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TIDBITS Hello Harry,
Just a short note to wish you a very Merry Xmas & a great New Year !!
I enjoy your column each and every month and look forward to my visit next year, even though the last time I was in the PI was May 1970 !!
I've even thought about moving to Angeles City but I have to make sure that the health care I need can be taken care of in Angels City (I'm a diabetic). If I were to move I'd guess it would be 2008 and since I have been retired now for 5 years my finances are all in order. I remember you writing about that a few months back. Please keep up with writing the great column each month that you do. thanks, Gene Archer Hemet, CA (I'm near Palm Springs CA). (Gene, health care facilities are plentiful here and believe me, there are a lot of folks undergoing treatment for diabetes. I am not sure of your medical insurance and whether you will be covered here. Angeles City has many hospitals with the old PIH recently opening under a new name and management. It is a pretty good facility. I think you would enjoy your retirement here but I suggest that you live here for 6 months first to give yourself time to make your final decision. One thing is for sure, there are enough of us old farts around that can sit around with you and discuss all our aches and pains. The good side is that there are plenty of ladies available that will be willing to help you forget what ails you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thanks for writing.) Harry Krusty Old Fart, (from jonniebangkok@hotmail.com) Garry Williams, here in Austin, Texas. As always, your December 2006 'column' was Boffo! You're the man! Although I left AC 30+ years ago, it's always enjoyable to read about what's going there, and feel somewhat connected. You're doing a great service to your fellow GI's.......you're a credit to the men and women who have served before you, a credit to AC lovers like myself, a credit to the Armed Forces of every country with PI ties, and a credit to the human race. And that blonde you were stuck to......well, I would drink her bath water! Best Regards, g.w. - OK no way do I think my writings r that good but after a negative it helps to have a positive. Thanks Garry
"Hi harry, this is Terry from Australia. My wife & I (fil/aus) have just returned from the good ol' USA, visiting for the very first time & I would like to give my version of your homeland. Well, we were very surprised as to what we saw. We did the usual tourist circuit - Vegas, Anaheim, Hollywood, LA, San Diago & of course Tijuana, but we were amazed as to the few Anglo-Saxon/ Afro Americans that we saw. The hispanics & Asians outnumber you guys about 20 -1. And how about the cost of living? My credit card has exploded! Now, not wanting to sound racist (as mentioned, my wife is filipino) there is a problem here. When you have a vast number of people not being able to speak nor read the national language (and the authorities encouraging this by providing duel language signage) and these people make up about 50% of people in the service industry, you guys have one hell of a problem. They're taking over the place! If it's bad now, what will it be like 20 years from now? I would hate to see this happen in Australia, but luckily we don't have any land borders. So Harry, you guys are a dying breed. But do something about it. Get your Country back. Or if it's too far gone, quit & maybe move to Angeles. At least, everybody speaks English there. So now I understand some of the reasons why you expats live permanently in Angeles. Smart bastards aren't you". You better believe it Terry! It is sad and frustrating to see what is happening in the US. It is because of weak Senators like Harry Reid of Nevada who votes to give illegals drivers licenses and social security benefits as well as voting against English as a National Language that is so frustrating. The sad thing is that I see the situation getting worse instead of better.
Subject: CITGO CHANGING NAME TO PETRO EXPRESS Am happy to report that Hong Kong Airways is flying a Hong Kong - Clark and return route 4 times weekly. The maiden flight was 9 Dec. I have heard that in the near future there may be an airlines to service the Middle East, like maybe Tier from Dubai to Clark? Heard that two 747's, 400 series will be used. Could it be true that Charlie Horne is getting very close to getting his Airline Company off the ground and flying? A certain milkman has promised to give me an advance heads up on this if and when it will happen. I hope that many of you had the opportunity to make it to the annual Sisig Festival this year. For the first time it was held at the SM Mall parking area and I must say that it is a much better venue than downtown. Ms. Irish C. from the Mayor's office did her normal outstanding job of organizing this event. This year I noticed a large Korean participation in that Governor Seok Hyeong Lee was on hand at the Korean entertainment area where speeches were made by the Mayor and the Governor along with Korean cultural dances. It was a nice addition to this event and they even had a section where the technique of making Korean Kimchi was demonstrated with the end product given to those observers on hand. This is a great two day event and if you missed it, well, there is always next year.
