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October 2009

"Hi, welcome to October. Harry the Horse saw me at the La Pasha Club and decided that I looked good enough to introduce his column this month. The problem is that the dumb "Horse" forgot to write down my name. That means you will have to come to La Pasha to meet me and of course I will be more than happy to share a drink with you and provide my name. Please come by this month because I hate to be kept waiting." Hi folks, it is true, I was so mesmerized by her looks, figure and personality that I forgot to write down her name. But, ain't it a good way to start this Halloween month? Wait, now I remember, two days after writing this, her name is Jenny and she is the Feigling lady. You might ask, "what the hell is a Feigling?". It ain't anything nasty, instead it is some new drink that they are offering up at the La Pasha Club, one of many they have added to their inventory. I have a tiny bottle of it that I sip at once in a while and it is not all that bad. I'm a non-drinker and I still like it. More about La Pasha later.

Rain, rain, rain and more rain. Man, we really went through some shit here in the Philippines with this storm Ondoy last weekend. It flooded the hell out of Manila and 400,000 people were messed up because of it. Many deaths, injuries, lost homes, lost cars, etc. It hit areas in the Provinces as well but all was well here in Angeles City. We had a hell of a lot of rain and a few brown-outs but all in all, life went on as usual. Me, I stayed in working on this column and kind of enjoyed the cooler weather. It was nice sleeping at night and those afternoon naps were not all that bad either.

We had a few deaths last month, Lionel Claydon, Des Bowater, Mick Porter and John Banning. All long time residents of Angeles City and pretty well known about town. More details under TAPS.

The new Marquee Mall opened but I have not checked it out yet. I think the weather put me off, just did not feel like fighting the rain. Will stop by this month. Have heard that many of the shops advertised have not opened yet so there is no rush to get there. New Clubs continue to open on fields Ave so there must not be a money crunch and everyone must feel that there is more than enough customers in town to go around. The election for Angeles City Mayor draws closer and so far there appears to be three candidates. May the best man win. Will give more details as folks become committed, things can change quickly here. OK, enough for now, make your reservations to get on over here, only one month left for the rainy season and then we get into the much awaited tourist season.

THE MAILBAG

Received this note for a stateside reader that is interesting: "Merry Christmas. The Philippino TV station here in the states is now playing Christmas music (this is only Sept). 2. 3 pedophiles arrested in Cambodia and returned to states. Arrested under a new Federal Law. Caught by undercover US agents. The three countries on the US watch list are Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines according to the article . Very big on the Sex Trade. ( really !! ? ) The Philippino Government has vowed to " stamp out " the Sex Trade that attracts many foreign men, not just pedophiles. I assume the PNP will " vigorously " enforce the anti-prostitution laws. A felony under current PI law. Joe W." (I have no sympathy for pedophiles Joe, but the Sex Trade statement is open to such a broad interpretation that it does provide a way for some unscrupulous individuals, in and out of uniform, to enrich themselves. Angeles City is unique, hopefully it will stay that way).

The official name change from Shanos Irish Pub to "The International" took place on 1 September without any fanfare. The changes are not all that noticeable unless you notice the expanded drink selections and the additional menu items. It appears that they are reaching out to the Korean and Japanese customers as some food items catering to this group have been added. American football fans can now catch some NFL games and that should bring in a few more folks. As usual the action will go on 24 hours a day with food, sports and Texas Hold'em Poker. This Pub was always popular and now even more so as the "International". The managers here are accessible and willing to assist you with any questions or special requests.

TIDBITS

Tom Horan called me one night about the comments I posted about a customer of the Tequila Reef who was not happy with his half-rib dinner. Tom was concerned because he told me that in New York he eats ribs at the Tony Roma restaurant and he feels that his rib dinner at the Tequila Reef was just as good. To be specific, his wife ate the ribs and he had the burritos. Bottom line is that he thought both selections were great and the service excellent. Right after that I received an Email from stating: "Harry - Ken and I have been to Angeles twice since Tequila Reef opened. Ken lived in Arizona for many years and is very familiar with Mex food. I also enjoy Mex food and ate my share of it in the States and Mexico. We both like the chips, salsa and margaritas. I am a big fajitas fan and Ken likes burritos. I rate the fajitas as above average and Ken really likes the burritos. The first time we went there he ordered the up-size and could not finish it. Just like he could hardly finish yr double burger. His eyes are always bigger than his stomach. Except for the Mex place in Olongapo we both think it is the best Mex place we have been to in the PI. And we have tried quite a few in Manila. Prices are ok and portions have been good. Anyway, that is out 2 cents worth. Thanks, Greg S. (OK, based on these comments I took Priscilla to the Tequila Reef Cantina and the rest of the story will follow later in this column).

The Manila Bulletin came out with the following story last month: Norwegian nabbed in Clark for overstaying By FRED M. ROXAS, Sept 6, 2009.

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — A Nowegian was arrested here over the weekend for overstaying on orders of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan. In a report sent to Commissioner Libanan, Immigration Area II Director Heranio B. Manalo identified the Norwegian as Vidar Teige Nordas who was accosted at the Eruption Bar in the Balibago business district. Manalo said that on orders of Libanan, Immigration Area II agents swooped down on the bar where Nordas was holding office. Nordas admitted that he was an “overstaying alien” and that he gave his passport to his lawyer in Manila. The immigration agents said the Norwegian tried to bribe the arresting team by requesting them “to settle his case in his office”, but to no avail. Manalo said his office will coordinate with the Norwegian Embassy and BI-Interpol chief Floro Balato to learn more of the background of Nordas who entered the country on Aug. 20, 2004. Nordas was given 21 days to stay or until Sept. 10, 2004. Manalo said that Nordas was allowed to extend his stay in the country until May 18, 2005, and since then he has failed to apply for an extension of his stay. Manalo said the Norwegian presented an identification card showing that he is a member of a non-governmental organization called Justice League. He even misrepresented himself as Filipino as indicated in Securities and Exchange Commission documents he presented to the immigration agents, Manalo said. (Vidar is well known in the Balibago entertainment area as he has been linked to the Dr. Holmes Bar and Eruptions for a few years. He also considers himself as the leader of "the Syndicate". members of whom represent a few Clubs along Perimeter Road. His association with the "Justice League" was not known to most people. It did not do him much good to mention it. This is a lesson for those Expats that allow themselves to overstay their visas in the Philippines. There is no legitimate excuse to do so and even though one might have the money to attempt bribes of officials, it does not always work. I believe Vidar Nordas might have found this out the hard way)

