment has been filed by Department of Justice against Health Visions Corporation and all Health Visions owned facilities.  As a result, claims from these facilities are being suspended and no payment is being issued. Beneficiaries are advised to seek health care services from providers not on the list below:

    Subic Bay Medical Center
    St. John de Baptist Hospital
    Total Life Care
    Philippine International Hospital
    Divine Shepard
    Riverfront International Hospital

This supersedes the list previously posted. If you have any additions questions, don't hesitate to contact me at my email address denise.dewitt.ct@tma.osd.mil.

TOURISTS OF THE MONTH

His name is Brian Burgess and he stopped in at the Blue Boar Inn to say hello to the "Horse" and I was glad he did as I was able to accomplish two things.  One, Brian brought me a jar of home made hot sauce for my collection and this sauce does kick some ass.  It was made by his neighbor and friend Peter Elliott who he just can't talk into visiting Angeles City.  Well Pete, your sauce can sure put one hell of a bite into our Thai food or Chile and I will certainly use it for those folks who tell me that I can't make their food spicy enough.  What gets me is that Brian told me Peter puts this concoction on everything except ice-cream!  Imagine having a bit of toast in the morning and spreading this hot sauce on it instead of jam or butter.  I think I would call Peter "Iron butt".  Now, the second accomplishment is that Brian became the first name that I could add to my different maps from Australia and this one was from New South Wales.  I inserted Brian's name next to a place called Bateman's Bay and it looked like a location that would be interesting to live at or to visit.  Brian's wife, Gina, hails from General Santos City and he always misses her when he has to travel.  Brian is an electrical contractor and of course feels that the Blue Boar Inn isn't such a bad place to have a drink and a bit of a feed.  Of course, this Horse agrees with him!

There are many instances in which folks will send me pictures via the internet that raise up a few emotions within this old body.  Here, I am sharing three such pictures with you and I am sure they speak for themselves but just in case, let me add a few more words.  OK, the one to the far left really ticked me off to no end.  This took place in, of course, a school in California when a bunch of smart ass, ignorant students decided to fly a Mexican flag with the American flag underneath, upside down.  Gross disrespect!  You bet!.  This from a bunch of assholes living the good life in the States who no doubt feel that the U.S. should have open borders and that all illegal aliens should have a free ride.  The next picture says a lot in a very simple way and no doubt the brave owner of this establishment was probably forced to change the sign the next day.  I don't know but I got a kick out of the picture.  The last picture had me laughing and I just had to record this gentlemen's great sense of humor.  He stopped by the Blue Boar Inn and I wrote his name somewhere but misplaced it.  He was a hell of a lot of fun and I certainly hope he stops by for a visit again. 

the abc hotel

There has been much written and spoken about the new ABC Hotel.  Initially, people asked who in the world would pay that much to stay there?  The answer is many, as the rooms are booked out and there are customers waiting for the suites to become available.  By the way, a short tour by me last month with Gerard had me very impressed with the styling of those suites.  A second comment that I hear quite often is that Gerard is selling the Hotel already.  When I asked Gerard this, he gave his usual impish smile and declared "anything is for sale if someone is willing to pay the right price" and I could not argue with that.  But, for now, that person has not appeared with the "right price".  My tour took me up to the fourth floor to visit the still under construction $500 super suites and believe me, these will be absolutely fantastic.  By the way, he already has a waiting list for folks that want to stay in these two rooms.  The view from the balcony is fantastic.  Would you believe that not only the ABC Hotel, but most hotels in town are at near full capacity despite the appearance at the various Clubs in town that things are quiet.  Business is good, it is just that there are so many clubs now and the entertainment scene has spread beyond the Checkpoint, along Perimeter Road to Friendship, that the customer base is spread out more. 
A little side note here, Gerard had his 50th birthday party at his home in Laguna and once again I was not able to attend.  I have heard many stories about Gerard's parties and the fabulous house he owns in Manila and some day I hope to be able to have a tour but not at one of his parties.  It is just too far for me to travel and staying up all night is not my cup of tea anymore, takes too long for me to recover.  But how about chartering two busses to take one hell of a lot of beautiful ladies from Fields Ave to the site of the party.  I managed to get one picture of a few of the beauties on one bus and even though you can't see them, there were a couple of happy guys sitting in the back.  I talked to Marty, the MC, and he told me that two bands were scheduled to play all night along with singers, games and just plain fun.  I'll tell you this, some professional biographer should write a book about Gerard, it would be a best seller.