I was surprised to get a call from a representative of the St. Catherine Hospital, near Nepo, Angeles City, who used to run the Physical Therapy Department at PIH informing me that they have their Physical Therapy Unit up and running and is accredited by the VA as well. I figured I would pass this on for those in town looking for a location to get their physical therapy.
This picture of the present wet market site is one that you can keep for the history file. After seeing this site for so many years, its days are limited but at this time I can't say for sure, how long. I am sure these vendors are not happy campers so I will be curious to see how long or how successful the removal will be. Thank you Angeles City Hash House Harriers for your great support of my Christmas charity project. Your donations of money and clothes went a long way to making this project a huge success. I was told that you all made the supreme sacrifice in cutting off your on-home beer drinking a bit earlier than normal. Additionally, a number of you handed in individual donations in addition to the general fund. Folks, the AC Hashers have been active in this town for many, many years and they have a long history. If you enjoy running, walking, and maybe tossing back a few beers then stop by the Anchorage Inn on Real Street, near the Orchid Inn, and join up with a great bunch of guys and gals.
"For the Love of My Son" is a book you HAVE to read. It is written by Margaret Davis, the mother of Steve Davis is was shot and killed in his Manila apartment four years ago. It took years but Margaret, through perseverance, bravery and expenditure of funds was finally able to bring one evil bitch of a wife, Evelyn, and two ass-wipes by the names of Arnold Adoray and Alex Dagami to face justice. There was a British TV documentary made of this case and now Margaret has published her book. Even though I am thoroughly familiar with this case and have written about it, the first few pages of the book still brought tears to my eyes. I felt Margaret's pain through her words. This is a book worth reading, especially if you are living in the Philippines because it is an eye opener. Steve is not the first, nor the last person who will fall in love with a young, uneducated Filipina and live a happy life for a short while and then, without warning, be killed by a boyfriend. All too often the boyfriends wear the uniform of the police or security guards who are issued weapons that they feel free to use at the direction of their married girlfriend. At least, now, Steve's two children are safe, happy, loved, and receiving a good education. For Margaret, Steve lives on through the presence of those two lovely kids and will inherit the strength of their grandmother as they grow older. Margaret, thanks for sending me the book, and for you and Alan, Happy New Year and may you both live long, happy lives together.
An Email received from Iraq - It is a joy to read your site which I just found today, and I just wanted to say Thanks for your work folks like me in the War Zone of Iraq, help me keep going I am just counting the days once again till I fly back to the PI in March for R & R and yes when I do arrive the drinks is on me…..Tony Casas (Tony, wrong mate, your first drink is on me. Any troop coming back from the shit hole of Iraq gets a free drink from this Horse, hell, maybe even two along with a hand shake and for sure a kiss from my ladies working in the bar). Greetings Harry, and Merry Christmas, As an avid reader of your monthly circular maybe you'd be kind enough to shed your thoughts on the upward trend that the Peso seems to be taking in your next column. We were all down there on our annual I & I excursion about Aug.of last year n we were getting nearly 56:1. Keerist,now our papers up here say it's around 49.30 and still goin up ?? It's hard to believe this is all due just because of increases of remittances by OFWs. Being your the man about town down there we were hoping you might be able to tell us the REAL reason(s) and what do you see in the foreseeable future. As military retirees on a pension it could put a real damper on our next trip. Again Happy Holidaze to you n yours. Moe,Larry,Curly,n Joe ( Okinawa ). Fellas, I am not an economist and hardly qualified to figure out what the hell the peso is doing and why. But, what the hell, I can add an opinion or two but don't step in the shit I leave behind. It is more that just the remittances from the OFW's. Our lady President pushed to get the VAT increased to 12% so she could kiss the ass of the World Bank and that has brought a credit rating for the country. The Philippine Stock market is doing well at the moment. The Government has been doing better in paying off their debt. In the newspaper today there was a prediction that within a couple of months the peso will hit 48 to the dollar and later this year possibly as low as 46.50 so you better get your collective asses over here as soon as possible as the outlook for the future is not good for old military retirees. Now, guys, it ain't all that bad, the action you seek here is still pretty reasonable and your dollar can still be stretched out. Save money, stay at a hotel that only costs you P700 a night instead of double that rate or more at any other hotel in town. Where is that? Why, the Blue Boar Inn of course. Could not resist throwing in that plug for my place.