This update on Vidar was forwarded to me by a reader of this column - "Just received an update on Vidar. He will be required to pay 600,000p in fines due to non renewal of his visa, which at last renewal was simply a extension of a tourist visa. In addition, this will secure his release, however a hefty bail of 250,000p will be required. He will be ordered to appear before a tribunal of Immigration at a later date and be ordered to either continue to renew his tourist visa and abide by the Terms and Condition of said visa or apply for a ACR-I card, which I am informed will be fruitless due to his breach of visa regulations already. This will not ensure a notice of deportation will not be issued, but will secure his release until the Immigration hearing is heard. His passport will be held by Immigration until this hearing is completed. He will be ordered to not conduct any business that returns a income whilst on bail." (am sure this story will continue for a while but again guys and gals, keep those visas current. Additionally, Vidar has been seen at Emotions but appears to be adopting a low key presence until these Immigration matters are resolved - There are some persistent rumors that Vidar, while briefly detained sort of sang like a canary and signed some affidavits that put some of his close associates in hot water. That would be a shame if true. Another rumor is that a certain German businessman put up some of his bail money and has yet to be repaid. Another rumor is that his "banker" is not very happy with him either. Ah dear, so many rumors easily circulate in this town and one never knows for sure which ones are really true.)

The JUSMAG, Philippines has announced that the US Embassy Manila Department of Defense DEERS/RAPIDS ID Card Office located inside US Embassy Manila will reopen for two days a month beginning in October 2009. It will be open on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month (Starting in October) 0800-1600 (Last Sign In at 1500), closed on all US and Philippine Holidays. It is on a Walk–In Basis, Window #3 Social Security Office US Embassy.

The Pacific Breeze Hotel, after being closed down by the BIR for a week was able to reopen its doors for business as usual on Saturday, 12 Sep. The BIR reviewed tax records of around 5 big hotels early last month but the Pacific Breeze was the only one they shut down for not declaring around 70 percent of its total income. Why were they closed down? According to newspaper reports the closure notice was issued for not declaring around 70 percent of its total income. The recent actions of the BIR are a result of "Oplan Kandado which is the flagship project of Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV, wherein the BIR will padlock establishments that are violating the law, particularly the Value Added Tax (VAT)." It was reported that the Pacific Breeze management failed to comply with the BIR procedures and had been notified repeatedly to settle accounts but failed to do so. As most people know it is not always easy to comply accurately with all the procedures outlined by the BIR and I am sure that the Pacific Breeze has a professional accounting service looking after their interests. No doubt there were some discrepancies that were found and negotiations were underway to find an equitable solution but somehow someone lost patience and a closure notice was given. The amount asked for by the BIR was considerable and no doubt negotiations taking place after the closure resulted in a solution agreeable to both the Pacific Breeze management and the BIR. The temporary closure was unfortunate as the many guests booked into the Hotel had to check out and find alternative hotels to stay in. Thankfully, the closure was short lived and this fine Hotel is once again open for business.

abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA - An American national died of a suspected heart attack after having sex with a Filipino waitress in Pampanga Wednesday, police said. PO1 George Buan, who is assigned at Angeles police station 4, identified the tourist as James Fitzgerald Parks, 45. Buan said Parks and a 22-year-old waitress, Gina Bacalla, went barhopping last September 16 before checking in at a local hotel to have sex. Bacalla said Parks went to the bathroom to relieve himself when she heard a loud noise. She said she called for a doctor after finding Parks sprawled on the floor, shaking. "We'd only just met. We went barhopping and had dinner before going to the hotel. After we had contact, I heard a noise and then I saw him on the floor," she told authorities. Buan said a doctor went to the hotel but failed to save Parks. He said a heart attack might have killed the tourist. He said Parks was immediately brought to a funeral home in Dau, Mabalacat. Parks' relatives are expected to arrived from the US to claim the body.. (A source informed me that the incident took place at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel and when the body was found the guy still had a boner. Many wonder if he might have taken an overdose of Viagra he purchased from a Fields Ave street vendor. Or, if Gina was that good, some might wonder which bar is she employed in? - after a bit of research I found out she is employed in Genesis. That is the new Club opened by the Pasha guys that used to be the Bourbon St. Restaurant - a nice place to visit, plenty of ladies but make sure you have a strong heart before having anything to do with Gina)

Howard McKay's next gig at Tequila Reef is planned for November 20th at 7pm to 9.30 pm. His last appearance in Sep featured Steve, a Canadian who is a great banjo player. He joined with Howard and really got the 50 to 60 people in attendance excited, especially when he and Howard performed, amongst others, Dueling Banjo's made famous in the movie Deliverance. It went down very well and the had to play an encore later on in the evening. Hopefully Steve will join in once again and you want to be on hand to enjoy some great food and even greater music on 20 Nov. Usually, I will wait until my Nov column to announce this but I wanted to give some extra lead time on this one. Oh yes, get there early so seats are available.

Last month we celebrated a special birthday... Monica Lewinsky turned 44. Can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday she was crawling around the White House on her hands and knees, putting everything in her mouth... They grow up so fast, don't they? Please note that Bill Clinton did not attend the party.

That fun loving, always have time for a beer, Bob Campbell wanted me to pass on a bit of information. Bob owns the Campbell's Beach Resort in Puerto Galera and of course he is anxious to meet readers of this column. I think I might even be able to get him to shout you a drink if you mention "Harry the Horse sent you". Anyway he said that they arrange transfers direct to the resort and scuba diving packages. Bob pops in to see me every once in a while when he makes it to Angeles City and I rate him as one of the "good old boys" that can make your stay at Puerta Gallera pretty enjoyable. Once you get him on the piss he can tell a hundred stories about his adventures in the PI. Make a reservation on your next trip to the PI. CAMPBELL'S BEACH RESORT, Puerto Galera, PHILIPPINES, www.campbellsbeachresort.com, Email: campbells08@yahoo.com.

On Sunday, 20 Sep, the popular Peanuts bar had the owners celebrating its one year anniversary. Malcolm, the jolly Australian, who runs herd on the operation was full of praise for the success of the bar and the good relationship the owners had with each other. This is one of those small bars on Perimeter Road that is easy to miss if you are just driving by without taking due care to look at what you are passing. Of course one cannot have a celebration without people and lo and behold, from the opening bell to the closing bell the place was mobbed with well wishers and some very heavy drinking took place. It was good that some tasty snacks were available as well so the booze went down a bit smoother. You might want to check out this very friendly, not expensive drinking spot the next time you are in town. Give Malcolm a bit of a shout, he told me he welcomes everyone, even Kiwis. A guess a Yank or two would feel right at home as well, hell, even an old horse like me would fit right in. By the way, the ladies on board ain't all that bad either.