ANGELES CITY BEACH RESORT?

Many tourists have pointed out that Angeles City does not have a beach to go to, but, surprise, we certainly do.  You just have to wait for the rainy season because now it is a bit dry.  It is located below the Hensonville bridge on the way to the City Market.  As you can see by the pictures there are many simple cabanas on stilts, plenty of food but you have to sift through the garbage to get it, drinking water but you have to carry it in from some other location, and plenty of kids to play with.  When I first saw this filthy community located in this area I thought of Tondo in Manila but it is not as bad as that used to be.  I thought I could make fun of the place by calling it a beach resort for tourists but the more I looked at it, and thought about it, the more I realized it was not a joke.  Instead, it is sad, a blight on the community and a shame that it even exists.  How often have I driven over this bridge and never taken the time to stop and look down, too often to mention.  Here I was able to witness abject poverty and felt a helplessness because I could do nothing to help.  Like so many poor Filipinos the inhabitants of this settlement were making do with so little and still smiling, playing volley ball and going out in the surrounding community to beg for food or money.  So many children were present from infants to teenagers and I found it amusing to see, above the bridge, a tarpaulin announcing the Mayor's "population control program" where just below there was plenty of evidence to show that "population control" was not applicable here.  Priscilla the Horse told me that these people, "Badjao" are native from Mindanao who left their province to escape poverty or violence, she was not sure and had no idea how they got here  For whatever reason, they are here and it is not pretty and for sure, it is not funny.  This must be an ideal setting for disease with all the garbage that is dumped in this area and I wonder why the City can't at least bull dose the area to clean up the garbage.  If they cannot relocate these people then the City should at least help to clean up the trash.  I have participated in "Clean and Green" projects by the City and it is kind of discouraging to do that and then see this eyesore along a well traveled route to downtown Angeles.  It is a difficult task to be a Mayor of any City and Mayor Lazatin is one of the best, and a humanitarian at heart, but maybe, just maybe, he has never stopped his vehicle to look down on this settlement.

Onward and Upward

Along Perimeter Road (Don Juico) next to the Iglesia Ni Cristo church a 60 room, 5 story hotel is under construction.  It is estimated to be completed by Dec this year and will feature a class restaurant, swimming pool and a very large parking area.  The location is absolutely ideal and finally, someone is building a hotel in the entertainment area that will have adequate parking and lighting.  From what I have heard it is a corporation that has at least one Filipino and one American investor involved but that is all I have been able to find out to date.  It will be interesting to see how this hotel compares to others in town as far as quality and pricing.  They certainly have enough space to create a first class facility.

ONE BIG MAKEOVER

Every time I drive on Clark Special Economic Zone (AKA Clark AB) I remember when I first arrived here in 1977 and how I fell in love with the place, the people, and of course, the women.  Each day that I drove to work I never got tired of the view of the mountains, the airfield, the open spaces and after all these years I still love the drive.  Now, my nostalgic memories hit me each time I drive on base.  I especially remember the Kelly and Bobbitt Theatres since I performed MC duties there as I competed three years in a row at the Base and Command talent contests and after Pinatubo I watch sadly as the Kelly theatre slowly deteriorated from neglect but the Bobbitt stayed majestically strong and for a short while was even a not very successful night club.  It stood on the vast parking area that when the Americans were here hosted the BX, Arcade and clothing store.  When going to the duty free stores or MacDonalds I often drove through this empty parking lot just to remind myself of the old days.  I felt the stage of the Bobbitt, the back entrance, the stage lights and also the many movies that Priscilla and I attended while courting.  Now, the last vestige of that memory will disappear.  The picture you see here now will be a part of history as the entire area will see an enormous construction project that will usher in condotels and a vast entertainment area.  I do not know all the plans yet but will try and get more details as time passes but for sure, it is time for the old memories to fade and to let new ideas take hold.  I have been wondering, for years, when CDC will allow something other than golf courses and factories to rise at Clark and this is the first attempt to go in a different direction.  It is a welcome change but I will always, in my heart, retain the memory of the old Bobbitt theatre and the many, many people I knew and entertained there.

