AUGUST 2001

When visiting this most wonderful Angeles City at this time of the year, be sure to carry an umbrella with you as you go from bar to bar in the afternoons and evenings or be prepared to get a bit wet. We are in the monsoon season and are experiencing afternoon downpours that flood the streets and again at night. This does not stop the fun and games provided by the establishments on Fields Ave and those tourists coming here this month would see some new bars that have opened which I will detail later in this column. . 

MO'S STEAK HOUSE ON THE MOVE

This is a move that I think is a wise management decision from Mo and will be a great change for his many customers. This month Mo's steak house will relocate across the street to the Kokomo's site. Customers will no longer have to climb those awkward stairs (only awkward for old geezers with bad knees, like me) to enjoy a great steak dinner. Now that I don't have to climb stairs maybe I will get around to eating that 700 gram steak that I promised Mo I would order when I got my first social security check. Mo continually reminds me that it has been over a year since I received that check. Mo has told me that work on the new site will commence the first week of this month but steak lovers, do not be sad as steak dinners have been added to the Kokomo's menu. The good news, and I love this, is that the prices are 35% less because of the lower overhead costs. This horse loves to save a peso and I knew I procrastinated for a reason. 

"CLUB" NEWS

There are some things in Angeles City that never change and one is that some of these lovely Filipina women who start out as nice sweet things can end up being a royal pain in the ass. I will generalize here so that I do not name names, but those familiar with the Club bar will know what I am writing about. The club is a nice little spot on Fields Ave and is run by a well known New Zealander that has been around for a very long time. The day to day operation of the bar, for various, not pleasant reasons, passed to the hands of a lady that was no longer the sweet thing of long ago. Anyway, because of a gambling habit she stopped paying rent or bills and caused a bit of a ruckus in the bar one night. To keep the bar from closing management went to Mo and asked that the Club be put under the Kokomo's group for day to day management. This was done and thankfully, the operation is sound once again. A disaster averted but all too typical a story for this town. 

UPCOMING OPENINGS

Cleopatra bar is due to open this Wednesday, 1 Aug and the Blue Nile is scheduled for Friday, 3 Aug. This is a good way to start off the week of August. 

BLUE NILE

The Blue Nile needs a few more words but I am not sure words alone can express, accurately, the splendor of this bar. My goodness, I hate to use the word "bar" as the reader may get the wrong impression. It will be advertised as a Cabaret Club and indeed it is. The place reflects class and lots and lots of money, from the awesome lighting out front to the classy interior in which every item you look at indicates that no cutting corners on expense occurred here. There is no other night-spot in town, and I would even guess, in Pattaya or Bangkok Thailand that comes close to what has been created here. The opening on 3 Aug is by invitation only and a free raffle has as a prize a weekend holiday package to Boracay, value P15, 250 with compliments of SEAIR and Blue Nile with the winning ticket to be drawn at 1 AM. Scottish George will be the manager and will no doubt do a great job of fulfilling the requirements of Richard Agnew is making this "THE" club to visit and enjoy. While visiting there prior to the opening I could not keep up with all the details that were pointed out to me. 

There is a two tier stage that is lifted by a hydraulic system rises 10 feet with 20 ladies dancing on the top tier and then 20 more on the bottom; there is a reinforced roof over the bar that will feature a 4-5 person band playing, with the drum set permanently affixed and the rest of the performers carrying their own instruments aloft; there are smoke and flame machines that will lend special effects; at the entrance to the bathrooms there are two columns that use Diablo Flame Machines which give the effect of fire emitting from the top of the columns; over a million pesos was spent on the Carrier air-conditioning system and more spent on a state of the art exhaust system; singers and cabaret acts will be featured; the ceiling and walls are covered in a material that matches the material on the booth seats; there is a balcony with comfortable seats that allows patrons to seat comfortably and enjoy a great view of the stage and complete interior; with all this drinks will remain at 55 pesos with ladies drinks still P125. My goodness, I could write more but I could not write my notes fast enough when talking to Richard. You will just have to see for yourself. I certainly give this Cabaret a 10 horseshoe rating and a must see location on your next visit to Fields Avenue. Next month photos of the opening will be featured. 