Obama extends greetings on Muslim holiday - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Another political ranting by me - skip this part)

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is extending greetings to Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr (ayd ahl-FIH'-tur), which marks the end of the holy monthlong fasting time known as Ramadan. The president on Saturday issued a statement saying he and his wife, Michelle, congratulate Muslims in the U.S. and around on the world on a "blessed day." Obama said even at this festive occasion, Muslims remember the less fortunate, those suffering in poverty, hunger, conflict and disease. In her own statement, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the occasion is a reminder that the values of Islam - "charity, community, cooperation, compassion are values which we hold dear as Americans." (I am still throwing up from reading this crap. Yes dear Hillary, we love the values of Islam! Lets see, put out a death sentence on an author who questioned the Koran, torture prisoners, behead Americans, drag soldiers through the streets and hang them from bridges, kill their own children who adapt western ways, stone people to death, subjugate their women, want to destroy Israel, would like to destroy Christianity, and so on. Yes Obama and Hillary, you can kiss the ass of all Muslims, but not this Horse - David Kaiser, a respected historian and professor in the Strategy and Policy Department of the United States Naval War College wrote an article on the direction the United States is going and I quote here just one sentence which I think is very applicable today "And we are at war with an enemy we cannot even name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who, in turn, cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.").

Tony Whelan, from Australia informed me that Sid Stephenson celebrated his 60th birthday last month which has no bearing on this column at all but what the hell, reaching 60 is a bit of a milestone. So Sid, I have no idea who the hell you are but congrats on your momentous achievement. Tony also sent along his condolences on the death of his mate Des Bowater.

Angel Witch had its 3rd Anniversary last month. Scott, the great organizer, laid out a feast Lechon Baboy with all the trimmings and additional food items that had everyone attacking the delicacies with great gusto. There were games and drink specials. The festivities started at 9 PM and went on until late at night. The dancers were in great spirits and as usual, I loved their costumes. I have a special liking for this bar because of a few memories there, additionally, Scott and the rest of the staff are great folks. I can't believe that three years have passed so quickly and I will be looking forward to another celebration one year from now.

I learned recently that "Gecko" George is no longer connected with the International (formerly Shano's). His shares were bought out by the remaining partners. It seems there was a conflict as to whether slot machines would be added to the International. It was my understanding that the plans of the new owners always were to add slot machines to the establishment but it seems that George wanted to keep the booths and not bring in slot machines. I really like the International, but I do miss the name "Shano's" and for me it will be difficult to refer to it any other way. But, for slots, well, thank goodness my opinion does not mean much but I would hate to see the booths go to make way for slot machines. I would rather see the pool tables go and that area could handle a bunch of slot machines. Update: I have learned that the plan is not to put in slot machines as we know them, but to install "reality gaming machines". From what I was told these require more space for each one can accommodate up to six players and they will be playing poker, baccarat and other games. So, the booth spaces are definitely needed for the machines and the players. This is something I have never seen before but right now I do not have any idea of when this will happen.

Be advised that there are still some elements of police personnel in this town engaged in set-ups of foreigners. I thought that it had gone away and it did for a while. The latest incidents had nothing to do with Station Four for thank goodness, Major Lorenzo still has a handle on that location. In fact it had nothing to do with any of the sub-stations but it involved folks from a bit higher up the chain. I will not go into any details and my purpose here is only to advise one and all to be careful. One incident involved a foreigner in a drug set up. Now, I do not have sympathy for this guy because he admitted the use of Shabu. He was stupid enough to be a recreational user of that shit but he was even stupider for sending his girlfriend out to buy some for him and shortly after her return the police arrived. Oh yes, it cost him money, even though charges were brought against him and he had to pay bail. Somehow, he still paid even more money to the cops. My sources have lost contact with this individual as some people advised him to leave the country and not return, thereby forfeiting the bail. Folks, don't mess with drugs, it just isn't worth it. Incident two involved an American who obviously does not read this column. He lives in the Province and on occasion likes to spend a few days once in a while in fun city. Naturally, during those days he partakes in meeting with the opposite sex, but not always with registered ladies. One one foray a lady that he had known for a bit of time and trusted, brought a friend with her to visit him. Yep, you guessed it, shortly after allowing entry, the police showed up and he was arrested. Shortly thereafter he was desperately trying to borrow a large sum of money to gain his freedom. He was held in a certain location overnight without charges being placed against him as negotiations were in progress. Somehow, someone was able to notify a ranking officer who contacted the greedy police in uniform and told them to either press charges or release the man. Charges were filed against him and it did cost him money. I have not been able to get the final outcome of this drama but once again folks, do not trust these ladies you pick up on the street. Do not allow a female friend to bring into your room a friend, or relative who might be underage. All too often this is a set up between the lady and the police. The amount of set-ups has dropped dramatically but not disappeared. It seems that some folks higher up in the bureaucracy chain have become a bit hungry for some of the action. Be careful, use common sense, and enjoy yourself here, but remember, shit happens all too easily.

I hate to dwell on the International (Shano's) too much even if it is one of my favorite hang-outs but I have to talk about the food being served there and the man himself, Rob. Simple fact, it is a damn good place to eat! Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, no matter what time of day or night, the food is great. There is so much to choose from the menu that regardless of the taste of any diner, there is something for everyone to like. My recent favorites as a snack has been the "Buffalo Shrimp". I love them, six large shrimp soaked in a mouthwatering, spicy sauce that can be addictive. Dave Crowe told me that he thinks the cheese burger is one of his favorite choices. Others have told me that the steaks are worth writing home about. I have not tried any of those black angus selections yet but will do so soon. Getting down to a personal matter, I like the hell out of the head man in the kitchen, Rob. I enjoyed his sandwiches when he was holding court at the SM Hypermarket and since his departure from there he has made a name for himself. He is a down to earth US East Coast guy that is not pretentious and is a real people person. He does not call himself a Chef, he does not wear a white uniform and one of those big hats, and does not serve up those tiny gourmet dishes with unpronounceable French names, he simply puts out good everyday food that is appealing to one and all and affordable to most. He will sit at your table and have a chat with you, he will listen to suggestions, compliments and complaints and when necessary will make changes based on customer's comments. He is spreading his wings further out from the International. He consults for the Doll House group, is in negotiations to take over the Royal Amsterdam's restaurant when the current contract runs out in November (Rob informed me this is a done deal and the restaurant will be renamed the "Black Angus Steak House) and also will be opening his own bakery in the near future near the Hygiene Clinic. There are times when the gross receipts for the restaurant exceed that of the bar sales which speaks for itself. There are a few other places in this town that I enjoy eating at but all I am saying is that by golly, if I take into consideration location, the Sports atmosphere, the many familiar faces, watching the poker action, and watching the pretty waitresses, hell, I enjoy the hell out of eating and drinking at the International, with or without Priscilla.

