HarryTheHorse - Angeles City Expat Newsletter for October 2001

As promised I wrote in September that I would drop a few lines on you from Las Vegas to finish off my October column but I certainly did not anticipate that four days after my arrival I would awaken to the horror of what happened in New York. I could not sleep so I turned on the TV in time to see the live shot of the second plane crashing into tower 2. It was absolutely shocking and set the mood for the rest of my visit here. Despite the somber mood that enveloped this town and the rest of the world, I was able to get out and visit friends and accomplish some of my objectives in trying to analyze what to do with the land I own here. As far as going out to see shows and hopping around out on the "Strip" - that did not take place; not only because of the mood but because of the price of seeing some of those big shows and also, for one week, entertainment was kind of put on hold.

On this trip, since I was going to be here one month, I decided to join a fitness center and boy, did I find the best one in town. For a reasonable cost I was given a temporary membership at the 24hr Fitness Center on Eastern Ave off of Karen that features every conceivable exercise machine and free weights one would need. What attracted me was the indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms. Wow, I was in heaven as I could continue my lap swimming that I had started at Greenlands and enjoy the extra benefits of the Jacuzzi and sauna. This has helped me maintain my weight despite the extra eating one does when on holiday. This company has centers all over the United States and Internationally as well and I was told by Toni, the personable lady in charge, that eventually, one will be built in the Philippines as well. The facility was never overcrowded and is open 24 hours a day and I will certainly miss going there after I return home. If I was here permanently I would certainly take out a full membership and recommend it to all my friends. What a pleasant way to keep fit and meet new people. I am awaiting permission to take a couple of pictures inside but if not, then I will at least get an outside shot.

Well folks, I was not able to get permission to take pictures inside the gym so I had to settle for an outside shot. I don't understand the various management folks in this town as this is not the first time that picture taking has not been allowed. As far as the gym, I still think it is the best in town but for sure I would not have taken any pictures of the customers, especially the women. The entire time I used the gym I only saw two ladies that were worthy of a photo. The swimming pool usually features some ladies in their 50's or more doing some water exercises in an attempt to stay fit or to lose some very excess pounds. Of course the men, including myself, do not look all that great either. In fact, I must say that as I look around town and the Casinos I am very aware that there are a hell of a lot of overweight folks here and that the buffets are not helping their weight loss campaigns. Believe me dear readers, it will be a pleasure to return to the land of smiling, friendly, slim dancers and waitresses in Angeles City. But, back to the pictures! Last year I tried to take pictures inside a supermarket and was refused, I tried to take pictures inside the Boulevard Mall and I had two young men on bicycles approach me like Gestapo agents with an attitude, refusing me permission to take photos of the food court. I could not believe it. I could take pictures in a Casino but not in a supermarket, a Mall, or even a gym. At least in the Philippines, folks are a bit more responsive.

No Pictures Inside... Please.

While here in Las Vegas I was able to get with one of the investors involved with developing the Cleopatra, Bubbles, Ayers Rock and the well known Galleon. It seems that I will miss the opening of G-Spot (formerly Bubbles) but will be home in time to see Ayers Rock open and sample their steak selection. My intention here is to dispel any of the rumors being circulated on various message boards that the Las Vegas investors are "connected" or "made men" involved with rather nefarious activities. My goodness, too many folks are into "Godfather" movies! This horse can safely say that these investors are hard working businessmen that have succeeded in different legal businesses that have allowed them to be in a position to invest some of their earnings into what could be considered endeavors in Angeles City that are not guaranteed to be profitable. They are taking a gamble. Why? The same reason that many of us have traveled down the same road in relocating to Angeles City and investing in projects that we hope will bring in some profit at the same time we are enjoying a much simpler life with less pressures and the pleasures that can be provided around the clock. These people visited Angeles City, fell in love with the life style and decided to gamble with some of their money. They realize that they could lose money or at the very least, take a few years to recoup their investments but they are willing to take that chance. They all have enough money to just visit Angeles City, spend some money, and then go home, instead they love the place enough that they wanted to invest with the hope that our City (Angeles) will fulfill its destiny. They are optimistic, and so am I! These are simple business men with guts and I am damn happy that they discovered Angeles City and we can certainly use more folks like them.