LEGALIZED POACHING

With so many new bars opening I have started to hear talk about "poaching" or stealing employees from other established bars. This is not new and some managers, at times, may be guilty of shady recruiting actions but it is not always the case. When a new bar opens, Mamasans, dancers and entertainers, who have no loyalty at all to whoever they work for always tend to check out the new place to see if they can get a higher salary, more benefits or just be able to get in to a place that they feel will draw more customers. 
Most owners/managers will always tell those employees that they will not hire them while they are working for another establishment and will not encourage mass walkouts. But, once they are unemployed then they enter the open market and are available for employment. It is always hoped that club owners and managers will work together on this but in a town where there are more bars than ladies to work in them the competition to acquire these employees is quite stiff and there will always be grumblings of "poaching" but it is hard to prove. No one should go into a bar with the intent of recruiting employees and if caught doing so should be thrown out with a few bruises but up front, honest recruiting banners will do the job and remember, these ladies make a habit of moving from bar to bar. I suspect that many familiar faces will be seen at the Blue Nile and Cleopatra when they open. Imagine the recruiting that will go on when the proposed 17 bars in the old Galleon building become a reality.

A BIT OF ENTERTAINMENT

The Kokomo's group has hired big, big man Mark as their new full time events coordinator and he is busy putting together entertainment packages that are enjoyable to watch. You can view these attempts to give you something different than just watching the ladies on stage pull at their bikinis, chew gum or look at themselves in the mirror all the time by stopping by Ziggy's and Lollipop bars. Ziggy's has a show 2X a week (Tues and Thurs, 9 PM) and Lollipop every Friday at 9 PM. If you want to know what is happening at the Kokomo's Group of bars then access their website at www.acbars.com/calendar 

NO NAME YET

If the Steak House is gone, what will replace it? A new restaurant featuring pasta and Mediterranean food will open, hopefully, by the end of August. Chris Buck, the former daytime manager of the Brown Sugar is the new owner and chef. It never ceases to 
amaze me, as you meet different people in this town, what talents and interesting vocations they have had in the past. Here is a manager of a bar that has been an executive chef all over the world to include Russia, Canada, France, Australia and Italy. Chris graduated from Westminster College in England and while plying his culinary talents at the Dorsetchester Hotel in Park Lane, England had the honor of preparing a meal for the Queen of England. With those credentials I can only imagine the wonderful feasts that will be offered at this still to be named eatery. Plans are to cover the patio and to keep the décor as authentic as possible. Imported produce will be brought up from Manila so be ready to enjoy a first class eatery when it opens. 

HAIL THE CHAMPS

The news may be a bit old but it is wonderful to be able to spotlight a few local lads and ladies that brought a bit of fame to Angeles City and especially the Greenland Recreational Park, Inc. Lawn bowls is very new to the Philippines and Angeles City but at the 1st Asian Lawn Bowls Tournament held in Hong Kong the Greenland team excelled. The Men's triples won the gold medal (Peter O'Donnell, Max Wilson and Marlo Dagpin and five ladies won bronze (Maila Witheridge - women's singles, Ronalyn Greenlees and Lennie Montgomery - Women's Pairs, Lily Benthall, Sonia Bruce and Maila Witheridge - Women's Triples). This is an exceptional feat as these folks have only been playing this sport for two years. It is hoped that many more Filipinos will come out to Greenland and learn this sport. Imagine, Greenland will host the 2002 Asian Lawn Bowls Championship where international players will compete. What an honor! There are three beautiful high standard lawn bowling greens that impressed the heck out of me. I was there right after a heavy rain and the greens drained so quickly that play was able to commence as soon as the rain let up. For sure, Greenland will be at the forefront of Lawn Bowl development in this area and many more champions will be developed. Hail the champs!

The Champions.	Lowell tries hard.

FORGET MUFF DIVING!