There has been a bit of confusion, anger and disappointment with the ACCTN cable TV and Internet service provided by owner Dennis Uy of late. After suffering for many years with only one ESPN sports channel (the European one) Dennis surprised us with a second ESPN on Channel 67 that was broadcasting American Sports, amongst others for two weeks. So many subscribers were excited to be able, at last, to watch American football, baseball and other sports for a change. Alas, on Sunday, 20 Sep, after two weeks the channel was shut down. No explanations, no notices, nothing. It was like a slap in the face to his customers. He was telling us, hey guys, here's a teaser, this is what you could have but I am taking it away from you. I exchanged a few text messages with Dennis but I was still confused as to what was going on. Here is one answer from him - "We come up lots new content. The new system can fit more than 200 channels. Customer can select what they want with cost. The ESPN on 67 was temporary only." Another text from him said "Because next month we are going to digital and HD signal, some channels become pay channel". So, I guess that the whole idea is to offer everyone a digital signal that will cost more, and also, if you want another ESPN channel you will be forced to use a pay channel or something like that. Bottom line, you want better selections you better be ready to dig into your pocketbooks and wallets. When I called Dennis he told me something I had not heard yet. He said that those people who could not afford the new digital service could stay with the old analog system. So, no customer knows exactly what is going on. Some customers received letters explaining some of the changes but many, including myself did not. What kind of system is this? I did a follow up at the ACCTN customer service section at SM Mall and found out that initially, only private residence subscribers to the International Package received letters and are affected. Commercial businesses, to include Hotels will be serviced at a later date. Right now, no one knows when that will be. For private homes those with the International Package will have the new boxes installed during Oct through Nov (free of charge if they signed up during the month of September) and on 1 Dec they will lose the International Package if they have not agreed to the transition. They will revert to the Premium package and continue with the analog signal. One improvement is that there are bundled charges where the monthly fees for the Internet and TV are combined so you will only get one bill instead of two. No one at ACCTN can tell us what channels, if any, will be added under the new system. I am sure that eventually Dennis and his people will get around to putting out more information and no doubt he feels that he is providing a better service to his customer base, for a bigger price, of course. But for now, all so many of us want is that great ESPN station returned to us again. Giving us a taste and then taking it away was a lousy thing to do Dennis! Please give it back again some time in the future.

This a long read but interesting. It depicts how at times wrong information gets started. This was sent to me by a reader of this column, he got it from a local message board. I forwarded it Mo, the man himself and his reply is included. Sit down, relax, grab a beer, read and enjoy. Oh yes, I left in the misspelled words.

Mo's Comments in reply: (notice the lack of misspelled words - kind of tells you something doesn't it)

On 25 Sep I received a phone call from a concerned expat informing me that a friend had been detained by the police after becoming a victim of an obvious set up. This time the police did not participate in the set up but were used by a certain lady and her father to entrap the foreigner. Yes, once again two ladies were involved, both of whom turned out to be underage and the father, was part of the scam. Would you believe that this guy submitted a complaint and just happened to have a copy of his daughters birth certificate in his pocket? But the story, again, is a familiar one. The foreigner knew the one lady who professed to be of age and one day brings a friend with her when visiting the foreigner. The father arrives with the police and so the drama begins. The set-up is obvious but what makes this difficult is that BOTH ladies turned out be be under 18 which puts this foreigner and any other foreigner caught in a similar scenario, no matter how innocently, between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, the timely assistance of some individuals that were knowledgeable enough to conduct some common sense negotiations averted a sad ending to this story. The father was convinced to drop his complaint and the foreigner was able to stay out of jail and avoid the legal system. He was grateful and appreciative of the help he received and learned a valuable lesson, do NOT trust those ladies you meet out of the bar environment and for sure, do not allow any lady to bring a friend with her to one's room or house. I know it is so easy to be trusting but man, stick to ladies in their 20's who are legitimately employed. How many times do I have to write this? Not enough I guess, as nearly every month someone falls into the underage girl trap. This foreigner was lucky, but all too many are not. In this case the police went out of their way to help the foreigner without remuneration and that will not always be the case. Be careful guys, do NOT be overly trustful of that gal you just met, use your common sense!!!

Many thanks go out to Alan Eason, Niceville, Florida, for the two boxes of clothes he sent for my Christmas project. It is a fantastic effort on his part and those clothes will go a long way to making for a happy holiday season for many indigenous persons that will treasure each item. I also will thank Stephen Tucker, Korea, in advance for the box of clothes, toys, stuffed animals and other items that he is sending and should arrive shortly. It is hard to believe that the Christmas season is only two months away and I will be donning my Santa Claus outfit once again. Thank goodness, I have been blessed with another year of good health and my knee has recovered enough to allow me to make those appearances at the Malls again. It gets harder each year but the rewards are well worth it and besides, Priscilla does all the work.

Zapata's Mexican Restaurant has moved to a new location. They are now located along Perimeter Road, near Friendship, just pass the Eagles Nest. Only the location has changed, the staff remains the same and the food is just as good. The new place is larger and more comfortable. The interior design is very pleasing and the only thing missing is the presence of old Roger Dodger himself.

If anyone is considering Laser Surgery for their eyes then you might consider contacting Doctor Raoul D. Henson, Senior Eye Surgeon with the Lasik Surgery Clinic in Angeles City. Dr Henson was a guest speaker at my Rotary Club last month and his presentation was very informative. I would love to be able to use his services but cannot as I have a "lazy eye" condition that is not correctible by any kind of surgery. Never-the-less I was impressed with what he had to say and the fact that he uses the latest technology in his practice. If interested you can get further information by going to www.lasiksurgeryclinic.com.ph. His clinic is located on the second floor of Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUF), Angeles City.