Back in August good friend Chester, from New Hampshire, dropped by to say hello and he was excited to hear that International Flights would be landing at Clark starting in November. This was news to me until I realized that he was talking about the nighttime diversion flights that would be coming here while the NAIA runway was being repaired. Many other folks are expressing joy at anticipated revenue from these flights but I hate to burst the bubble by saying it is all BS! Yes, the plan is to divert flights here but believe me, it will be minimal and no one will be deplaning long enough to exit the terminal. In Mar and Oct of every year, the airlines change their schedules so you can believe that the NAIA late night closure will be taken into consideration and schedules adjusted to avoid diversions to Clark. To understand the economics, one must be advised that there are three stages to diversions.

Stage I Diversion: Aircraft (acft) lands, parks on bay, the acft is refueled, crew attends new flight plan, weather checked, passengers KEPT ON BOARD, aircraft receives in flight service.

Stage II Diversion: The passengers disembark and held in the terminal, refreshments provided for maximum delay of four hours. Passengers return to acft. for final destination flight.

Stage III Diversion: If the aircraft is delayed longer than four hours then there is a total disembarkment of aircraft that includes passengers, baggage and cargo. Passengers are then processed by CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine), then accommodated or transported to final destination.

If an aircraft is diverted to Clark it would be a stage I diversion that would cost the airline an additional $2, 500 plus fuel. Ground handling would cost about 11-½% of the $2,500, with all additional costs being Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) related.

Economically speaking, any airline would do their utmost to avoid the additional diversion costs and remember, passengers are ticketed to Manila as a final destination and they cannot terminate their travel at Clark. This means, no additional business for anyone other than airport related businesses. Bottom line, do not get excited over the forecasted diversion flights and do not plan on being able to deplane at Clark for quite a long time.

Right now, Charles has a 5-year license for charter flights, but after 6 months of operation he could apply for approval of scheduled flights and if approved, that would put him on very solid ground. Initially, two 737-300's with a capacity of 149 seats each will be brought in for Phase I (Regional Charters) and Phase II, if all goes well, will have 2 Boeing 747s or 777s (380+) for International travel. Plans are for IPA to become operational during the first week of October. Good luck Charles!

It was opportunistic for me to meet one of the fine Las Vegas gentlemen who are investing in this town with the objective to bring Makati style entertainment to this area at affordable prices. So far, Cleopatra, Thunderstruck (Now Ayers Rock), and Bubbles (Now the G-Spot) reflect their commitment. Prior to going to Las Vegas I had the chance to talk with Larry S. and he confirmed that construction would commence at the Galleon on Perimeter Road, Clarkview, in Jan 2002. I have seen the updated drawings that depict a very upscale, beautiful building complex that will house a great variety of services and entertainment as well as luxury rooms on the top floor. Many of the spaces available for lease have already been reserved. Many folks have approached me asking about this and again, I am comfortable with saying, emphatically, that this will take place. The important point is that the capitalization is available and the commitment is there. Of course, dates might slip a bit because of various factors and if they do, I will report it here but Paul C. and Larry S. have made a believer out of this Horse.

In an earlier edition of this column I promised to feature Cyber Care's Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center when it was completed; it is now time to keep that promise. On visiting the Center I had the pleasure of being escorted by a Dr. Albert Quinton, Orthopedic Surgeon and two lovely ladies, Sharon and Alma. It was impressive as the Center is complete with climbing stairs, paraffin bath, parallel bars, postural mirror, whirlpool bath, 5 beds (one for traction), ultra sound, infra-red, tools for occupational therapy, ES (Electrical Stimulation), FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation), TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, universal pulley system, bicycle ergo meter, NK table, free weights and ankle weights. Wow, that was a long list to read.

There are three Rehab. doctors on board, Ricardo Lima, whose father established the first rehab center in the Philippines way back in 1948), who is there every Friday, Francisco N. Lim Jr (Wednesdays) and Rowena Lapid (Saturdays). Dr. Lim was the Chairman of the Board that awards Diplomate status to Rehabilitation doctors in 1998 and 2000. A Diplomate status reflects the highest caliber of person in that specialty and must pass very extensive testing. It takes a great deal of studying and once the written test is taken, two years later the oral exam is given. One can be a qualified Rehab. Doctor but without Diplomate status but with it, you are considered to be one of the best; it is sort of like attaining a PhD in rehabilitation training. At Cyber Care only Dr. Rowena Lapid, employed at Angeles University Foundation (AUF) does not have Diplomate status. Cyber Care is trying to get VA accreditation for the Center but when I was there in August I was told that they had not awarded it at this time. Too bad, for it would be a good alternative to AUF where one is attended to by trainees instead of a more experienced staff and there is no continuity as the therapists are changed every two weeks or so.