Regarding your article on DNA testing. (I keep getting more information on DNA testing. This sounds interesting, never heard of it before. Hope this helps someone that might have a few paternity questions). Might save the guys some bucks if they take a look at http://www.metaphasegenetics.com/ordering.htm For $125.00 you can get the same as the 59,000+ peso one listed on your site. Even the $99.00 version for the father and baby only is way more than accurate enough. Those $1,000.00+ tests are ancient technology now. It is very simple to do your self and no blood needed anymore. Just order the kit, swap the gums of each person being tested, seal it and Fedex it. The fedex will cost about 1400 peso. Then you can get the results online, phone or email in a few days. They also have a legal version, but that needs administered by a doctor and have signatures, etc. might cost a extra hundred bucks or so. With this test kit you don't even need to tell the mother you did it.
TOURIST OF THE MONTH
ANGELES "DIRT BIKE" HASH
Is a group of off road riders who meet for a ride every second Tuesday afternoon. Why “Hash”? Because the core riders in the group are also members of the Angeles Hash House Harriers. TAPS David L. Sellers Master Sergeant, USAF Retired Passed away. Comrade Sellers spent over 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1972. He was a Member of American Legion Post 123 for many years. He passed away at home on Tuesday, December 5, 2006. He was 70 years old. Arrangements are pending at this time. The Pasha Club manager Peter, was stricken with a heart attack 9 Dec. His wife was heard screaming for help by neighbors in the subdivision where they live and when they rushed to help they found him unconscious but still with a pulse. They rushed him to AUF Hospital but he was announced dead at 1040 PM. This was quite shocking to everyone and the sad thing is that the wife is pregnant.
This one really hurts. It was reported to me that Trevor Frettsome passed away, in La Union, on 13 Dec. He was 62 years young but has been battling various illnesses for years. Trevor has been a part of Angeles City for many years and has many friends here with some enemies sprinkled in as well. It is hard to live in this town for many years without picking up a few lads that dislike you, especially if you are in the bar business. This man is associated with historical bar names such as Private Dancer, Private Dancer Too, Byrdcage, Wing Walkers and the very popular Honey Ko's. His old partner, Des, was surprised to hear the news as he had only talked to Trevor a week earlier and had been told he was feeling quite fit. Another member of the "old guard" has left us, the ranks are thinning out a bit too fast for me and it seems like the "character" of the entertainment area along with its living history is disappearing. I know that life goes on and Fields Ave/Perimeter Road will continue to provide those bars we like to party in, but forever more, there will be something missing that we can't recapture. We can't replace people like Owen Dolan and Trevor Frettsome but it is a credit to them that they will be missed and, of course, remembered by old farts like me and many others. Both of them would just tell us "not to worry mate, just drink up and shout a round or two and we'll be waiting for you where the beer is cold and the women are hot". So Trevor, I'll be seeing you, but hopefully, not too damn soon. ONE MISTAKE AND ONE BIT OF HELP FROM A READER
I am not making a mistake in putting Reggie's picture up again. It seems that she is upset because I made a slight mistake in her Email address by using a u when it should have been a w. So, this is her corrected Email address: sherly_dumlaw@yahoo.com. If you remember, I mentioned last month that I could not find Miss Earth Thailand during the swimsuit contest and was disappointed. Well, one reader of this column sent me her picture and and it is my pleasure to present it here. I did show the picture of Miss Chile and thought she was fantastic and as it turned out, others agreed with me as she ended up winning the contest.