It has been quite a few months since I last visited Chef Phillip at the Yats Wine Club on base, just past the Holiday Inn, so I stopped in to say hello before he began to think that I had forgotten him. As usual he had some new offerings he wanted to tell me about. Starting off with the Yats daily menu where you can get a different meal every day for only P350. If interested, check out the sign outside the entrance that announces the special for the day. You will find that the meals offered are indeed special and the low cost should entice many to stop by. How about the Friday night Bar-b-Q's offering different themes for an all you can eat menu for the low price of P500. The theme could be Mexican, Tex-Mex or steak offerings. While eating enjoy happy hour prices on the drinks. Want to know what is being offered on any particular Friday night, give "Sebastian" a call at 09175204401. Want more? How about daily offerings of pasta and sandwich specials priced from P150 to P490 plus gourmet classic sandwiches from P240 to P450 where you can order a hamburger made from a very special quality beef. My goodness, is that enough for you? One thing about Chef Phillip, each time I visit him he teaches me something new. I had never tasted a Tortellini before and did not even know what the hell it was - he had the cook bring me out one and it was great, some sort of small pasta creation with some kind of sauce inside of it. We also got to talking about Ossobuco and I told him how I did not like it. The first and last time I gave it a try was at "C" Italian and I thought I was eating all fat. It was dark and I could not see what I was eating. Well, Chef Phillip let me taste his Ossobuco creation, and Chef Chris, sorry, yours came in number two. I know, I am ignorant about those things but I had to go along with my taste buds. My taster was developed in New York so what do I know. Yats has started a special offering that I think will be offered every month or so. The last one was on 18 Sep. This is by invitation only. It is a special wine tasting held at the Clark Wine Center's Roof Deck. Tickets are P500 that allows you to choose 5 wines out of a selection of 25 for tasting from six pm onwards. Additionally, one can choose either a P500 three course or a P1,000 six course dinner at the Yats Wine Club. You can bring your own bottle to dinner and also enjoy a 25% discount on any wines purchased. Ralph's Wine and Yats Wine combined for the 18 Sep event featuring Chilean and Australian from Ralph and French wine being provided by Yats. I think I have covered everything and any mistakes can be attributed to my poor note taking.

Is this a good question? - Why is it that if you cross the North Korean border illegally you get thrown into prison and get 12 years of hard labor? Why if you cross the Iranian border while out supposedly leisurely hiking in the hills you get arrested and imprisoned? But, if you cross the U.S. border illegally you get a drivers license, a Social Security card and free health care? Just wondering ----- Here in Angeles City we don't worry about that. Instead, if you have a friend who visits, and she brings a friend with her one day just for company, the police arrive and you are arrested for hosting an underage girl. If you do not pay you go directly to jail without passing Go. That is something to worry about.

I just had surveillance cameras installed in my stable at a very reasonable cost. This is something that the police and the Department of Tourism are recommending that all Hotels install. This system allows for taping up to five days of data and I can access it via the internet even when I am in the States, or wherever. The company I used is Merrill's Security Camera and Installation Services, managed by Keith Merrill, an American. Contact information is: Cell: 09173326733 / 09217356606. Email: merrillsservices@yahoo.com. Website: www.merrillbusiness.tvheaven.com.

There are many Clubs that I enjoy visiting while living here and many of you who are not all that familiar with Angeles City may wonder what is so interesting. Well, one Club I love visiting is the Stampede Bar on Perimeter Road. Since pictures speak louder than words then let Carmela, Michelle and Maricar speak for me.

TAPS

Lionel Claydon passed away last month after a long illness. He was confined at home until being moved to Angeles University Hospital where he finally succumbed to his illness. His son Glen and daughter were on hand along with his loving wife, Eva, during his last moments. Lionel was a long time member of the Clark Centennial Rotary and owner of the Clarkview Laundry. He was a regular customer at Garfields where he was well respected and he often gave his time and resources to various charitable functions. Lionel was a former Chief Superintendent of the Australian Federal Police. He was cremated on 15 Sep at the La Pieta Memorial crematorium, Angeles City. He will be missed by his family and many mates here in AC.

This was a bit of a shocker. On Saturday, 19 Sep I received a text message from Danny Jimenez that Des Bowater had passed away. Des was managing the "Silly Hat" which has been open for only a few months. He has been a fixture in this town for many years and was seen before in Emotions, Cold Drop and a few other establishments where he was always the perfect manager. Des came to AC from Gosford Central Coast, about a 90 minute from north of Sydney. Des was well liked, still young (54 years old) and supposedly, a heart attack took him away far sooner than anyone would have expected. A wake was held for him at the Silly Hat on 20 Sep that was well attended and most agreed that this death was quite a shock. It is always hard to say goodbye to someone who has been ill for some time and passed away but it is far more difficult to accept when you speak to a healthy lad one day and then find out the next day that he is dead. We are losing far too many familiar faces in our small town community and it has made me appreciate even more those lads we call friends or even acquaintances and for sure, each day of life becomes a bit of a treasure to me. (More details and pictures of the wake/fund raiser will be found below)

John E. Banning, 62 years old, passed away from a heart attack in his apartment. He was alone and was discovered by his next door neighbor. His death came as a complete surprise to those who knew him. John was a partner in the World Star Car Company that was operational on base a few years ago. Regretfully, the company ran into many problems and things did not work out for John. Lately he was working with his Filipino partner, Paul Barrera in building computer websites. Early in his career John served with the U.S. Navy for 3 years and 11 months, assigned to the U.S.S. Ranier.

OCTOBER EVENTS

Attention - Clubs, Hotels, Restaurants - notify me of any events you have scheduled for November at least a week before the end of this month - It does not cost you anything to publicize your event or special promo. Click on the horse at the end of this column to get my Email address

a. The next VFW 2485 GMM is Sunday, October 4, 2009 @ 10 AM in the Post Home meeting room. VFW members are asked to get out and support their post.

b. The A. L. 123 next GMM is October 14, 2009 @ 10 AM in their Post Home.

c. The next Beagle Organization meeting will be Saturday, October 10, 2009 @ 11 AM at the Dog House.

d. The next VVA 887 Chapter PI 887 GMM is October 5, 2009 @ 2 PM al the White House Hotel in the VVA Meeting Room.

e.The next regular DAV Chapter 3 GMM will be FRIDAY, October 9, 2009 @ 9:30 A M. in the VFW 2485 Essay Room.

TOURIST OF THE MONTH

Many thanks to Colin McKenzie for adding to my hot sauce collection and being a very enjoyable gentleman to talk to. Colin lives and works in Mackay City Queensland, Australia. He is a happy 56 years old and is very available for some fine Filipina to grab him and make him settle down. Back in Queensland Colin keeps himself busy the last two years by driving a 36 ton raw sugar delivery truck for the Zarb Transport Company. Prior to that job he worked 20 years in the airline industry but considers his present job the best he ever had and David Zarb the best boss. Colin is a very happy man at this time and the Zarb Company is a Maltese family owned operation. In Angeles City Colin enjoyed the activities in the Stampede Bar and stayed at the Seinpost Hotel where he had high praise for Mayette and Jerry. When visiting Barrio Baretto in Subic he stayed at Treasure Island and thought it was a brilliant Hotel. I was pleased with the gift of the two bottles of hot sauce (Chilli-Willi Sauces) that he bought at the Nebo Road Butchers in Mackay. I do believe that my hot sauce collection is getting to the point where I have to think of having some more shelves built.