As many times as I have been to the Bonanza Hotel I did not realize that the deep end of their pool was 9 feet. It is suspected that this is the deepest pool in Angeles City and is the reason that Johan DeSadeleir offers the proper diving, that is Scuba instructions at the Bonanza pool. He teaches at Subic and Angeles City by appointment and can details can be had by calling up his webpage at www.angelesdive.com. His e-mail address is sportsaa@mozcom.com. For you folks looking for something else to do instead of bar hopping and muff diving, consider this "get fit" activity. My question to Bones, at the Bonanza was did anyone ever try diving off the balcony into the pool? He said that one lad did back in '92. Had a few drinks, thought he was Tarzan, did the leap, missed the pool, hit concrete instead of water. He immediately departed to meet the original Tarzan who has been dead for many years! 

E-Z DOES IT

The newest edition of the popular United Tourist Promotion's (UTP) E-Z Philippines Road Atlas & Stopover Guide, Luzon Edition is now available at hotels, service stations and National Bookstores Nation wide for the reasonable price of P295. The atlases are the product of a year's extensive travel by the UTP production team of Art Director and Cartographer, Ariel D. Jersey, Senior Travel Editor, Ken Buchanan and President, Charlie Kemplin. All of the nations's major raod systems were plotted in detail to provide comprehensive information for drivers. The Luzon edition has 40 detailed maps, which contain, in addition to road distances, the locations of service stations, hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars. Major road works and rough sections are also marked. The maps identify places with scenic views, as well as the variety of handicrafts and foodstuffs on sale roadside. Charlie Kemplin is a long term resident of Angeles City, having previously worked on US Forces radio and television productions during the heyday of Clark Air Base. Ken Buchanan is a former high school teacher and rugby league administrator, who has lived in Angeles for five years. Regretfully, Ken is preparing to return to Australia permanently and his departure will be a big loss for UTP. Some folks are just hard to replace. UTP does a bang up job on their E-Z maps and the Atlas is a great product which should be in the hands of anyone interested in traveling throughout the Philippines. 

Smart way to plan a trip.

GREENLANDS RECREATION PARK

A recent E-mail to me asked if I had any update on the forthcoming changes to membership procedures at Greenlands. Regretfully, my last informal discussion with the owner on 24 July did not produce any information that I could pass on or even confirm or deny any of the rumours circulating. Unofficially, I have heard that Gregg's outlook might have softened a bit and the charter members will not be screwed but the bottom line remains, wait until September. I will be leaving for Las Vegas, Nevada on 7 Sep so I hope that I can get the final word on policy prior to my departure. Meanwhile, construction goes on, the golf course has been closed (should have been closed months ago to allow for a quicker completion date), the new children's pool has been completed and it will not be too long before the construction of the club house starts. This horse is looking forward to the gym and sauna and praying I can still afford to remain a member. 

AVOID CONFUSION

Long time resident and man about town, Jim Button wants to pass on a bit of advice on how to avoid one area of confusion when bar hopping. Quite often, when drinking in an establishment and you have consumed a number of San Miguel beers and suddenly decide to switch to another drink the waitress and bartender find it hard to adjust to your new taste and suddenly confusion and anger erupt. To avoid this, the simplest method is to pay your bill, walk out, turn around and reenter the bar and then order your new drink of choice. This assures absolutely no confusion and will keep the waitress smiling with you. 

FILLY OF THE MONTH

Last month I received E-Mail from a man in his 50's who indicated that he would like to see me feature single women in the 35-45-age bracket once in a while. This will take a little searching on my part, as it is difficult to discover a filly of the month in that age bracket that does not have a bit of mileage behind her. Now, this month, how about a 28 year old lovely lady that single handedly runs her own small beauty parlor at 532 Don Juico St, Clarkview, AC named the "Sidegate Beauty Parlor". Her name is Pearly Lansing and she does have a 6-year-old son but is single. She does not have time for hobbies as she works 7 days a week and at the end of the day goes home to rest. Pearly has a pleasant personality and this horse has been having his haircut and manicure there for a couple of years now. This is the type of lady that one would normally not meet if coming here as a tourist as one would hardly get away from the bar scene on Fields Ave. The next time you are in town head up Don Juico Ave towards the Hang-out, just before the police substation on the corner you will discover Pearly and her beauty parlor. Mean while, if you would like to write to this lady do so at the address given or send E-Mail through Harry the Horse. 

Let me help you relax.