THE OCEAN BREEZE RESORT I very seldom get out of Angeles City because I am quite busy and also because I just plain like it here in town with the occasional escape to my farm 20 minutes away. Driving all the way to La Union and staying overnight just isn't in my game plan though I must admit that after hearing about the Ocean Breeze Resort I might break down and take Mrs Horse for an over night adventure, hell, maybe two nights already. When three of my mates, Chuck, Tom and Mark (Pegleg) drove off to La Union one weekend with no plans as to where they would stay, I asked them to tell me if they found a decent, affordable place to rest their heads. They came back with pictures and good words about the Ocean Breeze and that the manager, Jeff James treated them pretty good. They told me that Jeff commented that the Horse never gets his ass out of Angeles City to take the time to report on places like La Union. Well Jeff, you are right, and it may take me a long time to visit but if I ever get around to going to La Union it looks like I will book into your Resort. From what I hear, the prices are reasonable, the rooms were comfortable, the food was good and as the picture shows, the ladies were, well, they were, cute? But who goes to La Union for women? The following letter from Jeff to my mates gives a few more details about the place and I am looking forward to personally visiting and staying at the Ocean Breeze.
"Just wanted to thank you and your friends for spending a couple of nights at Ocean Breeze. Hope everything continued to be to your liking. Here's a brief rundown: We currently have 16 rooms available, most similar in appearance and amenities to the rooms you guys stayed in. Our most recently renovated is the beachfront room. This one has 21" tv, hot and cold water, ac, queen size bed and mini-ref and goes for P950 a night. HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM:
Hopefully I can get a few more pictures than this but I took these before I fell and fractured my shoulder and have not been getting around too much since. Each year I try to use Dec to get a bunch of Happy New Year photos from various Clubs and still hope to get out again before it is too late. It was a pleasure to start off with the Rhapsody, La Bamba Clubs and the Midnight Rodeo. Josephine and Cel are two of the best Mamasans on fields Ave. The Midnight Rodeo, well, where else can you find great, live, country and western music where nothing has changed for many, many years? It is a refuge from all that loud, pounding rap music that dominates the Club scene. Thank goodness! I was able to get out on 23 Dec to my favorite three watering holes - Thi-Hi, Hang-out and Honey Ko's on Perimeter Road and found (L-R) Deery in a blissful mood, Mac, as gentlemanly as ever and Des surrounded by a handful of his beautiful, sexy ladies in waiting. So, the New Year is upon us and this is just a small representation of what awaits you when you get around to visiting Angeles City. Young, old and very old can manage to party 365 days a year here if you have the energy. Of course a few might croak from all the excitement, but my goodness, what a way to go!
THE DIVINE SHEPHERD MEDICAL CENTER Opened it's doors to the public last month. It was previously known as the Philippine International Hospital (PIH). It has a new management and medical team on board with Mark Smith appointed as the Hospital Administrator. At this time they are not Tricare accredited and Mr. Smith did not have a time table for obtaining this accreditation. The reopening of this facility is good for the community as its location is convenient to so many people with one of the positives being adequate parking. At this time I do not know how their pricing will compare to other hospitals in the area but I am sure the quality of their services will be highly professional. I will try to get more details on their operation next month.
I WOULD IF I COULD
THE SYDNEY HOTEL
ROADIE'S BAR
Meanwhile the line-up at Roadie's was average with a few ladies standing out but there was one (she is pictured here) that definitely had to have some secret specialty to be allowed on stage. I won't point her out but some how I think you will spot her. My opinion and that of a few mates of mine feel that this bar will be a winner but it will take more than just the locals to keep its doors open. Hopefully the tourist trade will take the time to travel beyond Fields Ave and discover the pleasures offered by Clubs like Roadie's which like all the bars on Perimeter Road offer great entertainment at reasonable prices.