Normally a tourist would want me to take a picture of one of his favorite ladies but in this case Colin insisted that I include Joseph, his trusted tricycle for the 12 years that he has been visiting Angeles City. Joseph has five kids and lives near the Abacan Bridge, Balibago. Based on Colin's recommendation for Joseph's honesty and loyalty I will include his cell phone number for anyone interested in hiring him during visits. Write down 09153038184. No doubt Colin left town not committed to any one woman so no doubt he will be back and I will be looking forward to meeting him again.

THE PASSION OF LA PASHA

It has been a long time since I visited or wrote about the La Pasha Club. Time passes too quickly and aseveryone knows there are so many establishments to visit in Angeles City (AC) that one has to forego checking out favorite haunts in order to give a bit of balance to reporting. But, unashamedly, I must admit that the La Pasha is among my top ten locations to visit. Why is this so? Well, the Club vibrates with energy and they always have so many good looking ladies on hand that one's blood boils up with passionate dreams of blissful evenings. Really, if you check the place out you will not see those flabby stomachs prevalent in so many other locations. You will see good figures, good looks, good personalities and a manager that is so eager to please one and all. The La Pasha Group, under the leadership of Jorge, has expanded their ownership of Clubs. The new ones are bigger and more glitzy and showcase many more ladies on stage but the flagship club maintains it's friendly, "how can we help you" atmosphere that the newer locations lack. But that is my humble opinion. The other Clubs are successful and making money which is good for Jorge and the many customers that like bigger, more flash, and all too loud music. Me, I will stick with the La Pasha. OK, enough said, let me throw in a few pictures that should make one and all remember what you are missing once you return home from a trip to AC. I will start off with my "I Would If I Could" lady for this month. I am including it here since she works in La Pasha and I will also high light a few others as well. Her name is Jiselle and her home, surprisingly, is very close to Angeles City, just 30 minutes away in San Fernando.

She is 21 and has worked at her present location for only three months. She has a daughter that is nearly 2 years old, but has no boyfriend which so far is not an unusual story. There is always some Filipino that professes love, drops one in the hangar and then skips off to another lady. Hence, lady comes to AC to work to support the baby and the rest of the family. Jiselle has 3 brothers and one sister and stands 5'4" which is an ideal height. To me, she has an exotic look that caught my attention. Admittedly, there were some better looking gals on hand but Jiselle kind of raised my testosterone level that further investigation was necessitated. Admittedly, I could only go as far as a short interview but then I leave further research to others. Anyway she enjoys listening to music and likes guys in the 30 to 35 age range.

Even though I spent most of my time looking at the ladies on and off the stage I did take the time to talk to the manager who pointed out to me the recent interior design improvements that were made without ever closing down for business. They brought in new chairs, new upholstery, added benches, put in new mirrors along the walls, new LED lights, new ceiling cover, and added stainless steel table tops. I might have missed a few more items as I was writing at the same time I was looking at Jiselle. It was pointed out that they have added many new imported drinks, some exotic like the Feigling Fig Schnaps (Kliner) of which I was given a sample, tasted, took home and continue to sip on even as I writeabout it now. I got 4'8" Rhosie, 22 years old, to pose for a picture with the Feigling bottle. It was a good excuse to include another desirable looking lady in this write-up. I kind of have a weakness for ladies under 5 feet so I had visions of drinking Feigling with Rhosie in a more quiet, relaxing environment. Now my testosterone level was beginning to interfere with my common sense. Things were bad enough but then the "Feigling lady" passed by and that is Jenny who I put at the introduction for this month. I finally had enough and decided to take a few pictures of some of the dancers and then beat a hasty exit out of La Pasha to head for home where I was able to return my testosterone to a normal level before it caused some serious damage to my libido. My problem is that the manager has requested me to return to La Pasha this month for some additional information and I will do so, with extreme reluctance because, like Adam and Eve, too much exposure to temptation can lead one into some deep shit load of troubles. Never the less, I am willing to take my chances for the benefit of those reading this column. So now you understand the hardships I go through to present these ladies to you each month. Maybe I will see you in La Pasha this month and you can point out your favorites to me. Enough said now let me present a few of the ladies on stage. No names, you can find that out for yourselves.

BARRIO BARRETTO NOTES

Well, there are only six weeks of league play left for the Barrio Barretto Wednesday Dart League and so far the Down Under team remains undefeated. This has to be a record that will be hard to beat in future years. In the previous league, a season that lasted nearly one year, the Down Under rascals went undefeated and have continued this trend for 16 weeks into the current season of play. The Down Under team is made up of players from Angeles City who make the drive back and forth to the Barrio each week. Team captains Ron Chesley from Barrio Barretto and Jimmy D, Angeles City are pleased to have been part of a great group of guys that have held together for such a long time. It has been a combination of dart playing skills and sometimes, a bit of luck, that have led to such a great record. Darts is not the only reason the team members have participated in this league. It is also for the opportunity to visit the various establishments in Subic and to meet some great people with a common interest, DARTS! One of the teams that has always challenged us to the max has been Sea Boulevard (Team members pictured to the left) who has been right on our heels for two seasons. A few weeks ago we met at the Down Under Bar for an afternoon of very tough competition in which Down Under was able to squeeze out another winning day. Eddie and company are great competitors and those two ladies throw some kick ass darts as well. It would not be fair of me to put in a picture of the Sea boulevard hot shots without including a picture of the Down Under Rascals so bear with me as I present John, Gary, Tom, Graham, Malou, Ron and yours truly. Malou Mallari, our lone female player had an exciting day as she threw her first ever 180 in league play against Sea Boulevard. She was thrilled to death and everyone was happy for her. She has been part of the darts scene at the Barrio for many years now and is a very fine young lady. Her husband, Jing, can throw some mean darts as well. This will be the final season for the Down Under team as it is too hard to keep all the members together and to keep making that trip every week. Regretfully, some wives and girlfriends are complaining about our weekly absence from their sight. They have been supportive but at times grouse about their not being allowed to accompany us on our weekly outings. Well, for one thing, there is not enough room in the vehicle and of course, after darts it is time for some serious consumption of beer, cussing, telling jokes, smoking and just doing those things guys do when together in a group. You better believe we will miss those Wednesday outings but enough is enough. The wear and tear on our vehicle, the weekly commitment and our ladies moaning is wearing us down so we will enjoy these last few weeks and always retain fond memories of our dart outings in the Barrio.