WHICH ONE IS THE BEST?

Where is the best pool to swim laps in Angeles City?  To me it is a toss up between the Woodland Park Hotel in Dau and the Angeles City Sports and Country Club in Hensonville.  If you are a non-guest at Woodland Park you will pay P150 for the use of the pool and at the Sports Club a non-member will pay P100.  The pool at Woodland is bigger but the day I took the picture it was closed for filter cleaning and the water was cloudy.  For exercising by water aerobics or lap swimming I vote for the Sports Club pool and for an extra price you can also use the sauna or opt for a massage.  There are other pools available at various hotels but some charge more, are not as big and some owners discourage non-guests from using their pool.  Now, if you want to see the prettiest and biggest pool available check out the Stotsenberg Hotel but I have no idea what their non-guest policy is.  All I know is the venue is great and just sitting poolside with a cool drink or whatever is extremely enjoyable.  Additionally, when at the Stotsenberg, check out the Casino.  It is not open yet but it is one hell of a great room, absolutely fantastic.  (Left - Woodland Pool)

THE GREAT BALUT CONTEST

They came from far and wide to participate in this yearly event which to my surprise is actually a dice game which is taken very seriously by these lads.  I was able to watch the finals and an exciting match it was.  Hell, I'm lying, I had no idea what the hell they were doing but they certainly were enjoying themselves. They are so serious that the finals must be held at a location where no women can be present so as not to be distracted from this tense, serious, dramatic challenge among the top four.  Can this turn out to be an Olympic event?  TV coverage?  Hard training with high protein beer?  Cheerleaders - oops, aw shit, no women - forget it - they can just go and suck on a real balut!  Hee-Hee, only kidding, it was a fun night, very different and very challenging for me to take the pictures.  Congrats to the Balut King, whoever it was.

OK, this is a new one for me.  The old Horse putting his feet into a small tub of water to try out this new 30 minute detoxification procedure that is supposed to make me feel like a new man by getting rid of unwanted toxins in my body through my feet.  They hook up some sore of electrolysis machine to your feet and then sit for 30 minutes.  It is painless, air-con room, small TV to watch and also chat with technician Queenie Farjado.  Now, as you can see by the photo on the left you start with clear water and by golly, after 30 minutes the water turns a variety of colors, mainly black, with some orange, red and whatever.  It really made me feel like I had a lot of shit in my body that should not be there.  The owner tells me that it detoxifies your liver, kidneys, joints, gall bladder, and the blood.  Right after the procedure I did not feel any better except that I nearly puked looking at the water but the next day my bum knee did feel a bit better.  I figured that one treatment was not enough to give a true evaluation so I am planning to give it another try.  It only cost P600 so that stays within my budget.  It is situated at the SizeMix Boutique next to the Orchid Inn and you can get home or hotel service for P1,000, with massage P1,500.  Give them a call at 625 6512 from 0900 - 1430 hours for an appointment.  Maybe after two or three treatments I can get up and dance again but I am hoping that the damn thing does not wash out those viagra pills I take. 

MO STILL LOVES ANGELES CITY

In what has to be some very good news, Mo has decided not to completely leave AC. His plans are to keep Kokomo's and the Motel. His feeling is that many of his Subic guests will be spending time in Angeles and it is important to have a physical presence. Once the Subic - Clark highway is completed in November, the trip back and forth will be around 45 minutes making it an easy commute. We're glad to hear he's going to be around for awhile. His Subic plans are falling in place. Kokomo's is now open and word is it is very popular. He has recruited 2 of his staff to handle the management chores; Joe from Voodoo and Bobby from Lollipop.  Joe is the GM and Bobby will handle customer relations as well as the evening management chores. Kokomo's has 10 fantasy rooms. Each has a theme and is decorated with artwork, artifacts and other knickknacks to reflect the theme. He also has 2 family bungalows which he'll convert to deluxe Jacuzzi rooms this summer. Voodoo floating bar will remain open until sometime in May. During the rainy and typhoon seasons, it will be stored in a save harbor on Subic Base. The bar is 40 meters offshore and has 20 or so lovely GROs, plays nothing but rock and roll. It has a broadband WiFi connection so besides the lovely ladies to keep you company, you can do your email and read HTH whilst enjoying a cold beer or two. You can get more information by emailing the hotel at kokomossubic@yahoo.com.