ONE STOP TRAVEL Last month I was talking about the bars and bridge on Friendship Highway. Whilst meandering along, between the Last Drop and the Jolly Frog I passed One Stop Travel, and decided to rest my weary legs for a few minutes, and make enquiries about the new flights from Clark, with a short holiday in mind for later next year. Not only were Anelyn (the new owner) and Princess welcoming and pleasant, but answered my many questions, and made a real effort to give me all the details about the flights (they have 3 different booking systems) and are able to offer ‘e-tickets’ (the modern ticket printed from the computer) for many flights. After taking over a year ago, they have made a lot of progress, and with a new image and pleasant office I will be calling in again. What surprised me was the reasonable prices of their ‘VISA RUNS’; flights with one or two nights accommodation in nearby countries which are very popular with ex-pats, also their visa extension service, they even will pick up and drop off your passport. They also offer the full range of domestic and international flights, and go just that little bit further than most to make sure that you get a good deal.
I was a bit surprised to find out that they also have a laminating service and can even dress up my menus at the Blue Boar Inn the next time I do an update. When I asked how this fit into the travel business their answer was a simple "just another one of our business services." Another plus is their location and that it is easy to park outside. Of course, after haggling over ticket prices one would work up a thirst so it is good that the "Cold Drop" is nearby and can offer a nice cool beer or two. HVC TRICARE FRAUD UPDATE
TRICARE/CHAMPUS FRAUD UPDATE 04: Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Thomas Arthur Lutz, DOB 04/24/1967, of Olongapo City, Republic of the Philippines, pleaded guilty 11 DEC in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wisconsin to defrauding the federal TRICARE program. The charges were brought in the Western District of V because Wisconsin Physicians Service, the fiscal intermediary which processed and paid these alleged fraudulent claims, is located in Madison, WI which is in the Western District of Wisconsin. Lutz pleaded guilty to Count 33 of an Indictment that charged him with participating in a conspiracy with Health Visions Corporation (HVC) and a physician in the Philippines to double bill Tricare and kickback the inflated payments to HVC. As part of today plea hearing, Lutz stipulated, under oath, to a statement of facts that indicated, among other things, the following: 1. In August 1998, defendant THOMAS Lutz, in his capacity as the Administrator of HVC, met with representatives at a medical center in Olongapo City. During that meeting defendant Thomas Lutz offered to refer HVC patients to the medical center if HVC would receive a 50% discount. When the representatives balked at the size of the discount, defendant Thomas Lutz instructed the medical center representatives to inflate their bills by 100% and pay the inflated amount to HVC. Defendant Thomas Lutz wrote out on a piece of paper how two bills Should be prepared for every HVC patient; one bill should be the real bill, the second bill should be the inflated bill with every line item doubled in price. In exchange for this arrangement, defendant Thomas Lutz promised that the medical center would become a preferred provider for HVC patients and would receive immediate payment for services provided to HVC patients. 2. On or about October 1, 1998, defendant Thomas Lutz had another meeting with the same representatives at the medical center. At this meeting, defendant Thomas Lutz produced a letter on HVC letterhead dated October 1, 1998 to the medical center. The letter detailed an agreement between HVC and the medical center where HVC agreed to refer its patients to the medical center in exchange for "a rebate of 50% back to Health Visions Corp.... The rebate will be paid to Health Visions Corp. immediately after payment received by the medical center." The letter is signed by Thomas Lutz as the Administrator for HVC. 3. The arrangement between HVC and the medical center lasted from October 1, 1998 to June 20, 2000. During this time frame, HVC submitted to Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS), a TRICARE subcontractor in Madison, Wisconsin, approximately 105 claims involving HVC patients who received medical care at the medical center; 4. HVC employed billers who prepared the claims submitted to Tricare. HVC instructed its billers to inflate the amounts listed on the hospital bills by at least 233% when entering the numbers on the TRICARE claim. 