HAL-LA HOTEL & RESTAURANT 

The Hal-La is a brand new 25-room hotel, restaurant and grocery store located along Friendship Hiway, Angeles City. This is a Korean owned establishment that has just opened and their room rates are P1, 500 (large room) and P1, 300 (smaller room) with a Korean breakfast included. Presently these are fixed rates but later adjustments might be made. Each room features air-conditioning, cable TV and electric water heater in each bathroom. It operates 24 hours a day but the restaurant closes at 11PM. The larger rooms are choice, especially those in the back as a beautiful view of the mountains is available. Some of the smaller rooms do not have any windows but, never the less, are just as comfortable. The Restaurant is well worth visiting, especially if you enjoy Korean food. The friendly staff is led by charming hostess, "Cherry", 23 years old, single (separated) who is half Filipina and half Korean. She is very nice to talk to and helpful when an old horse like me is not familiar with Korean food. I was treated to 10 different sample dishes that gave me a good introduction to the unique taste of the dishes offered. There is no way that I can tell you what I ate but there was a cucumber dish I could not stop eating and a fish filet that looked like small cakes and I did not know it was fish until Cherry told me so. My taste buds do not favor veggies but I ate some green thing that looked like miniature pizza slices and it was delicious but certainly did not look or taste like a veggie. When I return with Priscilla (Mrs. Horse) we will try out a dish named "Pulgoki" that features beef tenderloin cooked at the table (P200). For hotel reservations you can E-Mail redmoonhyun@hanmail.net or telephone (045) 893-2571.

New paint job, inept contractor.	Clean pleasant dining area.

Cherry leads by example.

THIS TIME IT'S A DONE DEAL!

For many years, Robert Sullivan, has had the dream to see the Galleon building on Don Juico Ave, (Clarkview) develop into an entertainment complex and in June of 1991 his dream was well on the way to fulfillment when Mt. Pinatubo rained down its ashes of destruction and the dream was put on hold. Since then, various potential investors submitted various proposals and hopes were ignited, but then the "investors" never came through with the needed capitalization. Now, ten years later, thanks to a group of investors from Las Vegas, I have been assured that construction will begin some time next month. Last month I printed the name of an individual that I was led to believe was the money man behind the purchases of the Cleopatra, Thunderstruck/Bubbles (finalized 17 Jul) and the Galleon but it turns out that this gentleman wishes to be nameless and only represents a group of money folks from Las Vegas, NV. Since this man, in my opinion deserves a lot of credit for bringing much needed life and financing to this area I shall simply refer to him as "Mr. Dogood". Personally, I don't care who brings money into this town for investment, as long as the money comes in and business opportunities are created along with more entertainment for the tourists. Look what old "Bugsy" did for Las Vegas. From what I hear everyone is happy, from the owner of the building, to Robert Sullivan, the new investors and especially this Horse as, when completed, it should bring a lot of business to the Clarkview area. A new sign has been affixed to the front of the Galleon announcing the forthcoming "Sierra Vista Hotel Entertainment Complex" which shows a beautiful three story building that will house the following features: 30 luxury hotel rooms on top floor, 17 nite clubs, jazz bar & karaoke, two rotating carousel bars, 4 indoor & outdoor restaurants, flower shop, beautician, internet café, cell phone outlet and a mini mart. The management is still accepting additional locators and for further information call 63-45-321-0321. Let us hope that, this time, one persons dream, becomes a reality.

Dreams might come true.

A LOUSY PRANK

NEWS TRAVELS FAST

In a small town like this news travels fast and rumours travel even faster. I received a few E-mails from various sources informing me they heard that Nero's Richard Agnew was appointed by the Mayor to represent the Fields Avenue bars and act as his liaison.  I immediately assigned a rumour control number to this tidbit and headed for Nero's to have a talk with Richard.  It appears that there might be a bit of half truth in that Richard indicated he had been approached by certain individuals to consider an appointment but he has not had any direct discussions with the Mayor.  At this time there is nothing definite to report on and even Richard is a bit vague on this subject as he is not sure he would want such an appointment even if it was formalized.  As soon as I find out something definite it will be reported here, right now, just sit back and enjoy the rumour as it will provide good conversation over some drinks.   