Cyber Care is also adding a psychiatry Clinic on the 2nd floor with a US trained psychiatrist employed. Additionally, a Cardiologist will be available every Wed and Sat with a fully equipped testing facility. The facility is looking good Rosie, keep up the good work.

Sharon, Alma, Dr. Quintos

Whirlpool Room

Main Room

As promised last month I am including a few pictures of the on-going construction at the Greenlands Sports Resort. It looks like mass confusion at the moment but there is a definite order to it all. Most of the construction will be completed by the end of April for they must be ready to host the Lawn Bowls Asian Championships 4-12 May that will have 9-10 countries represented. The gym will have a sauna-spa and an outdoor Jacuzzi that will help this Horse's old sore bones along with a unisex parlor. The T-house will be torn down and replaced with a sports bar and locker rooms. A two story covered driving range is being built and the observation floor will be connected to the sports bar with a kiosk on the ground floor. Newly planned are three gazebos at different levels and a closed in dining area with bar with about an 80 person capacity. Right now there has been a drastic reduction in servicing employees in an effort to reduce expenses but dining prices have gone in the opposite direction. A normal lunchtime special will cost anywhere from P220 to P280 with service being relatively slow. Naturally, this will improve as construction nears completion but I seriously doubt that prices will be reduced, if anything, further increases will be the norm. Gregg is moving along to make Greenlands a family business as his wife, two daughters and a son-in-law are on board in various positions to lend Dad a hand and to observe and report on management activities. Maybe, by the time I return in Oct more information will be available in regards to membership fees and monthly dues. All I can find out now is that there will be different "options" to choose from.





Click on Photo to see larger photo.

Before Mt. Pinatubo unleashed her shower of ash and the American servicemen were still at Clark there was a wonderfully maintained Olympic size swimming pool near what used to be the Bamboo Bowl. It featured a high-diving board in the deep end and a full- length swimming pool ideal for frolicking and swimming laps. Many inter-school swim meets were held here and it was a great place to spend a day for the occasional swimmers as well as the more serious athletes. Today, it is in shambles with the facilities gutted and the swimming pool half full with rainwater and weeds. It is sad to stand and look at the pool and remember the sight of many people who swam there and to imagine the sounds of happiness that are no longer there. Instead, one sees a Philippine Air Force Command and National Government's lack of funds and initiative to keep operational a wonderful swimming facility that no doubt will never be restored to its original purpose. The scene is eerie and the silence is like visiting a cemetery but then, like so many other locations on Clark, you see scenes that reflect the death of certain facilities and buildings that continue to cry out to be reborn - a cry that falls on deaf ears.

Forlorn entrance to the pool.

Abandoned but not forgotten.

When one lives in the same area for a number of years there is a tendency to take some things for granted as you become more accustomed to the surroundings. My problem is that, at times, I become so used to a place that I become guilty of overlooking it in my writings. Such is the case with Rick's Café. It has been a couple of years since I took the time to point out this innovative watering hole to my readers that is run by, of course, a guy named Rick. Rick has been around for years and his café is one of those places I avoid because it is so pleasant that I end up spending too much of my day there when I should be out running down rumors and gossip. It is an excellent place to enjoy movies, relax with a cool drink and have a bite to eat. It is the ONLY spot on Fields Ave where you can watch movies clearly, AND hear the sound as well. Rick has gone all out in the TV availability in that he has installed a giant 48" TV plus three 29" TV's in such a way that they can be seen and heard from any location at the bar. Yes, I know, you are thinking, "why come to Angeles City to watch movies in a bar?" You don't, but one must rest a bit or have a place where you can take your latest love to relax as you can't stay in bed 24 hrs a day (Well, maybe for the first day or two). Rick's is the ideal place to catch that breather and at the same time, use the business center to catch up with your internet chores.

TV & Dining @ Rick's Cafe

"Lash" was an easy name to pronounce but then Swiss owner Daniel came up with the name "Bananitas". Try rolling that around on your tongue a few times. Actually, the name was supposed to be "Bananas" but the DTI disapproved that one because the name was already in use. This is a pleasant SMALL bar that is not offering anything spectacular other than good service, the usual array of nice looking dancers and P35 drinks from 7-9 PM. There is one thing that is unusual in that the MaMaSan, Anna, is actually a businesswoman that owns the APJ Art Gallery and displays her paintings at the Liberty Duty Free Shop in the Clark Economic Zone. She is interesting to talk to and if you go in and buy her a drink, maybe you can talk her into a discount on one of the paintings she sells. Worth a try anyway!