5. HVC also instructed its billers to hide denied medications on a hospital bill by moving those costs to "professional fees" on the Tricare claim. 6. HVC also instructed its billers to create false documentation to backup fake medical diagnoses that were not on the hospital bills, but would be added to the Tricare claims. This false documentation included fake letters with pasted on letterhead and doctor signatures. 7. HVC directed WPS to send the payments for all the Tricare claims to a lockbox account in the name of HVC at Bank of America in Columbia MO. When the account reached over $1,000,000, defendant Thomas Lutz's brother directed Bank of America in Missouri to wire transfer funds from the HVC account at Bank of America to an HVC bank account at United Cocoa Planters Bank in Manila, in $1,000,000 increments. 8. During the years 1998 through 2004, WPS paid over $163,380,648 in total Tricare claims submitted by HVC. Of this amount, approximately $144,618,061 came from third-party billing by HVC, and $18,762,587 came from direct billing from HVC-owned hospitals. Chief United States District Judge Barbara B. Crabb scheduled sentencing for 13 MAR 07. Lutz faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release after serving his prison term. The charges against Lutz were the result of an investigation conducted by the Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Also assisting were agents in the Philippines with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigation Service, and Regional Security Officers with the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service. Prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter M. Jarosz and Daniel J. Graber. [Source: Office of the U.S. Attorney Western District of Wisconsin Press Release 11 Jan 06] ANGELES BEACH CLUB HOTEL (ABC)
This has to be a first in AC, as the management, to train the dining staff hosted at least 100 lucky guests to a free gourmet dinner in order to test their menu and the ability to cook for and serve a very large crowd. Their Chef from Holland, John Betran served up a variety of main courses, soups, salads and desserts equal in presentation and taste to any hotel in the Philippines. Everyone I spoke to that night was impressed and had nothing but high praise for the food that was served. It was a new experience for me for I am not in that group of people that frequently experience gourmet food but what surprised me was that the portions of each item served was not skimpy and when I finished eating I was pleasantly full. The cost of the meal I ate to include a salad, soup, 180 gram sautéed tenderloin steak and dessert would cost P890 pesos which is not bad for the quality of the food served and being in an upscale hotel. I did return a couple of days later and enjoyed a simple lunch while sitting pool side and if I was a businessman I would choose this location for some business lunches as the atmosphere is conducive to deal making. By the way, the picture of two of the waitresses that worked this night is an example of some of the beauties employed and these two were both single with great personalities. The web site is www.angelesbeachclubhotel.com.
YOU SAY YOU CAN'T FIND A BIG SHIRT TO FIT?
Then the place for you to shop at is "Sizemix's" located right next to the parking lot of the Orchid Inn on Real Street. It is run by Rica and "Shorty" (David), a husband and wife team that know there are plenty of folks living here and visiting that need some very, very large shirts and other attire that is difficult to find here. The night I visited I found a shirt to fit and purchased it but I am a fairly normal size but while there the well known Mark Hill walked in and the challenge was to find a shirt that could fit him. Well, by golly, Rica had one in stock that fit and I was able to get a picture as evidence that size does not matter at this store, just walk in and walk out with a smile on your face and a new shirt of course. They are open from 12 to 12 seven days a week. THE PACIFIC BREEZE HOTEL AND RESORT
Does anyone remember where the old Cheyenne Social Club was located? This photo was sent to me by a reader of this column. I remember the place but forget exactly where it was.
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Gentlemen's Club - is having a special day on 15 Jan for men only. The hours are from 1300 to 1500 only and tickets will cost you P400. In that 2 hours there will be 5 shows, free food and local drinks. You better buy your tickets early because I have been told that sales are limited to 45 tickets only. Stop by the Gentlemen's Club, see the manager to buy your ticket. 
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