DUNN INN PARKING

Paul Dunn and his Dunn Inn bar is a popular watering hole for ex-pats living in Angeles City but lately, vehicles parked outside of his establishment seems to draw the attention of some asshole thieves and vandals. They seem to know when pool games are being played or when a car is left for a lengthy stay while the owner is away playing golf. Emblems have been ripped off the cars and recently a window broken and a set of golf clubs stolen. This has happened to other owners of establishments where cars must be left out on the street and it elicits a feeling of helplessness and frustration by the host and the customer as well. What is the solution? Not much other than try to park where you think some folks can look after your car or make it a point to go out and check on your vehicle once in a while instead of letting it sit, unattended for 2-3 hours. I sure would like to be around when Paul catches one of these asswipes and teaches him a lesson only a crusty old Navy retiree could teach! Better still, turn the shit head over to big Gary for a five minute "consultation"! 

GOOD NEWS AT IRONWORKS! 

Sometimes it pays to read this column; actually this is a first time! I will now quote a portion of an e-mail I received from the management of Ironworks Gym:

"For your readers, we will offer P1, 300 per month and waive the P1, 500-membership fee. All they have to do is mention reading your name and Presto! It's a password to the pleasures of pumping iron at Ironworks (We, of course, apologize that other "pumping pleasures" cannot be accommodated here, but we will get you in shape to "pump" elsewhere!) Oh, yeah, first workout session is free. We also have a walk-in fee of P100, so there's no need to commit for the month."

So, there you have it, a ticket to good health without having to pay the membership fee and a savings on the monthly fee simply by walking in and saying you read about this offer in the Harry the Horse column. The Ironworks telephone number is 893-0298. Do I consider this a good offer, you bet I do! Not having to pay the membership fee and knocking off two hundred pesos a month from the monthly dues is a considerable savings. This is a positive marketing approach to building a membership base and I am pleased that general manager Chris Peralta made this offer through me for the readers of ole "Harry the Horse". Who knows, after I work out a few times and start to look good maybe Mrs. Horse will not let me out of the house as ladies on the street may start running after my new fit body. All right, I can dream, can't I?? 

MT. ARAYAT TOURS 

Last month I received an E-mail enquiring about tours to Mt. Arayat. In the 21 years that I have been here my old bones traveled to that location only once. It really is a nice place to visit as it features a beautiful picnic area with four swimming pools and a breath taking view of the surrounding area. For the young at heart, there is also a very challenging trekking expedition available. Thanks to Mr. Rene M. Wyss at Sports Actions Adventure, located at the Premiere Hotel I was able to get the latest information on Mt. Arayat and what his organization provides. For a day trip to Mt. Arayat on your own for a day of picnicking, swimming, etc. would require you to hire transportation as it is a lengthy trip and it would take you many hours to get there if you tried the commercial jeepney route. Once you get to Mt. Arayat you only have to pay a fee of 35 or 40 pesos per person for entry. If you want to try your hand at hiking up to the summit of Mt. Arayat then you are well advised to contact Rene and arrange for a hiking package that requires a minimum of three hearty, in shape adventurers. The one day tour takes at least 8 hours to include a 45 minute drive to the resettlement area on the west side shoulder of Arayat and then a 3-4 hours climb to the summit. The trail is very strenuous as the grass grows rapidly and must be cut as you go. The hiking season is from Nov to May costing P800 each but each person is required to carry his/her own water, food, snacks. An overnight tour is available, again, 3 person minimum, costing P2,500 each but food is provided on this one. For details on this tour and other special interest tours, trekking, scuba diving, windsurfing, ultralight flying, golf, go-kart driving, and many other exciting activities contact Rene at the Premiere Hotel, Malabanias Rd, Plaridel I, 2009 Angeles City, Philippines, tel: (63) 045-892-6239, FAX: (63) 045-892-6237 or E-mail: sportsaa@mozcom.com.