The Bananitas ladies.

Hi, my name is Apple but I love big bananas.

When the "Asshole" (AH) Club started, as a lark, there were only five members, Jimmy D (Blue Boar Inn), Dave White (Hang Out), Ray Sauvala (Streetlights), Derry Parker (Thi-Hi) and Charlie Kemplin (Dominos/UTP) in attendance. On 1 Sep 11 new members were inducted bringing the membership up to 40 men. The meeting is held on the first Saturday of each month at the Blue Boar Inn (Clarkview) starting at 1:00 to about 3:30 in the afternoon. There is a three hundred-peso entrance fee that covers entertainment and an open bar for local drinks and starting next month the President, Jimmy D might try adding a small buffet so folks can nibble while they drink. The membership has grown to the point that potential new members must be sponsored by a current AH member. The management of Honey-Ko's has done a great job in assisting with the entertainment for the previous two meetings and hopefully, this partnership will continue. The Club has very few rules and its objective is to achieve absolutely nothing except to have a good time for a few hours and to meet new people. It has certainly become a very enjoyable place to be for a few hours on the first Saturday of each month. This is the only place in town where you can be called an "asshole" without being insulted and everyone laughs along with you. It is all in fun and believe me, it definitely is a fun day. After the meeting most of the members adjourn to the Hang-out, Thi-Hi or Honey-Ko's for further entertainment and conversation.

Just a reminder that a good attraction for tourists and permanent residents of Angeles City will be the Air Show, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds, at the Philippine Air Force Flight Line Parking Ramp on Clark from 30 Sep to 3 Oct. Performing along with the Thunderbirds will be the PAF Blue Diamonds and the Red Aces (Just found out that this group flys out of England, but not quite as good as the Thunderbirds - just stirring the pot a bit!). During the Air Show there will be a trade fair and exhibit, hot air balloons, and ultra light flights. I do not have the published schedule but am sure all the hotels will have them later in the month. This should be a very interesting event. While at Clark I recommend you add a visit to the Museum located next to the parade ground and allow a couple of hours to explore the entire exhibit. When I return I will feature this exhibit for many visitors to this area are not aware of its presence. Believe me, it is well worth your time.

Kudos to the management of the Clarkton Hotel upon the completion of the renovation to the bar area in front of the pool. The overall appearance is outstanding and comfort has been emphasized. During the evening, the large screen TV makes the viewing of sporting events and other special shows very enjoyable. Reading about it is not enough, better you drop by for a look and a drink or two.

Sitting area adjacent to the bar.

Clarkton's new look bar/lounge.

It is always a pleasure, when taking a trip to meet up with familiar faces and swap some old stories. Residing in Las Vegas are many familiar faces that used to be seen in Angeles City during the years that the American base was operational. Many left because of Mt. Pinatubo and some left a few years afterwards and even today, many folks from Angeles City are packing up and heading for Las Vegas. Every time that I return I enjoy the privilege of meeting with a group of friends over coffee around 9 AM at the Nellis AFB Exchange food area and can also be introduced to new arrivals that I did not have the opportunity to meet on a previous visit. This time, because of the heightened security requirements at Nellis AFB, we met across the street at the VFW. The "old timers" pictured here are Walt Manecke, Doug Palacek, Bill Ramirez, Bill McCoy and Cliff Crawford. On another morning we met at the American Legion and I must mention Charlie Nephew, Ralph Mercer and Bob Morris who I did not get a picture of. The bottom line is that these guys make up a support group that will always try to help out newcomers to Las Vegas from Angeles City with advice and directions based on their experiences here. It's an old military tradition to "help our own" and I can never adequately describe how wonderful it is to be here and know that support is only a phone call away. Pinatubo forced many departures but, at least in Las Vegas, it never split up "the family".

The Gang!

The retired folks living here told me that the best place to go to book plane tickets to the Philippines (American Asia Travel) was in China Town located west on Spring Mountain Road and Arville. This was a surprise because I did not know there was a China Town in Vegas. Naturally I had to check this out and it is not a large area like in Los Angeles but it is modern, clean, efficient and built around a Plaza style. The area boasts a "China Mall", and one of the most popular eating places in town, Sam Woo Restaurant Group. I enjoyed walking through the supermarket and could not resist buying a few products that I could cook while here. This is definitely one location that any visitor to Las Vegas should see and for sure, try a meal at Sam Woo's restaurant.