Work is well under way on his 2nd project, Treasure Island. This is a 15 room hotel with a beautiful swimming pool. He has 20 secure parking slots so parking, which is one of the major problems on Baloy Beach is no problem. All rooms will have the usual amenities including broadband Internet. Rates will start at P1,700 with the average being in the P2,500 range. In what has to be one of the top coups in recent memory, Mo has convinced Tom Dryden that the beach would be much better off with a Dryden beach side cafe. Dryden's restaurant is one of the most popular in Barrio Barretto. It's known for the huge portions and great service.  Dryden is sending one of his lead cooks to run the kitchen. Look for Treasure Island to be one of the most popular resorts in the Subic area. The 1st 8 rooms will be opening April 5 and the remaining 7 in early May. The pool, swim up bar and restaurant will all be operational for the opening.

GRAND OPENING EMERICO'S

Emerico's Cafe & Restaurant located within the Hotel Royal Amsterdam had their official grand opening last month with approximately 70 to 75 guests on hand to sample a very wonderful buffet that provided a sampling of what is offered on their extensive menu.  What to look forward to?  How about a breakfast buffet from 0800 to 1100 as well as lunch and dinner buffets on certain days so make sure you stop by to check their schedules.  I must point out that the food is not only absolutely delicious but the prices are far more reasonable than you would expect in a class hotel.  The food was so good, in fact, that the picture to the far right shows Big John from the Hang-out making his 7th trip to the buffet line.  It was easy to get his picture because by this time he had out eaten everyone there and was absolutely alone on line.  When in town drop by the Hotel Royal Amsterdam on Fields Ave and check out their menu, I think you might find something there to meet your tastes and for sure, you will make some return trips. 

I WOULD IF I COULD

Now, this is a bit of a different approach to my search for my special lady of the month.  It just so happens that on the same night I visited the Wet Spot (used to be wet seals) and also, afterwards, stopped in at Roy's Pub for a late cup of coffee.  When in the Wet Spot I decided to find a lady that might appeal to me and others and I opted for 20 year old Louella (middle picture forefront).  Disregard the one in the left rear and the one with the lollipop in her mouth.  Louella was petite but had a great personality and you might not notice, has a bit of an interesting bosom and was fun to talk to.  I was shocked to find out that she is a nursing graduate but did not take her exams.  Not to worry, she can be my caregiver anytime.  She has only worked as a dancer for one month and her Email address is:  louelalor@yahoo.com.  The first picture is the Wet Spot Mamasan who I felt was a damn good looking 42 year old lady.  Usually the Mamasan's in the Clubs have seen better days, being a bit fat, older, and not too good looking, but Gie is the exception to the rule.  She has never been married but has three children and hails from Manila.  For guys in my age bracket (69 or more) this lady would be perfect.  OK, so three kids are part of the deal but what the hell, Gie might be worth it.  Now for the last picture.  I have been in Roy's many times but never when I was the only customer and had the opportunity to take a picture of three lovely employees with no hassles.  From left to right we have Ruby, Riza and Joy.  Ruby and Joy are single and I really liked Joy who sports that dazzling smile.  There is something about that lady that makes you want to know her and if you look close, you will see she has one hell of a figure as well.  So, there are really three choices for this month and I will let you try to guess which one I liked the most.  The first one to come to my stable and guess correctly which one was my favorite will get a drink and a small pepperoni pizza on the house.  I won't cheat, if you get it right I will honestly let you know.

Well good folks, it has been an interesting month and I can't quite figure out the weather.  It certainly got hot fast enough but then we had a few cool nights and then some unexpected rain.  But, thank goodness, no snow!  That damn no talent, non-singing Sanjaya is still on American Idol.  Who the hell is voting for this character who looks more like his sister than his sister does?  How can they vote off Stephanie Edwards and keep Sanjaya?  Oh well, maybe this is the real reason we have the electoral college in the States and our forefathers did not trust the general population to vote intelligently.  So dear readers, with those last words of rubbish I will bring this month's column to a close and may you all have a very happy Easter or have they banned Easter and the Easter Bunny in the States because it offends all rabbits.  Remember, Horses are never offended so, be kind to Horses!