DRY FEET IN THE FUTURE

This is a month of nothing but good news. Last month construction was started on the drainage system along Santos street (affectionately known as BJ street). Sometime early last year holes were drilled into Santos and Fields Ave in preparation for this project but then nothing happened. Now, a memorandum of agreement has been initiated between Angeles City and the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) for the CDC to fund the construction of drainage pipes all the way from Santos Street, along Fields Ave, continuing all the way to Friendship. The construction was delayed because the initial design was incorrect and CDC would not release the funds until corrections were made. This is a wonderful joint effort between CDC and Mayor Lazatin's administration. The extra good news is that when the construction continues along Fields Ave the structures along the North side of Fields Ave will be torn down. Each establishment has already been given letters of notification. Those of us that have been here for years know that these were illegally built and once before they were all torn down only to reappear a year later. Hopefully, this time, the area will remain clear to ease the congestion now encountered in that area. Imagine, by next years rainy season John Cummings will be able to walk out of his establishment during a heavy rain and cross the street without getting his feet wet. All the establishments from the Checkpoint to Jade Cool will celebrate this most welcome improvement as well as all the drivers of vehicles that traverse this area on a daily basis. Thank you Mr. Mayor and Dr. Angeles of CDC. 

The beginning - A. Santos. St	Modern technology art work.

RIDE THAT MUSTANG

Instead of riding a horse just drop in at the newest, popular bar and ride a very wide, comfortable bar stool at Mustang Sally's. Paul, the owner, said he made the bar stools wide enough to be comfortable for the very large customers as well as the smallest. Brett, of Bretto's tested the chairs on opening day and gave his seal of approval. The bar operating hours are from 12 to 12 and diner type food will be served. Their Mustang Burger has developed a following already. Ladies drinks are 80 pesos with 30 lovely ladies on hand to serve you and be available for very extended conversations. A live band is on hand during the weekends and different forms of entertainment are planned in the future. This is definitely a 7 horseshoe bar and certainly worth visiting but don't forget to say hello to manager Jerry who used to be the manager at Valentines. 

Inviting Entrance.	"Eye" catching staff.

MEET THE GANG

This was too good a picture to hold on to and not share with the readers. Have you ever seen a wilder group and lo and behold, see what Dave White would look like with hair! These are just a few of the 22 current members of the "AH" Club who meet for social drinks at the Blue Boar Inn each first Saturday of the month at 12 noon. 

Is this a rowdy group or not?

RYANS THE MAN

Looking for a top notch computer trouble shooter that makes house calls? I can recommend Ryan Ronquillo, an instructor at Integrated Computer School Foundation (ICSF) who was recommended to me by friends that have used his services in the past. He does not come cheap as he charges P350 service fee but is worth every peso as he can solve most problems. Additional fees depend on the job length and complexity. He is honest and once you get him to keep his appointment, works hard. He can be reached at 9192029167 or at home 887-3816.

Computer Problem Solver

VISA EXTENSION

A new visa policy went into effect in May for those tourists seeking extensions after staying here for six months. If you want to stay longer than 6 months you must, personally go to Manila to get the extension, for only two months, and it will cost you P3, 250 to include the application and express fee. 

KOKOMO'S WET T-SHIRT CONTEST

Here are a few pictures of the latest Kokomo wet t-shirt contest which takes place every two months. This will please those readers who have asked me to include a few more pictures of some of our local good-looking ladies. This event took place on 7 July. 
As you can see, the ladies are looking good and the customers are enjoying every minute of the event. There is a price you have to pay to be a judge but here is something you may not know. Mo does not keep the money paid to him to be a judge, instead, he donates the funds to the Clark Centennial Rotary for their Street Children's fund. This is a very worthwhile project so drool on judges, as your day of fun can help to take a homeless child off the streets of Angeles City. 

August is here and it won't be long before the tourist season arrives but don't wait that long, get here while the dollar rate is so good; there are absolutely no problems security wise in Angeles City, just stay away from coastal areas for now. Hopefully, GMA will continue her push to eradicate the Abu Sayaf and show no mercy in doing so. With the new bars opening and the improvements taking place every month visitors will find that the entire stretch of Don Juico Ave, from Friendship Gate to McArthur Ave will present you with new exciting sights. It is a very fine time to be visiting or living here. Looking forward to meeting many of you when you come to town. Got to go, Priscilla the horse is playing cards and I have to make sure she does not lose all my money, oops, I mean "her money." Remember, be kind to horses.

Nice little Confetti's Girl

The Treasure Island Bunch