The Arizona Hotel in the Barrio is one location that has become our favorite. One reason is the great price for beer at the Score Bar. Would you believe 30 pesos and that is something that is very appealing to the "Rascals". On top of that they have a pool table and a dart board so bring on the beer, the pool games, the dart games, the popcorn, good music and some very charming waitresses. I like the hotel and the whole general layout. During one visit I happened to be there when Rob Hof and Rose were celebrating their wedding and was able to take a few pictures to commemorate the great event. Rob is a Canadian that visited here and fell in love as so many foreigners do. The Arizona was a perfect setting for the reception as the management did a bang up job. Now, I resisted the temptation to crash the party and partake of all the good food and there was a good reason for that. I received a tip from a member of the party that there was a "perfect" lady working in the Score Bar that was more than qualified to be featured in my column. He told me her name was "Adel" so without any waste of time I made it back to the bar and searched for this lady. I found her and guys, the recommendation was right on. This lady is fantastic. I was impressed all to hell. She is personable, intelligent, good figure, good looking and one of the most interesting ladies I have ever had the opportunity to speak with in a bar environment. She is from Manila and is one independent lady who wants to return to school and become a teacher. She served as a teachers aide for a few years and also worked hard for 7 years before deciding to work in the Arizona. I asked her why she decided to work in a bar and her answer was direct - "I worked hard for 7 years and decided it was time to do something different. My father is very strict but I am 24 years old now and I can do what I want". She has three brothers and one sister and her father is a company driver. Adel likes reading books and swimming. She has a nice slim figure but admits to eating a lot. She bubbles over with personality and is very intelligent. You can sit down and discuss any subject with her and be very impressed with her ideas. This is a lady that can fit in anywhere and be a fantastic life long partner. This is a lady that any guy would be lucky to court and maybe even get her to an alter. Right now she does not have a boyfriend so jump on your computer and Email her at adelmiebolfa@ymail.com and get your name on her list. For sure, when visiting Angeles City, take the time to visit the Arizona's Score Bar and meet this lady. This is one time where the picture I took does not do her justice. You have to meet her personally.

THAT'S INTERESTING

Let me cover three subjects in one go here. Starting from the left, we have Rob from the International (Shano's) restaurant displaying his newly built wood fired brick oven for creating some very special pizzas. It is ready to go as soon as the weather clears up because it is situated just outside the entrance to the International. I have a funny feeling that Rob will experience an increase in pizza sales once the oven gets fired up. I will be anxious to see how it operates and to sample a pizza or two. Right now, Sunday, 27 Sep, we are still feeling the effects of a very bad storm that managed to flood the hell out of Manila and caused some flooding in certain areas of Pampanga as well.

While visiting the International I was pleased to meet Maurie Gardner and his able assistant Joana (Center picture). Maurie owns the Qualquip Machinery that sells and maintains big size generators. He has provided generators to most of the big hotels in town. He deals in both new and used generators, installs them and repairs them when needed. He is well known in the business community and comes with many positive recommendations for his honesty, dedication and high quality control standards for the equipment he installs. He has to be a good guy since he hails from Queensland, Australia and what he lacks in charm is made up for by Joana. If you want to contact Maurie his Email is qualquip@comclark.com. If you are opening up a hotel, Club, restaurant or any other big business in town you will want to know this man. The way the electricity keeps going off in this area a generator is a necessity, not a luxury.

The newest Club to open on Fields Ave is Club Asia, located next to the Blue Nile (Right picture). It used to be the location for the Chic and Ribs Restaurant but the building was bought by Derek of the Doll House Group and transformed into an enormous, nice looking Club. They had an official opening on Saturday, 26 Sep that was well attended despite the heavy rains. This is the largest Club, square meter wise of all the Clubs in the Doll House Group. On this night they had at least 30 fantastic looking dancers in G strings who must have been carefully selected from their other clubs. Many comments were heard that these tall, slender ladies were absolutely all top notch in the looks department. The Doll House also took over the Executive Club that used to be part of the Blue Nile Club. I have heard that they might build an escalator from the Club Asia upstairs to the Executive Club which I am sure will be renamed. That would be interesting. More good news is that the music was at a very comfortable level and we all hope it stays that way. A fine opening and a welcome addition to the action on Fields Ave.

THE TEQUILA REEF CANTINA AND SUAVES'S MUSIC LOUNGE

I am happy to report that I did take Priscilla the Horse to the Tequila Reef for their rib dinner and she gave the dinner high praise. In fact, she stated that it was as good or better than Cottage kitchen's. Sorry Jim, that was not my comment, you will have to take that up with the Mrs. As for me, I stuck with the enchilada and burrito with extra helpings of their improved salsa sauce. I really enjoyed the quesadillas for an appetizer and even ordered them a week later when I visited the upstairs music lounge with Priscilla. That is the main subject for this little write-up. I had to check out the appearance of Jhun (Longhair) and his brother Alex at Suave's Music Lounge. We arrived at 8 PM so that we could relax and listen to the charming Elvie entertain us until it was time for Jhun to take the stage. The lounge is very nice, comfortable seating, good air-conditioning, nice stage and a dance floor for the young and old to try out their dance steps. The sound system was designed by Jhun and the equipment purchased at the Music Box in Dau. It is a great set-up, very impressive. Needless to say, Jhun and Alex kept us well entertained and we were reluctant to leave. For sure, we will return and bring some friends with us. Oh yes, for those of you who like to grab a mike, get up on stage and sing, you will want to visit this music lounge as Jhun welcomes all singers. If you want good food AND entertainment, visit the Tequila Reef. As you can see from the pictures below you can feel comfortable bringing your family along. Additionally, if you are on your own, there are some friendly waitresses available to serve and entertain you.

BIDDING GOODBYE TO DES AT THE COLD DROP

A couple of days after Des Bowater passed away at the AUF Hospital the call went out that there would be a wake/fund raiser for his surviving family, wife Faye and 7 year old son, Lance. Even though it was a short notice the bar was full and as usual, the good folks in this small Expat community dug deep into their pockets. Someone named Big Jerry called in from Australia with a pledge for P10,000, Shano's (International) Pub pledged P10,000, Bong donated a classic pool cue for the auction and even Des's personal pool stick and case went up for auction. That went for P17,000 and the pool stick from Bong went for P8,500. The RSL pledged P12,000 and I know that Amy and Fidel pledged an amount but I forgot what it was. There were other items that went for auction and there were other pledges but I did not get all the details. After the auction I went around with a box asking for donations from those in attendance, whatever the amount they could dig out of their pockets and would you believe within 15 minutes P19,000 was raised. The next day I was told that a total of P127,000 was raised, not counting a couple of other pledges still to come in. That is a damn good short notice fund raiser and everyone who was at the Cold Drop and those who called in are to be complimented. Well done guys and dolls, this is not the first time we have come together to help a fellow Expat and it will not be the last. Tell me this is not a great place to live!