It is very difficult, actually impossible, to spend three to four weeks in the States without buying all those things you dream of when in Angeles City. Naturally, towards the end of the trip you look at the accumulated pile of goods and realize that all this stuff is not going to fit in your suitcase. What to do? Not to worry, the Filipinos have it all down to one convenient, extremely efficient system that is not very expensive. It is called door-to-door delivery where a very large box can be packed and forwarded to the Philippines for a price anywhere from $69 to $85 (I am looking at Angeles City delivery here). So far, on previous trips, I have used FOREX and LBC services and no problems were encountered. FOREX is my favorite but the reason I went with LBC is that they had a promotion that beat the price of FOREX. When taking pictures of the various companies for this article I came across two places I did not know about, ATLAS and GRACE CARGO, Inc. They all ran $85 for a large box except Grace, that offered a special introductory price of $69 which is damm good. Additionally, the normal price for boxes exceeding the minumum is $5 an inch but Grace is only $3. I have not used Grace or Atlas but on this trip, if I purchase a generator, I will give Grace a try. I can vouch for the efficiency of LBC and Forex but will have to see about the other two. Each place I went into I was greeted with smiles and good service, especially at Atlas as I was surprised to meet the charming Andrea who used to work in Angeles City and is a graduate of Republic Central College (RCC), 1987. She is married to a retired Air Force man, Major Rauth and has been living in Las Vegas for a few years now. I spent more time with Andrea as she happened to know many of the people I know in Angeles City and I was able to provide a few updates. The reason I am writing about these services is that I realized there are many people coming to Angeles City that do not know about these door-to-door companies. They are located through out the United States in most major cities. In Las Vegas all you have to do is head for East Charleston and 15th Street and decide which one to use. They are all good.

Linda - Nod - Mindy

Atlas Shippers

Andrea at work.

Ed Napoles at your service.

Now is the time to visit Las Vegas as all the hotels are offering rooms at reduced rates and the Airlines' are offering bargain packages in order to try and get people to fly again. You might have to travel on certain days and some of the hotels, like Boulder Station offer a greatly reduced rate for Sunday through Thursday. Even now, as late as the 26th of Sep, the patronage has dropped off considerably and one can walk through the casinos without the usual crowded conditions. There have been thousands of people laid off from work as this town is dependent on tourists and for now, there just aren't that many willing to travel because of travel restrictions and uncertainity about the economic situation.

Reduced Room Rates.

This I have to pass on as it came from an article in the local paper. There is a man in the Orleans Casino that is well known for his shoe shining abilities. His name is Al Wilson and for the past year and a half, he has offered at his stand what he calls "Al's Famous Wine Shine." Where we old GI's used to specialize in the "spit shine" Al uses wine instead of the spit or water. Now, it can't be cheap old jug wine, it must have a cork finish and be aged in wood barrels. I was tempted to check out this unique system but I did not have any shoes that required shining. The good news is that now, all military folks have a good excuse to store some fancy wines in their lockers and in between sips, with a lot of practice, they will be able to produce some great looking shoes. They might be too drunk to put them on, but then, one has to pay a price for perfection.

As September draws to a close I reflect on a month that everyone in the world will never forget and the realization that there is much more to overcome has a very sobering effect on each person. The sense of nationalism and pride in the flag is overwhelming at this time but I wonder if all Americans have the resolve to stay united for the long term. This is a horror that will not be resolved in months but will take years. Our leaders will have to change the rules of war that we have been accustomed to as this will necessitate small targeted operations that our special forces will play a key role in. We must get down and dirty and realize that the people we are fighting are fanatical zealots that are determined to kill every American they can find and will dance in the streets to celebrate the death of 6,000 innocent civilians. It is a time when not just Americans must unite but all our allies as well in a combined effort to eradicate those determined to destroy our free democratic way of life all in the name of religion.

I must confess that my time in the States has not been conducive to having a good time but I was able to complete certain objectives in that I was present for my son's 40th birthday and enjoyed some quality time with him and I was able to visit with many friends. Naturally, the conversations with these friends was taken up with the New York tragedy and since most of us are ex military you can imagine how we felt and what actions we would like to see take place. I will be happy to return to the Philippines and my family but I shall never be able to forget the events that took place on the morning of 11 Sep and I shall never be able to forgive those raghead asswipes that so gleefully committed this atrocity.

On 7 Oct. I will board my plane for the long return trip to Angeles City and leave behind a nation in mourning but with the strong will to overcome. I always finish my column by asking for readers to be kind to horses, this time I ask that somehow, in this strange world we now live in that in some way we can all be a bit kinder to each other.