BRING ON THE VOLCANO

Mrs. Horse told me one afternoon, "come on, you go with me to pick up Jason from school and then we go to Creamline on Clark". My response was what the heck is Creamline and she responded that it was an ice-cream factory on base and they had opened up a ice cream house. I did not want to go because I am on a diet and did not want any temptation put in front of me. But, of course, when a wife insists on something you might as well go along and hope that you build up some brownie points for later leverage. To my surprise I loved the place. It is located between the Parkson and Oriental Duty Free Stores on the opposite side of the street. The ice-cream is delicious and not all that expensive. I shared the volcano with my son and I think I got more than he did. I said the hell with my diet. It was a disgusting overindulgence and I loved every bite. Priscilla ordered some nacho treat that was good too. They had many other sweet delights, sodas, milkshakes, banana splits, etc. This is a great place to bring your family or girlfriend if she is not too fat already. I enjoyed it so much I had to pass it on here. Hope you don't mind.

THE HOLIDAY INN

I have, in the past, written about the buffet offerings at the Mequeni Restaurant on the ground floor of the Hotel. It has been a favorite of ours for a few years now and we have watched its various changes as time went by. One constant has been the quality of the food which seems to get better and better. Last month Priscilla and I were joined by good friends Graham and Rinalyn for an evening of dining at the Mequeni. Graham had never been there before and I told him that I guaranteed that he would really enjoy himself. You see, Graham, an Australian, loves his seafood and I told him about the offerings of shrimp, clams, and crabs. He was hooked and could not wait. What made the evening extra special is that we were able to meet the new Executive Chef, Dennis Barton and new General Manager Simon Morley, two great professionals with sterling credentials and fantastic personalities. What a great team these two make and believe it or not, Dennis has raised the bar on the quality of the food now served at the buffet. He is also putting some special touches to what is offered upstairs at the Rodizio Restaurant. We can't wait to get back there to try out the Mongolian Bar-b-q. To say the evening was a huge success is an understatement. Graham and his beautiful lady were more than pleased and we both left the place pretty well stuffed. I did not eat breakfast or lunch the next day and settled for soup in the evening. I think it was the double crepes and three scoops of ice-cream with chocolate syrup for dessert that did me in. OK already, yes, I went off my diet again! Dennis and Simon presented me with two special chocolate donuts to take home. This was in response to something I had written in a previous column about the giant chocolate donut they were selling at the counter just outside the restaurant. It was an inside joke that got Priscilla and I laughing. I never got to eat the donuts as my son took them both to school the next day. Bottom line, for a great buffet, check out the Mequeni Room at the Holiday Inn, it is a treat you do not want to miss.

THE HROCK OPENS

As construction continues on three other Clubs, to include one outside bar at the complex at the end of Fields Ave the HRock Club, owned and run by Franz, was the first to open its doors. It was a great opening and the place was indeed, magical. I particularly liked the upstairs piano bar room and the Caribbean Lounge with the dart board. This room will be well used for special functions. At the opening two bands were featured. One was way too loud and I heard many complaints on that but the second band was much easier to listen to. I have not had time to return to listen in again but will do so this month. This is an all around Club with many different options to suit your mood. Eventually Franz will be adding a full menu for your dining pleasure. To tell the truth I was very impressed with this new addition to Fields Ave and look forward to when the whole complex is open for business.

THE FAT BOYS RETURN

It was that time of the year again when suddenly the Fields Ave area is invaded by many rather large, athletic, some scary looking, men dressed in various outlandish clothing, all of whom are great guys here on a mission. They are the lovable "Fat Boys" who gather once a year to travel to the Philippines to raise money for various charitable organizations in this area. The RSL and the Bahay Bata Street children's Center are two of the main recipients of their efforts. This year saw the guest appearance of the famous Scottish footballer Doddie Weir and the well known retired Hawaiian Sumo wrestling Champion Akebono. Akebono was the first foreign wrestler to reach the highest rank in Japan's ancient sport of sumo wrestling. He stands at 6 foot 9 and weighs in at approximately 510 pounds (that was his weight at retirement in 2001 he might have lost a few pounds since then). A very imposing figure indeed and no, he did not participate in the rugby action at Challenger field. I attended the awards dinner at the Bayanihan Park and it was absolutely fantastic. Irene, Sub-delicious organized one hell of an event. It was beautifully done and the food was plentiful and delicious. What a huge task it was and she is ready to do it again next year. Look, I am putting in three pictures now, but I have more and I will include them in next months newsletter.

Well, that is it. I am sitting here in my office at 0130 happy not to hear any more rain drops outside my window. Dare I hope for a bit of sunshine tomorrow so everyone can dry their clothes properly. We need a week of no rain so the water can recede in flooded areas and people can get back to their houses. What a sad, sad few days it was last month with all the flooding. Whatever problems I might have they are small compared to what so many have gone through. Old Mother nature has no mercy at times. I have to deal with two special birthdays this month so am not sure we will have our haunted house this Halloween. Priscilla will hit her 55 year old mark on 12 Oct and our Jason will turn 11 on the 31st so we will be a bit busy. I'm sure, at the very least we will distribute a lot of candy again and I enjoy doing that. Oh yes, one bit of a reminder for anyone coming here for the first time. When you go in a bar, before you ring the bell make sure you know what you are getting into. One young active duty military type from Afghanistan went into a local bar here, after consuming a bit of alcohol rang the bell. He was so excited with the the ladies screaming with joy, kissing him and cheering him on that he rang it again. Hey, this is fun, he rang it again, and again. Later, he passed out at the bar. He was carried back to his room at a hotel and when he finally came to his senses he was presented with a bill for P30,000 plus. He had a hell of a time, one he will never forget but for sure, his bell ringing days have ended. Read the signs before ringing, no one will tell you not to do it or tell you to stop. The girls will love you to death, at least until your wallet comes up empty. Memories, ain't they wonderful! Man, I am tired, and this old Horse is out of here. Remember folks, be kind to horses. (If u put the curser on the horse my Email address will appear at the bottom of this page)